Tag Archive for: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The Treatments, Causes, And Symptoms of COPD

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Shortness of breath, wheezing while climbing stairs, a lingering cough — these symptoms could be attributed to COPD. You may have heard the acronym COPD tossed around without truly knowing what this disease, or rather group of diseases entails. Millions of Americans are affected by COPD, and many of them are not even aware that they have it.

If you or someone you know have been diagnosed with COPD, or think you may be suffering from COPD, here is everything you need to know about the condition.

What Is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of respiratory diseases that cause breathing-related issues by obstructing airflow. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. COPD is a major cause of death in the United States.

Chronic Bronchitis is a consistent inflammation of the air pathways to the lungs during a longer period of time. The risk of chronic bronchitis increases with age. Emphysema causes damage to the air sacs in your lungs. More than 90% of emphysema cases are in people over the age of 45.

Symptoms Of COPD

In many cases of COPD, symptoms develop gradually over time. Early symptoms include shortness of breath and becoming easily exhausted. Later, people may develop a cough, which can produce mucus, phlegm or even blood. Patients often feel a tightness in their chest and physical activity can make breathing extremely difficult.

COPD also makes people more susceptible to other diseases such as the flu, pneumonia and the common cold. People with COPD may also have an increased risk of dangerous diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Causes Of COPD

In the United States, one of the key factors in developing COPD is smoking. Other elements such as pollution, genetics and respiratory infections also play a role, but at a lesser scale than smoking for most adult Americans.

Treatment For COPD

For some, the simplest treatment for COPD if you are a smoker is to quit smoking. While quitting itself isn’t easy, it will ease the symptoms of COPD and prevent it from worsening. Talk to your doctor about medications and products that may help with quitting. Other options are medications that treat the symptoms of COPD, such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids.

 Oxygen therapy may be prescribed if there isn’t enough oxygen in your lungs, requiring supplemental oxygen to be added via a medical device. Some with COPD carry around lightweight oxygen tanks that are portable and make it easier for them to get around without their symptoms of COPD weighing down on their daily tasks.

Lastly, your doctor may recommend a pulmonary rehabilitation program. In the program, you’ll work with specialists who combine exercise, advice, counseling, and education to improve your overall quality of life.

COPD Support Group

Living with COPD is difficult. People with COPD often have to sacrifice things they once loved to the disease, like physical activity, making it hard to adjust. It can help to share your experience with family, friends and your doctor, or consider a support group with other people suffering from COPD.

More Information

If you suspect you may have COPD, make an appointment with one of our pulmonary specialists, who will be able to run tests to diagnose whether or not you have the disease. And, as always, be sure to make any positive lifestyle changes you can control, such as quitting smoking or changing your diet. To book an appointment, contact us today!

The Difference Between Asthma And COPD

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It’s safe to say that nearly anyone who’s ever had a cold knows what it’s like to not be able to breathe properly. In fact, it’s probably one of the worst parts of being sick. But, when symptoms like this persist, or when they happen when a cold isn’t present, then it’s likely that the root of the issue is a respiratory disease.

Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are two of the most common kinds of lung disease. Given that the main symptoms for both of them are coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, it’s often difficult to identify which condition you have. Despite their similarity in symptoms, both Asthma and COPD have some very distinct differences that allow for them to be easily told apart.

Asthma Vs. COPD

Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. While most of the symptoms of Asthma and COPD are the same, the way in which they present themselves is largely different.

Most people who suffer from asthma are diagnosed as children. Though the disease is always there, it may not always show symptoms. Rather, the symptoms of asthma come and go depending on “triggers” such as environmental factors, air quality, physical activity, dust, dander, pet hair, etc.

Though there is no clear reason why people develop asthma, most studies have shown it to be a genetic occurrence. And, last of all, asthma is not generally known as a progressive disorder. Meaning that the disorder may improve over time and some people come to completely overcome it.

COPD Vs. Asthma

COPD is an umbrella term used to diagnose people with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a combination of both. COPD symptoms are very much like those of asthma, but they are distinguishably different in a few aspects.

Most of the people diagnosed with COPD are adults, usually 40 or older. This is likely because COPD develops over time as a result of lifestyle factors such as smoking. The symptoms of COPD are milder than those of people with asthma but they are constant, and when patients with COPD are around “triggers” their symptoms become much worse. COPD is also progressive, which means that it will likely become more serious over time. Nonetheless, there are ways to stabilize and manage the disease.

