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How Can COPD Be Treated?
I was recently diagnosed with copd and I have quit smoking. I exercise as hard as I can everyday and my diet is now high in fruits, veggies and fish. What else can I do to improve my condition. The doctor says I m moderate almost mild. I only found out about the copd because I had a CT scan after a bike accident. How can I stay away from heart disease and slow my progression of the copd? Thanks
Wed, 2 Nov 2016
Hi there,
I am very impressed with how you have taken charge of your health, and all I can say is well done! You have already taken all the steps needed to improve your COPD and heart health, and all you need to do right now is to persist with it. Many people rush into it during the initial diagnosis, but fail to keep up with it later on. It needs to be a complete change in lifestyle that lasts a lifetime, it has been shown that the lungs don't even begin to heal itself until 6 months after you stop smoking.
If you do want to further refine your habits, the exercise that is needed is at least 30 minutes vigorous exercise that gets your heart pumping, at least 5 times a week. Be mobile throughout the day as well, because if you are completely sedentary after the 30 minute workout then it is just as bad. Make sure you get enough sleep, on average 7-8 hours a day is what a healthy adult needs.
Food wise, make sure that fruits and veggies make up half your meal at every meal, and take one serving of fish daily, preferably oily fish. If you can't keep up with the fish, then supplement with fish oil.
All these are backed up by consistent research, I usually do not advise further than this because most other things are not as well proven. Besides, like I said, what we need to focus on is being persistent with long term changes in habits, rather than quick-fix tricks that fail in the long run.
Well done, and good luck to you.
Regards,
Dr. Teh
I am very impressed with how you have taken charge of your health, and all I can say is well done! You have already taken all the steps needed to improve your COPD and heart health, and all you need to do right now is to persist with it. Many people rush into it during the initial diagnosis, but fail to keep up with it later on. It needs to be a complete change in lifestyle that lasts a lifetime, it has been shown that the lungs don't even begin to heal itself until 6 months after you stop smoking.
If you do want to further refine your habits, the exercise that is needed is at least 30 minutes vigorous exercise that gets your heart pumping, at least 5 times a week. Be mobile throughout the day as well, because if you are completely sedentary after the 30 minute workout then it is just as bad. Make sure you get enough sleep, on average 7-8 hours a day is what a healthy adult needs.
Food wise, make sure that fruits and veggies make up half your meal at every meal, and take one serving of fish daily, preferably oily fish. If you can't keep up with the fish, then supplement with fish oil.
All these are backed up by consistent research, I usually do not advise further than this because most other things are not as well proven. Besides, like I said, what we need to focus on is being persistent with long term changes in habits, rather than quick-fix tricks that fail in the long run.
Well done, and good luck to you.
Regards,
Dr. Teh
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