COPD, which is most often caused by years of smoking, is characterized by inflammation and excessive mucus in the lungs that blocks airflow. Quitting can slow the progress of COPD, but it doesn't halt the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs are the most common treatment, however they suppress the immune system, which can put people with COPD at risk for secondary infections, most commonly NTHi bacterial infections.Umm no. COPD is a bacterial infection that is suppressed by endotoxin. All the symptoms can be explained by that. Mucous, restricted airways, chronic fatigue....
"Our biggest concern with patients who have COPD is bacterial infections, which often put their lives at risk," says Richard Phipps, Ph.D. professor of Environmental Medicine and director of the URSMD Lung Biology and Disease Program. "If we can figure out how to predict who is likely to get an infection, physicians could put them on a preventative medication."
The reason people get sicker after they quit smoking is because nicotine suppresses bacterial infections and tightens epithelium. Even though the other particulates contribute to illness, the nicotine is actually antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. So when people stop smoking, their infections and endotoxin flare up.
So then they put those people on steroids which suppresses the immune response too, only the doctor and pharmas make the money instead of the tobacco company.
If they can figure out that EVERYONE has underlying infections, well then maybe they might feel inclined to figure out some preventative treatments besides drugs....
"We never really knew why diets high in omega fatty acids seemed good, but now we know it's because they provide the precursors for molecules that help shut down excessive inflammation." says Phipps.
Omega 3 fatty acids counteract the effects of bacterial infection.
