The official blog of the Lung Institute.
COPD is considered to incurable. Find out why.
A diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be devastating. Not only can it signify the gradual decline in quality of life, but it can also mean confronting one’s own mortality, as COPD is both fatal as well as incurable. For many who receive the news that they have COPD, aside from the primary questions of “how long do I have to live”, similar follow-ups to the news of COPD diagnosis can simply be “Can COPD be cured?” Although there are alternative treatment options available for COPD, there is no cure for COPD at this current point in time. However, understanding why there isn’t and what can be done regarding treatment are critical to moving forward with one’s health.
With your health in mind, the Lung Institute is here to break down the fundamental question of Can COPD Be Cured? Stem Cell Therapy at a Glance.
A “Cure” Defined
When questioning “Can COPD be cured?” it’s important to understand just exactly what makes a cure, a cure. A cure is usually defined as a substance or procedure that ends a medical condition such as a medication, surgical operation, change in lifestyle or even a philosophical mindset. The distinction in this definition is the ability to end a medical condition, for instance, an antibiotic being able to relieve a bacterial infection. However, where COPD is concerned and tissue within the lungs begins to break down (emphysema), a method to stop this gradual deterioration and improve healthy tissue has not yet been found.
Can COPD Be Cured? A Better Understanding of the Disease’s Process
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and affects roughly 24 million Americans. Classified as an obstructive lung disease in which air is limited coming in as well as breathing out, the pathophysiology of the disease is tissue degeneration at its most fundamental levels. As emphysema (the process in which lung tissue breaks down) begins to deteriorate the small airways of the lungs, it can lead to the formation of large air pockets, which actively replace lung tissue.
Although the development of COPD isn’t only as a result of smoking, it is largely caused by the inhalation of cigarette smoke or other harmful respiratory irritants and particulates. The response and subsequent development of COPD is largely based on the body’s inflammatory response to these inhaled irritants. As the body’s immune system goes to work (causing inflammation), this leads to the destruction of the connective tissue of the lungs, which obstructs airflow and causes poor absorption and release of respiratory gases. As the airways of the lungs continue to be inflamed, they begin to narrow and exhibit scarring from within. This condition leads to the inability to breathe out fully.
Stem Cell Therapy at a Glance
When it comes to natural treatment options for lung disease, stem cell therapy cannot be ignored. As a form of regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy is a process involving the withdrawal of the body’s natural healing mechanisms—stem cells—from blood or bone marrow, and reinserting them through the blood stream where they may aggregate within the lungs and promote healing from within. Today stem cell therapy has shown significant promise in its ability to relieve the symptoms of lung disease in patients as well as the potential to slow the disease’s progression itself.
Although there is no cure for COPD, it’s important to know the road ahead for treatment. Though COPD can seem insurmountable, the first step to living a longer life is finding a treatment that addresses the disease head-on. Changing one’s diet and consistently exercising are among the best lifestyle changes one can do aside from quitting smoking. However, if you’re looking to address COPD progression directly, it may be time to consider stem cell therapy. Rather than only addressing the symptoms of lung disease, stem cell therapy directly affects disease progression and can improve quality of life and pulmonary function. For people with lung disease, a change in quality of life could mean the difference between struggling to walk to the mailbox to living a more normal life.
If you or a loved one suffers from a chronic disease like ILD, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or other symptoms of lung disease, the Lung Institute may be able to help with a variety of adult stem cell treatment options. Contact us today at (800) 729-3065 to see if you qualify for stem cell therapy, and find out what stem cell therapy could mean for you.
Interested in our article on Can COPD Be Cured? Stem Cell Therapy at a Glance? Share your thoughts and comments below.