Asthma Treatment Options & COPD Treatment Options

In many cases, both lung diseases treatments are the same, such as Bronchodilators and inhalable steroids, but there are also a few treatment options that are specific to each condition.

People with asthma may be encouraged to stay away from triggers or avoid going outdoors when pollen levels are high. In cases of people with severe asthma, a bronchial thermoplasty may be recommended. The procedure burns off some of the muscles in the airway, reducing their ability to constrict.

On the other hand, people with COPD may be encouraged to alter lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, to help prevent any further damage. They may also be prescribed oxygen or pulmonary rehabilitation. In severe cases of COPD, procedures like lung volume reduction surgeries and lung transplants may be suggested.

Both Asthma and COPD are treatable diseases that will require some lifestyle changes. Staying informed on your options and taking care of your health is very important in managing lung diseases. For any further questions about these conditions and their treatments, click the link below!

6 Things You Didn’t Know About COPD

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, more commonly known as COPD, is caused by inhaling pollutants, second-hand smoke, and genetics. Signs of COPD are breathlessness, wheezing and constant coughing, and tightness in the chest. These symptoms can easily be confused with a simple cold or just the effects of getting older, but COPD can get worse as time goes on and is highly recommended to get treated. 

If diagnosed with COPD, do not get discouraged. There are many treatments and ways to slow progression. It is a growing disease that doctors are very familiar with, so you should never feel as if your case is a lost cause.

Read More: Can I Still Get COPD If I Don’t Smoke?

You may have heard the acronym before, but here are 6 things you didn’t know about COPD:

  1. Almost 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease.
  2. It kills 120,000 people in America every year. This places it as the third leading cause of death in the country.
  3. A healthy diet can actually help lower your risk for getting COPD later in life. Eat foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, and E.
  4. Working out and getting regular exercise can help lower your risk or improve symptoms if you have already been diagnosed. During the exercise, you could experience heavy coughing and aggravation, but it helps in the long term.
  5. Although smokers are at a higher risk, all people over 40 can be affected and should talk to their doctors if any symptoms are experienced.
  6. Emphysema goes hand in hand with COPD and is a lung disease with the same symptoms.

 If you or someone you know is worried about their lung health, seeing a pulmonologist is always a good idea. A pulmonologist is a specialized doctor that treat a numerous amount of lung diseases and can give patients options on how to reduce symptoms that might be putting a hold on their day to day life.

Can I Still Get COPD & Emphysema as a Non-Smoker?

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, more commonly known as COPD, is a disease that makes breathing more difficult as time passes. Symptoms are constant coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. Emphysema is another name for this long-term disease that affects about 11 million people in the United States. 

What are causes of COPD?

The most common cause of COPD is smoking. In fact, over 80 percent of COPD patients suffer because of their smoking habits. The chemicals in cigarettes ruin the defense system in your lungs and can weaken and narrow the airways causing the symptoms listed before. 

Are Non-Smokers Safe from COPD?

Although smoking is the number one cause to this disease, it is not the only one. Non-smokers can suffer, too. It is not as likely, but it is possible and new non-smoking patients are added to the 11 million existing COPD sufferers every day.

What causes COPD if you’re not a smoker?

  • The environment – The environment is one reason for non-smokers getting COPD. Though these patients are not purposefully inhaling chemicals and toxins, they are breathing in everyday air that holds these things. Air pollution cannot be avoided in today’s world. Chemicals can enter a person’s body without them even knowing it. Over time, this is what can lead to the chest disease.
  •  Genetics – Genetics can also cause non-smokers to have COPD. There is only one genetic deficiency known right now that causes this disease. This inherited deficiency is called Alpha-1 antitrypsin and can lead to lung and liver disease. 
  • Asthma – Asthma that goes untreated for a long time can also be a reason a non-smoker gets diagnosed with COPD. Asthma is a respiratory condition that can weaken the system over time. Without treatment, asthma can lead to other internal issues, such as COPD. Effects of asthma are very similar to the symptoms of COPD and should be watched carefully. 

If a person is experiencing any breathing problems that are out of the ordinary and seem like the symptoms of COPD or an obvious decrease in lung health, they should consult a pulmonologist no matter their smoking history. COPD is serious and has led to many deaths. The sooner the diagnosis, the sooner treatments can be started.