Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a condition in which the air passages in the lungs are constricted and unable to process the flow of air in an efficient manner. The leading cause for the development of COPD has to do with some element that triggers an unusual inflammatory response in the lungs. These elements may be due to prolonged exposure to airborne particles or gases present in locations where the individual frequents, such as a work place. COPD may also have its roots in the smoking of tobacco, which is among the most common causes for the condition.
In all cases, the element or cause of the condition triggers one or more abnormal responses from some portion of the lungs. When the triggered response includes the development of mucus or sputum that is coughed up regularly, there is a good chance the reaction is centered around the larger airways in the lungs. The condition is likely to lead to the development of bronchitis first and then progress on to COPD.
COPD may come about as an infection in the lung tissue proper that causes the tissue to begin deteriorating. When this happens, the inflammation is focused in the alveoli and will usually begin as emphysema. With continued exposure to the triggering element, COPD will develop.
A diagnosis of COPD will usually come about when the symptoms associated with bronchitis or emphysema worsen suddenly. Doctors will run a series of tests that are geared toward testing the capacity and the efficiency of the lungs. Once the severity of the condition is determined, it is possible to put together a treatment regimen that will help to slow the development of COPD and perhaps provide some amount of relief at the same time. However, it is important to remember there is no real cure for COPD, only treatments to minimize discomfort.
Once a diagnosis of COPD is confirmed, one of the first steps in dealing with the condition is to eliminate any potential triggers that would cause the disease to worsen at a faster rate. For example, avoiding the use of tobacco and refraining from inhaling second hand smoke will remove one possible trigger. In like manner, it may be prudent to look for a different line of work if the work environment contains constant exposure to airborne particles such as coal dust.
Another way to deal with COPD involves maintaining a healthy weight. This means avoiding gaining too much weight or losing more pounds than considered healthy by your physician. By keeping the body’s weight within acceptable perimeters, there is less stress placed on the lungs and it is much less likely that the individual will suffer a sudden attack.
There are number of medications that may be prescribed to help alleviate the suffering caused by COPD. Physicians match the current status of the condition with a medication that is appropriate for that stage of development. Taking the medication as recommended by the doctor is an important part of living with COPD and its symptoms.
COPD symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending upon how advanced the disease. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a lung disease characterized by a blockage or narrowing of the airways. It is an irreversible process that is usually brought on by airway irritants, such as smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution or occupational exposure.
If present, the following COPD symptoms should alert you to visit to your doctor's office:
Also known as shortness of breath, dyspnea is a result of air hunger that causes difficult or labored breathing. It is primarily due to a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream and is directly related to disturbances in the lungs such as with COPD.
This type of cough is long term and doesn't seem to go away. A cough is a defense mechanism developed by the body in an attempt to clear the airways of mucus, inhaled toxic substances, foreign objects or other types of irritants. A productive cough clears mucus from the lungs, while a non-productive cough does not readily produce mucus. A cough is one of the most common symptoms of COPD.
Sputum, or mucus, is a substance produced from the lungs that is usually expelled by coughing or clearing of the throat. Copious amounts of sputum can be associated with inflammation or infection of the respiratory tract and may be indicative of COPD. The color and consistency of sputum that your body produces can be related to the type of COPD that you may have, and the doctor will usually ask you to describe it. Your healthcare provider may also request a sputum sample from you to help get a diagnosis.
Often described as a whistling sound heard during inhalation or exhalation, wheezing is caused by a narrowing or blockage of the airways. Oftentimes, wheezing can be so prevalent that you can hear it without the assistance of a stethoscope.
Tightness in the chest can be described as a feeling of pressure within the chest walls that makes automated breathing difficult. Sometimes, this tightness makes deep breathing painful causing respiration to be short and shallow. Chest tightness can be due to infection of the lungs and is often associated with COPD.
