Image: Dosage inhaler and stethoscope in front of a shelf; Copyright: panthermedia.net/liudmilachernetska@gmail.com

Topic of the Month March 2019

React early, breathe free – comprehensive COPD management

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered the third most common cause of death worldwide and mainly affects smokers. It is not curable, but with the right combination of early diagnosis, therapy and self-management, a significant part of the quality of life can be regained. The comprehensive care is supported by various devices and technical tools. Learn more about the all-round care of COPD in our Topic of the Month.

All-round care for COPD: diagnosis, treatment, self-management

Image: senior coughing man with cigarette; Copyright: panthermedia.net/ljsphotography

COPD affects more than 200 million people in the world. Those affected by this chronic pulmonary disease are often slow to notice the symptoms and get a medical diagnosis. This results in secondary complications and high medical costs. That's why an early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, and frequent monitoring routines are very important. Various devices and tools support this all-round care.

Read the article about all-round care for COPD here

Restoring Pulmonary Function

Image: Lung monitoring of a patient with PulmoVista 500 by Draeger; Copyright: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

People suffering from lung disease temporarily need ventilator support because they are unable to breathe naturally. Mechanical ventilation is designed to ensure the survival of these patients. The goal is to adapt the ventilator settings and tailor them the patient's specific needs and prevent lung tissue damage.

Read the interview with Christian Bozsak here

Comprehensive Treatment: It’s All About Breathing

Image: Woman sleeping sideways in bed with a breathing mask; Copyright: Philips GmbH

Coughing, airway obstruction, difficulty breathing: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive and currently incurable lung diseases. The innovative solutions of Philips Respironics help patients to manage each stage of the disease and their medication intake, train the respiratory system and provide respiratory support.

Read the interview with Philipp Weber here

Video

RAS-Q - Mobile blood gas exchange for COPD patients

According to WHO, about 251 million people worldwide had Chronic Obstructive Pumonary Disease in 2016. COPD denotes not a single, but several diseases that are caused by smoking and air pollution, among others. Patients at a later disease stage often need ventilation and are thus bound to the location of their devices. We visited the Aachen-based start-up enmodes to learn how the RAS-Q technology could make COPD patients mobile again.