The main symptom of chronic emphysema, a degenerative and serious type of lung disease, is shortness of breath. Chronic emphysema impairs the ability of the body to properly absorb oxygen. Its other symptoms include breathlessness, severe coughing up of sputum (saliva and mucus), and long-term (chronic) cough. Emphysema is one of the lung conditions that comprise a medical condition known as COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Both Western medical physicians and Chinese medicine and acupuncture practitioners consider chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a very serious disease by the mere fact that it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. One specific problem concerning this disease is the difficulty of physicians to properly diagnose it in a timely manner, mainly because of the slow onset of the symptoms. Before any major issues arise, years may have already passed causing a delay in lifestyle adjustments and treatment.
If you happen to manifest one or more of the following, it is very important that you seek medical help as soon as possible:
1. When you exert yourself your fingernails and/or lips turn blue
2. You notice a weakening of your mental abilities
3. You are unable to walk or climb stairs without having shortness of breath
The American Lung Association says that long-term smoking of tobacco smoking contributes to around 80 to 90 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related deaths. The two most common COPD conditions are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Genetics is a minor contributor to this disease contributing about just 1 percent of total cases.
Chronic emphysema can be brought about by other causes besides smoking. Other contributors include airborne irritants such as manufacturing fumes, air pollution, and other airborne irritants. The onset of the symptoms is gradual and usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age.
For Oriental medicine and acupuncture practitioners, there are various ways to help control the symptoms of COPD. Firstly, Oriental medicine and acupuncture can help breaking your addiction to tobacco. There are distinct body acupuncture and auricular acupuncture protocols specifically designed to accomplish that. Secondly, certain acupuncture therapies can be performed that can help your lungs relax. And when your lungs are relaxed, your body can relax as well causing airflow and blood to increase that, in turn, helps you breathe much better. Thirdly, there are dietary therapies that can reinforce your digestive system which then, improves your immune function.
During your visit to an Oriental medicine or acupuncture practitioner, your symptoms will be evaluated. From this the practitioner will formulate a treatment specific for your needs. You may, for example, manifest signs of phlegm in the lungs if you frequently experience breathlessness even while at rest, cough up sputum, and have a tongue that yellow or white thick fur on it. This plus other symptoms may indicate to your practitioner that your lungs’ air passages contain lots of phlegm that need to be removed.
The practitioner observes the patient’s tongue in order to evaluate the internal state of health of the body. When it comes to chronic emphysema, the tongue may indicate a disharmony between your lungs or other internal organs. Tongue observation is a common diagnostic procedure used in both Oriental medicine and acupuncture.
Besides acupuncture, the patient may be given dietary recommendations to help alleviate the symptoms. One common advice for patient constantly cough up sputum is to lessen the consumption of cloying and fatty foods that tend to produce phlegm in the body. Olive oil, nuts, and avocados are great sources of fat that can ease up the digestive system. Fragrant warm soups may also be suggested to make the meal easier to digest.
Health Source Acupuncture
401 New Rd #211
Linwood, NJ 08221
Phone: (609) 248-6922
healthsourceacupuncture.com
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