Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The disease is increasingly common, affecting millions of Americans, and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. The good news is COPD is often preventable and treatable. Here you'll find information, resources and tools to help you understand COPD, manage treatment and lifestyle changes, find support and take action. What is COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. Key Points
How Does COPD Affect your Body COPD is a progressive lung disease, which means it gets worse over time. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe because less air flows in and out of the airways in your lungs. This happens when:
Airways become thick and inflamed.
Airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.
Lung tissue is destroyed.
Too much mucus is made and blocks (obstructs) airways.
When you're getting less air, less oxygen gets into body tissues and it gets harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. This results in shortness of breath during everyday activities. People with COPD can experience fatigue, chronic cough and frequent respiratory infections as well. People with COPD are also at risk for other health problems including heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. Because it's hard to breathe, staying active with COPD can be difficult—especially as the disease progresses. Having COPD can limit things such as:
Ability to work
Normal physical exertion
Household chores
Social activities
Sleeping
Family activities
How Serious Is COPD COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 11 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it. COPD causes serious long-term disability and early death. At this time there is no cure, and the number of people dying from COPD is growing. Missing the Warning Signs COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced because people do not know the early warning signs. Sometimes people think they are short of breath or less able to take part in their normal activities because they are "just getting older." What Are COPD Symptoms? Many people don't recognize the symptoms of COPD until later stages of the disease. Sometimes people think they are short of breath or less able to go about their normal activities because they are "just getting older." But shortness of breath is never normal. If you experience any of these symptoms, or think you might be at risk for COPD, it is important to discuss this with your doctor.
Chronic cough
Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea)
Frequent respiratory infections
Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)
Fatigue
Producing a lot of mucus (also called phlegm or sputum)
Wheezing
Causes The main cause of COPD is smoking, but nonsmokers can get COPD too. Over time, exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is smoking, but nonsmokers can get COPD too. Smoking Your Environment What you breathe every day at work, home and outside can play a role in developing COPD. Long-term exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke and dust, fumes and chemicals (which are often work-related) can cause COPD. Preventing COPD Smoking is the biggest risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It increases your risk of both developing and dying from COPD. Approximately 85 to 90 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking. Female smokers are nearly 13 times as likely to die from COPD as women who have never smoked; male smokers are nearly 12 times as likely to die from COPD as men who have never smoked.
Other risk factors for COPD include:
Exposure to air pollution
Breathing secondhand smoke
Working with chemicals, dust and fumes
A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency
A history of childhood respiratory infection
5 Steps to Reduce Your Risk for COPD
If you are concerned about getting COPD, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
COPD Medications A variety of medicines are used to treat COPD and there is no "best" medicine for all people. Each person's COPD is different and your doctor and healthcare team will work with you to set up the best plan to address your symptoms and needs. By taking the right medicine at the right time, you can:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation If you or someone you love suffers from chronic lung disease like COPD, there is hope for rebuilding strength and enjoying a fuller, more active life. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs typically combine education, exercise training, nutrition advice and counseling. Supplemental Oxygen Your body needs oxygen to do everything from digesting food, daily household chores, to going to the grocery store. Sometimes with COPD, your breathing becomes restricted so much that the body needs extra oxygen or supplemental oxygen (also called oxygen therapy). Lung Transplants Sometimes COPD can cause severe damage to the lungs, causing them not to function normally. Your doctor may recommend a lung transplant if the damage is not repairable. Lung transplants can improve your ability to breathe and be active. However, like any major operation, you should consider the risks and complications, such as organ rejection or needing to take immune suppressing medications daily. Talk to your doctor about trained staff at our Lung Helpline to find out more information about how and where to receive a lung transplant evaluation or the process for becoming an organ donor. Palliative Care and COPD Palliative care, also known as supportive care, is key in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This care is focused on helping you achieve the best possible quality of life. It is appropriate for all people living with COPD regardless of stage or prognosis. If you or a loved one has COPD, palliative care can help you in several ways including:
What Are the Benefits of Palliative Care? Palliative care improves quality of life by relieving overwhelming physical and emotional symptoms and improving communication with your healthcare providers. Living with COPD It is inevitable that your life will change after being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may not be as easy to do the things you used to do before. Not only are there physical challenges, there are emotional challenges too. The good news is that you can find support to help you make lifestyle changes, better manage your COPD and enhance your quality of life. Managing COPD Create a management plan to track your medication and healthcare needs, learn about nutrition and exercise, get advice on coping with emotions and see how to plan your future care with your doctors and caregivers. Finding Support An important part of living with COPD is finding the right support, both for you and your caregivers. See where you can find help from others who share common experiences, get tips on paying for care and learn how you can advocate to improve the lives of others with COPD. SOURCE: http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/?referrer=https://www.google.com.ph/
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