Different than ordinary tiredness, fatigue is a symptom that is often poorly understood and many times underreported in COPD as the focus tends to fall on more recognizable symptoms like dyspnea and chronic cough. But, because fatigue is nearly 3 times greater in those who have lung disease than in healthy people, it is an important symptom to recognize.
Clubbing is a sign of long-term oxygen deprivation and is associated with a wide number of diseases, COPD included. Initially, it manifests itself as sponginess of the nail bed along with loss of the nail bed angle, causing the nail bed to curve downward.
A symptom of both lung and heart problems, hemoptysis is defined as the coughing up of blood from the lungs that is frothy and mixed with mucus. In COPD, the most common cause is infection in the lungs. It is important to note that the amount of blood that is coughed up does not always reflect the seriousness of the cause.
Cyanosis is described as a bluish discoloration of the skin and is a late sign of chronic oxygen deprivation in the blood. Common places for cyanosis to appear are the lips, tongue, nailbeds and earlobes.
Remember, not every person who is diagnosed with COPD will develop all of the aforementioned COPD symptoms. Additionally, not everyone who has dyspnea, increased mucus production or any other symptoms should assume they have COPD. Each person is unique and only a health care professional can confirm a diagnosis of the disease.
For most, having to take a deep breath after climbing a flight of stairs is quite normal. So is catching your breath after running a few laps. But, if you find yourself taking a bit more than just a breath after high energy activities, then there may be a problem.
Mild COPD: The first stage of COPD is termed “Mild COPD”. Typically, your spirometry test indicates mild airflow restriction. During the first stage of COPD, it is difficult to breath after simple activities. Symptoms may feature a persistent cough along with sputum production, also know as phlegm or mucus. There is no consistency to how much mucus one will cough up. Therefore, many confuse mild COPD with the common cold. However it's always better to consult a physician. It is much better to begin COPD treatment during the early COPD stages. Especially when you may not even be aware of decreased lung ability. Since there is no cure for this condition, getting treatment early will ease the discomfort and quite likely hold it’s progression to a slower rate.
Moderate COPD: The second stage of COPD is termed “Moderate COPD”. Typically, your spirometry test indicates a worsening airflow restriction. Often, symptoms have increased. Shortness of breath frequently occurs just by working hard. This can include walking, treading on an incline, and jogging. Even house cleaning activities can begin to feel cumbersome for those with moderate COPD. Coughing up mucus becomes a bit more frequent. It is quite normal for those who deal with COPD to carry tissues for coughing in public. Shortness of breath may also occur while jogging or engaging in other brisk activities. It's at this stage when people usually seek medical attention. Due to breathing issues, many will cut down on certain day to day activities. As with the mild stage, treatments are available, but no cure. There’s a chance that once at this stage, the disease will continue to progress, leaving one to battle severe COPD.
Severe COPD: The third stage of COPD is termed “Severe COPD”. Typically, your spirometry test indicates severe air flow restriction. Simple activities become very tedious. Walking short distances can present a problem for those at this stage of COPD. Breathing becomes especially difficult. More often than not, coughing up mucus becomes normal. Life becomes difficult because things which were once exciting now feels like work. Furthermore, working a job almost seems impossible. Shortness of breath occurs after minimal activity. You may also exhibit worsening symptoms. They may include respiratory failure or signs of right-sided cardiovascular failure. Quality of life is considerably reduced. The symptoms can be life threatening at this stage. It can even go as far as becoming severe, depending on how it hits the individual. This stage of the disease can be unbearable for some. It is at this stage when one realizes just how afflicting this disease is. Treatment helps to alleviate some symptoms.
COPD is, for the most part, an unbearable lung disease. However, treatment can ease discomfort and make life more manageable. Especially if treatments are applied during the early COPD stages. Therefore, consult a physician whenever breathing becomes an issue. This is especially true if there is a history of smoking. Taking the time to check on one’s ailment could help you avoid many of the problems suffered with COPD. Yes, it is a progressive disease, but as it’s always to one’s advantage to catch it early.
COPD has no cure yet. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease.
Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to treat COPD. Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit.
Many hospitals have programs that help people quit smoking, or hospital staff can refer you to a program. Ask your family members and friends to support you in your efforts to quit. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke. (Secondhand smoke is smoke in the air from other people smoking.)
The Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI) Smoking and Your Heart article and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's "Your Guide to a Healthy Heart" booklet have more information about how to quit smoking.
Other treatments for COPD may include medicines, vaccines, pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab), oxygen therapy, and surgery. Your doctor also may recommend tips for managing COPD complications.
The goals of COPD treatment include:
Relieving your symptoms
Slowing the progress of the disease
Improving your exercise tolerance (your ability to stay active)
Preventing and treating complications
Improving your overall health
Specialists involved
To assist with your treatment, your family doctor may advise you to see a pulmonologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating people who have lung disorders.
Bronchodilators relax the muscles around your airways. This helps open your airways and makes breathing easier.
Depending on how severe your disease is, your doctor may prescribe short-acting or long-acting bronchodilators. Short-acting bronchodilators last about 4 to 6 hours and should be used only when needed. Long-acting bronchodilators last about 12 hours or more and are used every day.
Most bronchodilators are taken using a device called an inhaler. This device allows the medicine to go right to your lungs. Not all inhalers are used the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the correct way to use your inhaler.
If your COPD is mild, your doctor may only prescribe a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. In this case, you may only use the medicine when symptoms occur.
If your COPD is moderate or severe, your doctor may prescribe regular treatment with short- and long-acting bronchodilators.
Inhaled steroids are used to treat people whose COPD symptoms flare up or worsen. These medicines may reduce airway inflammation.
Your doctor may ask you to try inhaled steroids for a trial period of 6 weeks to 3 months to see whether the medicine helps relieve your breathing problems.
The flu (influenza) can cause serious problems for people who have COPD. Flu shots can reduce your risk of the flu. Talk with your doctor about getting a yearly flu shot.
This vaccine lowers your risk of pneumococcal pneumonia (nu-MO-ne-ah) and its complications. People who have COPD are at higher risk of pneumonia than people who don't have COPD. Talk with your doctor about whether you should get this vaccine.
Pulmonary rehabilitation, or rehab, is a medically supervised program that helps improve the health and well-being of people who have lung problems.
Rehab may include an exercise program, disease management training, and nutritional and psychological counseling. The program's goal is to help you stay more active and carry out your daily activities.
Your rehab team may include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, and dietitians. These health professionals work together and with you to create a program that meets your needs.
If you have severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in your blood, oxygen therapy can help you breathe better. For this treatment, you're given oxygen through nasal prongs or a mask.
You may need extra oxygen all the time or just sometimes. For some people who have severe COPD, using extra oxygen for most of the day can help them:
Do tasks or activities, while having fewer symptoms
Protect their hearts and other organs from damage
Sleep more during the night and improve alertness during the day
In rare cases, surgery may benefit some people who have COPD. Surgery usually is a last resort for people who have severe symptoms that have not improved from taking medicines. Surgeries for people who have COPD that's mainly related to emphysema include bullectomy (bul-EK-to-me) and lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). A lung transplant may be done for people who have very severe COPD.
When the walls of the air sacs are destroyed, larger air spaces called bullae form. These air spaces can become so large that they interfere with breathing. In a bullectomy, doctors remove one or more very large bullae from the lungs.
In LVRS, surgeons remove damaged tissue from the lungs. This helps the lungs work better. In carefully selected patients, LVRS can improve breathing and quality of life.
A lung transplant may benefit some people who have very severe COPD. During a lung transplant, your damaged lung is removed and replaced with a healthy lung from a deceased donor.
A lung transplant can improve your lung function and quality of life. However, lung transplants have a high risk of complications. These include infections and death due to the body rejecting the transplanted lung.
If you have very severe COPD, talk with your doctor about whether a lung transplant is an option. Discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of this type of surgery.