COPD

Anybody living in Chapala area with COPD? I am wondering how you are doing at this elevation. Supposedly, this is not considered high.

I have stage 1 and do as well here as at lower elevation. A friend with significant COPD visited and could not walk up the gentle slopes of the Ajijic streets. It takes about 2 weeks for your blood chemistry to adjust to the higher elevation / thinner air. There are drugs you can take that may help over the short term. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans is a starting point for info if you have not already searched the internet.

gatosigi wrote:I have stage 1 and do as well here as at lower elevation. A friend with significant COPD visited and could not walk up the gentle slopes of the Ajijic streets. It takes about 2 weeks for your blood chemistry to adjust to the higher elevation / thinner air. There are drugs you can take that may help over the short term. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans is a starting point for info if you have not already searched the internet.

I have researched it. Thanks!

Read this post by Dr. Sam, a local doctor - use this link and the post is very lengthy and about oxygen and living at this lever with impaired lung function - http://www.chapala.com/webboard/index.php?showtopic=49175

I have found that the patients I've seen with a COPD exacerbation reported to do much better after some fine-tuning with their meds. I found that some developed allergies to local environmental allergens (which they thought was their COPD acting up) but were much improved after addressing the underlying causes.

[quote="Chapalamed"]I have found that the patients I've seen with a COPD exacerbation reported to do much better after some fine-tuning with their meds. I found that some developed allergies to local environmental allergens (which they thought was their COPD acting up) but were much improved after addressing the underlying causes.
[/quote]

You are absolutely correct on Your findings And Results.
In our case, we moved to the Coast and are doing very well without the almost constant Allergies, and, in my husbands case, his high BP problems
have almost diminished,  meaning -  way improved to being just about normal.
5 to 5,500 feet may not be high to some people, Yet,  it Can And Will make a huge difference to some and hubby is one of them.
Keep up the good work Doc!