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Q: How does COPD affect pregnancy?
A: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. “Progressive” means that the disease gets worse over time. The most common cause of COPD is smoking. The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many people have a combination of both.
Bronchitis can be dangerous when you are pregnant. The symptoms of bronchitis can cause fatigue and divert your energy away from your growing fetus. If you are pregnant, it is important to be proactive about staying healthy. By following a few preventive tips, you may be able to avoid illnesses like bronchitis and give your baby the best possible start in life. Consult with your doctor if you have any symptoms of bronchitis. Your doctor is best suited to care for you during your pregnancy.
Treatment
Because bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help. Some home remedies can alleviate your symptoms without taking medications that may be harmful to your fetus. By getting more rest, you will support your immune system’s response to eliminate the virus. Drink plenty of fluids. Hydrate yourself with non-caffeinated fluids such as water, juices and soups. Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, can act as diuretics and dehydrate you. Breathe warm moist air like the steam from a shower or humidifier. This can loosen the mucus and relieve your cough.
Prevention
Being proactive about your health during your pregnancy will give your baby a healthy start in life. Stay away from people who are sick. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water can reduce your risk of catching a viral infection. If you cannot wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to reduce the number of germs on your skin. Avoid all irritating substances, like cigarette smoke, paint fumes and household cleaners that produce irritating smells, as these can all aggravate the lining of your bronchi and predispose you to a viral infection.
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Emphysema
Fortunately, there are a number of holistic, healthy emphysema treatments that can be used during pregnancy. Below is just a sample of the many natural ways to treat emphysema symptoms without causing difficulties with your pregnancy.
Mild-to-Moderate Exercise for Emphysema Treatment
Because emphysema symptoms affect your breathing, you may have tried to avoid exercise; however, though it may sound counterintuitive, you should attempt to at least follow a low-impact walking program as an emphysema treatment method.
Pregnancy can also make you feel short of breath, but it’s generally a good idea to try to move your body whenever possible (as long as your physician does not feel it would compromise the oxygen to your child.) Start small and work your way up - even just strolling down the street and back to your front door will make a difference.
Staying Clear of Airborne Pollutants to Avoid Emphysema Symptoms
If you’re already having difficulty breathing, the last thing you need is to be in polluted air. So an excellent way to combat emphysema symptoms is to make sure you live and work in a very clean environment. And of course, your baby won’t be exposed to those airborne toxins either, which is a nice “side-effect” of this emphysema treatment.
For instance, dusting regularly and vacuuming daily can greatly decrease the frequency and intensity of your emphysema symptoms. Additionally, you may want to invest in an ionic air cleaner, as many have sworn by this emphysema treatment.
Finally, you may want to avoid going outside when pollen counts are particularly high (as they are in the morning or on hot, dry days.) If you must leave your home and be out-of-doors for a substantially long time, a face mask can be an inexpensive way to prevent emphysema symptoms.
Natural Emphysema Treatment: Take Magnesium
If you’re not getting enough magnesium, you should probably consider switching to a multi vitamin or special emphysema treatment that contains this essential element. It’s long been suspected that magnesium plays a part in keeping cells young and healthy and new studies have shown that magnesium has decreased emphysema symptoms in many patients.
Besides, babies need magnesium (as well as other vitamins and minerals); as long as you aren’t taking toxically high amounts, you will be doing yourself and your unborn child good.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to 'Ask Dr. Renee'. Follow me on Twitter @AskDrRenee and on my website.
