Final answer:
Improving survival rates in COPD involves lessening the oxidative damage to cells, preventing lung damage from pollutants such as tobacco smoke, and keeping a healthy immune system. This approach maintains the lungs' defense mechanisms and helps in avoiding infections like pneumonia. Cigarette smoke is a major culprit in damaging ciliated epithelial cells, the cells that help keep our lungs clean.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your question asks, "Which of the following has been proven to improve survival in COPD?" Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that obstructs airflow from the lungs. It's primarily caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases, with cigarette smoke being a main offender. Smoking increases the risk of developing pneumonia due to various reasons such as impairing the lung's immune defenses, disrupting the function of the ciliated epithelial cells, inhibiting phagocytosis, and blocking the action of antimicrobial peptides.
Strategies to improve survival rates in COPD mainly focus on lessening oxidative damage to cells, preventing lung damage from pollutants, and most importantly, smoking cessation. These are vital to the function of the immune system as they maintain the integrity of the lungs' defense against infections. For instance, in the case of Camila, a chronic smoker, it is likely that her smoking habit has been a crucial factor in developing pneumonia.
Therefore, the most proven strategy to improve survival in COPD is to prevent lung damage from smoking and other pollutants, lessen oxidative cell damage, and maintain a healthy and robust immune system.
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