Those who suffer from the condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often subject to acute episodes that include a worsening cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Now, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that a daily dose of the antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax) can help to prevent these acute exacerbations.
Researchers led by a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado found that, when the randomly selected patients in their group of 1,142 received a daily dose of 250 mg of azithromycin, the number of flare-ups they suffered decreased by an average of 27% over a year s time, compared to those who received only a placebo. The researchers speculate that the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties may both be helpful in the case of COPD.
The most significant risk of taking azithromycin is that of irregular heartbeats, which means that this treatment is not a good option for patients with heart disease. Still, says ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross, in agreement with the researchers, This could improve the quality of life not to mention prevent fatalities for a lot of people. COPD is most commonly a result of cigarette smoking; needless to say, smokers with any degree of COPD should quit immediately.
