Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a
group of diseases that affect the lungs. The disease makes it difficult to breath and progressively gets worse.
About
15 million
Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and it’s estimated that an
additional 12 million people have the disease but don’t know it.
There are two main types of COPD: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. If you
have emphysema, the
problem is that many of the walls between the air sacs in your lungs are
damaged or have become less elastic. If you have
chronic bronchitis, your airways are always swollen and irritated, which creates more mucus
and can cause clogs.
While COPD can’t be cured,
it often is preventable and treatable. Here’s a guide to COPD, its causes, its effects, and how to manage it.
Table of Contents
Causes
As many as 90 percent of all COPD cases may be caused by smoking. Other
causes include inhaling secondhand smoke, air pollution, and workplace dust
and fumes.
While COPD
most frequently occurs
in people 40 and older who smoke or have smoked cigarettes, as many as one
in four of people with it have never smoked. Some of those people have a
rare genetic condition called
alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. AAT is an enzyme that helps protect your lungs from the harmful effects of
inflammation, which can be caused by smoke, air pollution, dust, fumes, and
other irritants.
Symptoms
The symptoms of COPD generally include:
• Shortness of breath; a phlegmy cough
• Chest tightness
• Wheezing
• A whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe
Diagnosis
Doctors can usually determine whether you have COPD by reviewing your
symptoms, discussing your family and medical history, and asking if you’ve
had any exposure to lung irritants — especially cigarette smoke. They also
may have you take
several tests, including ones that measure how well your lungs are functioning by the
amount of air they can inhale and exhale; how fast they can exhale; and how
well they can deliver oxygen to your blood.
Other tests your doctor may order include chest X-rays or CT scans, or lab
tests. While a lab test can’t confirm a COPD diagnosis, it may help
determine the cause of your symptoms or rule out other conditions.
Remedies
COPD can’t be cured, but there are
treatments
for it. In some cases, lifestyle changes can help people manage the
disease’s symptoms, reduce its progression, and stay active.
If you have COPD, the most important thing to do is reduce your exposure to
irritants. If you smoke, quitting should be your top priority. You also
should limit your exposure to second-hand smoke, fumes, dust, and air
pollution.
To help manage your COPD, you should see your doctor regularly. They can
keep track of how the disease is progressing, help you manage exacerbations,
make sure you’re vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, and prescribe various
medications. Your doctor may also put you on a
pulmonary rehabilitation program, which can include an exercise program and nutritional and psychological
counseling.
If you have severe COPD, you may need an oxygen tank to breathe properly.
For very severe COPD (typically emphysema), surgery may be needed to remove
damaged lung tissues or
replace your lungs.
COPD and COVID-19
People with COPD are vulnerable to severe outcomes if they become infected
with COVID-19. COPD causes chronic inflammation and damage to the airways
and lung tissue, making it more difficult to fight off respiratory
infections like COVID-19.
Health conditions that are sometimes associated with COPD — such as heart
disease, hypertension, and diabetes — are also risk factors for severe
illness from COVID-19.
It’s also important to note that the risk of becoming severely sick from a
COVID-19 infection increases with age, and COPD is commonly seen in older
adults.
The following preventive measures may help people with COPD reduce their
risk of COVID-19 infection:
- Getting vaccinated against COVID-19
-
Wearing a mask, especially in crowded indoor settings or when you’re in
close contact with others -
Regularly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or
using hand sanitizer - Reducing your exposure to crowded places and poorly ventilated areas
Summary
You can greatly reduce your chances of getting COPD by not smoking or
quitting the habit now. For those that are diagnosed with the disease, there
are treatments available to slow its progression, manage its symptoms, and
minimize its effects.
