COPD: causes, symptoms, treatment and the role of salt therapy

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is one of the most common lung diseases. According to the World Health Organization it is among the leading causes of death worldwide, yet many people do not know for years that they have it, because they put their morning cough down to "smoker's cough" or simply getting older. In this article we explain what COPD is, what causes it, how to recognise it, and how it is treated.

What is COPD?

COPD is an umbrella term covering chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation and increased mucus production in the bronchi) and emphysema (destruction of the walls of the air sacs). What they have in common is that the airways become permanently narrowed and breathing out becomes harder. Much of the damage cannot be reversed, but with proper treatment the progression of the disease can be slowed and quality of life can improve a great deal.

What causes COPD?

• Smoking: by far the most important cause, including passive smoking.
• Workplace dust, gases and fumes: for example in mining, construction or the chemical industry.
• Indoor and outdoor air pollution: for example poorly ventilated homes heated with wood or coal, and smog.
• Genetic cause: rarely, an inherited deficiency of a protective protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin.
• Age: symptoms usually appear after the age of 40.

Symptoms of COPD

• a persistent cough, often in the morning,
• bringing up phlegm, increased mucus production,
• shortness of breath on exertion, which over time appears with less and less effort,
• wheezing, chest tightness,
• frequent, prolonged respiratory infections.

If you are over 40, especially if you smoke or used to smoke, and have symptoms like these, ask for a lung function test (spirometry). It is a simple, painless test, and it is how COPD is confirmed.

How is COPD treated?

Several complementary methods are available for treating COPD:

1. Stopping smoking: the single most effective step, slowing decline at any stage.
2. Inhaled medication: mainly bronchodilators, and in some cases anti-inflammatories, as decided by a lung specialist.
3. Vaccinations: influenza, pneumococcal, COVID-19 and other vaccines recommended by your doctor.
4. Pulmonary rehabilitation: an exercise programme, breathing exercises and education. One of the best-proven ways to improve quality of life.
5. Treating flare-ups: during an acute worsening, antibiotics or steroids may be needed, as decided by the doctor.
6. In severe cases, home oxygen therapy.

Important: COPD cannot be treated without medication

You may sometimes read online that COPD can be treated without medication, with salt therapy alone. This is not true, and it can be dangerous. Stopping COPD medication can lead to more frequent flare-ups, hospital treatment and faster decline. Always use your prescribed inhalers exactly as your doctor instructed.

What do we know about salt therapy in COPD?

A 2014 scientific review analysed data from four studies with more than a thousand participants in total. The studies reported improvements in lung function and quality of life, but because of methodological weaknesses the authors concluded that salt therapy cannot currently be recommended as a treatment for COPD, and that better-quality studies are needed.

Some people with COPD find a salt climate pleasant and feel it is easier to cough up phlegm. If you would like to try it:

• discuss it with your lung specialist first,
• only use it when your condition is stable, not during a flare-up,
• continue your medication unchanged,
• stop if your coughing or breathlessness gets worse.

When to seek medical help immediately

If breathlessness suddenly gets worse, the amount or colour of your phlegm changes, you develop a fever, or your lips turn bluish, see a doctor straight away, and in serious cases call 112.

This article is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. AREC salt generators are not medical devices.