I keep saying that if those of us with COPD can just hang in there then R&D will send us HOPE!
And that's EXactly what's happening!
Yesterday I read an article about how in England Scientists are cauterizing the nerve endings in the eosophagus of COPD patients which alleviates the airway swelling and the mucus buildup. The mildly invasive procedure takes about an hour and doesn't hurt. It can be repeated as necessary from time to time.
Last Saturday I read that in New Zealand Doctors are freezing the outer layer of cells in the airway with similar results.
Both of these methods potentially will not only lead to a better quality of daily living but will extend life for COPD sufferers!
Meanwhile, cellular research is vastly expanding our knowledge of the protein that triggers COPD response which means that one day a medicine can block that protein and reverse the damage to lungs and bronchials. And stem cell research is learning how to repair lung diseased tissue.
This is real and going on right now!
Our job is to do all we can to halt our own progression of the disease while these guys catch up and there's only one way to do that - stay away from every form of smoke as well as air born pollutants.
Even if it takes another decade I will be ready when they find a cure - will you?
