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Home » COPD/Lung Disease in Scottsdale, AZ

COPD/Lung Disease in Scottsdale, AZ

The Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center offers treatment for COPD/lung disease to the residents of Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding Arizona communities.

What Is COPD?

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, is a condition in which airflow into and out of the lungs is restricted due to emphysema, chronic asthma, or chronic bronchitis. COPD is one of the most common lung diseases today. Treatments for COPD do exist, but a cure has yet to be found.

Emphysema is the destruction of the tissue in and surrounding the alveoli in the lungs, which are small fluid-filled sacs responsible for oxygen exchange processes within the lungs. The damage causes the alveoli to grow much larger than normal and lose elasticity. The changes in the alveoli interfere with efficient oxygen transfer from the lungs into the bloodstream, causing the patient to experience shortness of breath. Often, exhaling is a laborious process in patients with emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes through which air passes to reach the lungs. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include trouble breathing, a persistent cough, and an increase in mucus.

Asthma alone is not associated with COPD, but the effects of the condition on the lungs over a long period could lead to COPD. Studies and recent research suggest that childhood asthma may lead to COPD depending on its severity and persistence into adulthood.

The goal of treatments is to limit any new damage or possibly even reverse some of the damage that has already occurred. Some of the most common treatments for COPD are steroids, antibiotics, bronchodilators, oxygen supplements, and vaccinations. Less common treatments for patients with more advanced cases of COPD include new experimental medications, surgeries, and even lung transplants.

COPD Causes

The exact cause of COPD remains a mystery, but research suggests smoking and air pollution are the two main factors. Continuous lung irritation leads to the development of one of the three conditions that leads to the progressive and irreversible condition known as COPD.

5 Common Causes of COPD

  • Smoking: The most common reason why people get COPD is because of smoking cigarettes and breathing in the smoke. Exposure to other tobacco products, such as pipe smoke and cigar smoke, may also lead to COPD.
  • Secondhand Smoke: Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke is a risk factor for developing COPD.
  • Genetics: Approximately 3 in 100 people who have COPD have a defect in their DNA known as “alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency,” or AAT deficiency. Because of the defect, the lungs do not have enough of the protein that works to prevent damage to the lungs which leads to severe COPD.

When a person has serious lung problems, particularly at an early age, the cause is most likely an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

  • Fumes and Pollution: Long-term exposure to air pollution, chemical fumes, toxic substances, and dust can lead to COPD.
  • Asthma: In rare cases, asthma may eventually lead to COPD. The treatment of asthma is extremely important to help prevent the long-term lung damage that increases the chances of developing COPD.

Symptoms of COPD

COPD often goes unnoticed until after a person has significant lung damage and worsening symptoms. Symptoms associated with COPD are as follows:

  • Difficulty breathing, especially during physical exertion
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Wheezing
  • A buildup of mucus in the lungs while sleeping, resulting in the need to clear the throat first thing in the morning
  • A persistent cough that produces green, yellow, white, or clear sputum
  • Frequent unexplained respiratory infections
  • Blueness of fingernail beds or lips, referred to as cyanosis
  • In later stages of COPD, unexplained weight loss may be a symptom
  • Exacerbations or periods (usually lasting a few days) during which symptoms are worse

Stem Cell Therapy for COPD

Researchers worldwide are studying the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects patients with COPD experience from adult stem cell treatments. Researchers believe treatment with stem cells will control the loss of elasticity and damage in the small airways. At Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, we are investigating the effects of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) extracts on the airways. The SVF extracts have growth factors and mesenchymal stem cells. Our researchers use a treatment deployment protocol with a combination of intravenous and nebulized delivery. The deployment protocols, procurement, and harvesting are performed in approximately three hours as outpatient procedures with local anesthesia to reduce discomfort.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of COPD/lung disease, please contact us at Scottsdale Stem Cell to find out whether STV or another form of stem cell treatment is right for you and your unique condition.

 

Written by Scottsdale Stem Cell Center