New COPD Treatment: What Is COPD Balloon Treatment in Turkey?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of lung conditions, encompassing emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that cause the airflow in the lungs to be blocked and make breathing difficult. COPD is a long-term disease that gets worse over time. People with COPD tend to experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent coughing, sputum production, wheezing, chest tightness, and fatigue. These symptoms greatly reduce the quality of life of the patients.
Once the disease has progressed and the symptoms become severe, patients have difficulty exercising and performing everyday activities and experience frequent flare-ups. People suffering from very severe COPD have a high risk of respiratory and cardiac failure.
Being a chronic lung disease, COPD is one of the leading causes of mortality among both men and women around the world. While the main cause for developing COPD is long-term heavy smoking, non-smokers can also be impacted. Long-term exposure to harmful gases or substances, air pollution, asthma, and genetic disorders are also known to cause COPD. In fact, one in every six people with COPD is a non-smoker.
COPD’s Effect on the Lungs
Understanding the impact of COPD on lung health is essential for discussing treatment options.
The lungs are a complex organ that is responsible for carrying oxygen to every part of the body. Within each lung, there are thousands of tube-like structures that branch out into even smaller tubes, namely bronchi and bronchioles. At the tip of each bronchiole, there are small air sacks called alveoli that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The lungs of a healthy individual are free from all obstructions and air can move freely through the branches in the lungs each time the person breathes in.
However, in COPD, the airways of the lungs become inflamed and they get narrower due to long-term exposure to harmful substances. There is also increased production of mucus and phlegm in the lungs. As the airways become narrower than normal, they get blocked more easily. Once the airways are filled and blocked, it causes difficulty in breathing and frequent need for coughing. Over time, more parts of the lungs are affected by the inflammation and more airways are blocked which triggers more severe symptoms.
Can COPD Be Cured?
Currently, there is no absolute cure for COPD. The damage done to the lungs by the disease is irreversible and treatments focus on alleviating the symptoms and improving the quality of life of patients. Prescription medicine, lifestyle changes, rehabilitation therapies, and surgery in certain cases are among the available COPD treatments.
Because there are no curative treatments, early diagnosis is very important for COPD patients. If the disease is diagnosed while the symptoms are still mild, treatments can help slow down the progression of COPD and severe symptoms can be avoided.
COPD Balloon Treatment in Turkey
Are you wondering if there are any new treatments for COPD? With a considerable portion of the world population affected by COPD, there is a great need for new treatments that can help people regain their lung functionality and improve their health.
One such treatment is COPD balloon treatment. It was first developed by Turkish doctors and since has been introduced to the world. As it is a very promising treatment with successful results, there is a high demand from patients suffering from COPD. COPD balloon treatment is available in only a few hospitals in Turkey. The hospitals have seen an increase in the number of medical tourists in recent years as many people fly from overseas to receive treatment.
Chronic bronchitis due to COPD increases phlegm production. Combined with inflammation, this can cause the airways to be blocked over time. As the airways are obstructed, patients have difficulty breathing. Moreover, COPD medication cannot reach the obstructed parts of the lungs making medication treatments ineffective.
Here, COPD balloon treatment offers a solution. It is a surgical operation that aims to physically clean the blocked airways in the lungs using a special medical device. The operation includes bronchoscopy, where the surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube into the patient’s lungs through their nose or mouth. There are small balloon-shaped tools at the tip of the tube. The balloons can be inflated and deflated with pressure and they have an enlarging and scraping effect. The surgeon uses these balloons to clean all the obstructed parts of the lungs they can reach.
The airways desobstruction operation can last 4-5 hours and it is painless. The effect of the COPD balloon treatment becomes noticeable after a couple of days when the patient is able to breathe more easily. It is one of the best treatments available for COPD.
Why Travel to Turkey for Medical Treatments
Turkey has become one of the most visited medical tourism destinations in recent years. There are more than 1,200 medical institutions in the country, more than 40 of which are JCI-accredited. There is a healthy mix of publicly and privately managed hospitals and clinics, and many of these facilities offer top-notch medical care. According to official statistics, more than 700,000 foreign patients, mostly from Europe and the Middle East, visited Turkish medical institutions in 2019.
Turkish medical facilities have a history of treating patients from overseas. The clinics are well-equipped and the medical staff is skilled and experienced. Thanks to this, medical tourists are confident in the high quality of the treatments they will receive in Turkey.
Many foreign guests choose to receive medical treatments in Turkey because they want to spend their vacation time in Turkey as well. This is known as a “medical holiday”. Receiving medical treatment does not mean that you will be in the hospital the entire time. Patients can enjoy the rich Turkish culture, historical and natural attractions, and great cuisine in their free time.
Thousands of people around the world travel to Turkey to receive affordable and successful medical treatments. The most preferred types of medical treatments by international patients visiting Turkey are dental treatments, cosmetic treatments, hair transplants, and weight loss treatments. There is also a growing interest in COPD treatments as the COPD balloon treatment becomes more known internationally.
Cost of COPD Balloon Treatment Package in Turkey
At CureHoliday, we have agreements with some of the best medical facilities that offer COPD balloon treatment in Turkey. Currently, the price for COPD Balloon Treatment Package is €13,500 at our contracted facility. The price includes:
- Consultation
- All necessary medical tests
- 4-days stay in the hospital
- COPD Balloon operation
- 5-6 days of assisted physiotherapy after the operation
- Hotel accommodation after hospital discharge
- Transportation fees between the hospital and the hotel
Early diagnosis is crucial for COPD patients. Because people are unaware of the early warning signs of COPD, the disease is sometimes not discovered until it is well advanced. If you think that you might have some of the initial signs of COPD, it is strongly recommended that you consult a doctor as soon as possible.
If you are interested in learning more information about medical treatments in Turkey and COPD balloon treatment, you can contact us through our message line and ask any questions you may have. Our team is ready to help you 24/7.