The final week!
I've learned so much and accomplished so much! I can now exercise safely with cardio - something I've been intimidated by in the past! I now know how to increase my heart rate while keeping my Oxygen levels up at the same time!
I understand my personal illness much better than ever! i know what to look for and how to manage both good days and bad days. I have learned to really listen to my body like never before!
And this is just the beginning - certainly not the end! It's up to me to take personal responsibility for my health management and I intend to do just that!
So what lies in the future?
I'm putting my hopes on Research and Deveopment! I believe that it's not unrealistic to think there could be some very effective treatments within the next decade and I intend to keep my lungs as healthy as possible until they get here!
Here's where we as a Nation are at and where we're headed:
Smoking cessation is the only therapeutic intervention so far shown to reduce disease progression.
America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working on 54 medicines to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These exciting therapies are in late-stage development, meaning they are either in clinical trials or awaiting review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Last year, scientists made several significant genetic discoveries related to lung health. These findings provide new insight into the molecular basis of disease like COPD which researchers say could lead to new therapies.
Medicines in the current pipeline include:
Repairing Lung Tissue – An adult human stem cell therapy in development has shown in clinical trials to decrease levels of a protein found in the blood that is often elevated in response to inflammatory disease. The stem cells are isolated from healthy adult donors and have the ability to engraft and selectively differentiate into various types of tissue. In COPD, the stem cell therapy leads to lung tissue repair through release of tissue specific growth factors.
Underlying Inflammation – A medicine in development for COPD targets the disease-causing inflammation. It is an antagonist of the chemokine receptor (CXCR2) that potentially can reduce inflammation in COPD by inhibiting the activity of white blood cells (neutrophils) in response to lung tissue damage. When over-activated, these cells can result in additional tissue damage by releasing proteases, stimulating mucus secretion and other negative lung events.
Greater Efficacy – Several medicines in development are fixed-dose combinations of two or more medicines. One is a combination of two long-acting medicines with different biological actions. Both act to relax smooth muscles in the bronchial passages leading to improved lung function for up to 24 hours allowing for once-daily dosing.
Pathway to Inflammation – A human monoclonal antibody in development targets the interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor pathway, a cytokine that contributes to airway inflammation often associated with COPD.
More research on the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of COPD and emphysema is urgently needed to aid the logical development of new treatments for this common and important disease for which no effective preventative treatments currently exist. In particular, there is a need to develop drugs that control the underlying inflammatory and destructive processes. Recognition of the global importance and rising prevalence of COPD and the absence of effective treatments has now led to a concerted effort to develop new drugs for this disease.
Only recently has there been any research interest in the molecular and cell biology of COPD in order to identify new therapeutic targets. However, some progress is underway and several classes of drug are now in preclinical and clinical development.
Current available treatments include:
Lifestyle Changes: Quit Smoking and Avoid Lung Irritants
Nutrition and Exercise
Medicines
(1)Bronchodilators
(2)Combination Bronchodilators Plus Inhaled Glucocorticosteroids (Steroids)
Vaccines
(1)Flu Shots
(2)Pneumococcal Vaccine
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Oxygen Therapy
Surgery
(1)Bullectomy
(2)Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
(a)Stents
(b)Coils
(c)Foam
(3)Lung Transplant
Managing Complications
That's it! A good start and a long way to go! The scientists still don't understand the most basic things about COPD! But they are working on it and they are getting closer every day!
Once they figure out the biochemistry of it all then they can stop the progression and maybe even come up with a preventative vaccine! Then nobody will have to go through the sloooow painful deaths that I witness every day in my job! That's my hope anyway!
God Bless and Breathe Easy, Folks!
Never lose FAITH! The Lord is Good and He's looking after us!
