Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Overview

Whatis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also called COPD) isa chronic lung disease that includes two main illnesses: chronic bronchitis andemphysema (say: "em-fa-see-ma"). There is no cure for COPD.

Your lungs have 2 main parts: bronchial tubes (also calledairways) and alveoli (also called air sacs). When you breathe, the air movesdown your trachea (or wind pipe) through your bronchial tubes and into youralveoli. From the alveoli, oxygen goes into your blood while carbon dioxidemoves out of your blood.

If you have chronic bronchitis, the lining in your bronchialtubes gets red, swollen and full of mucus. This mucus blocks your tubes andmakes it hard to breathe.

If you have emphysema, your alveoli are irritated. They getstiff and can't hold enough air. This makes it hard for you to get oxygen intoand carbon dioxide out of your blood.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of COPD?

COPD can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Chronic, persistent cough
  • Increased mucus
  • Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
  • Wheezing
  • A tight feeling in the chest

Causes & Risk Factors

Whogets COPD?

About 12 million people in the United States have COPD. Thedisease develops over many years. It is almost always caused by cigarettesmoking. The best way to prevent or keep COPD from getting worse is to quitsmoking. Other irritants can also cause COPD. These include cigar smoke,secondhand smoke and air pollution. You may also be at risk if the air youbreathe at work contains an excessive amount of dust, fumes, smoke, gases,vapors or mists. Workers who smoke are at a much greater risk if they areexposed to substances in the workplace that can cause COPD.

Diagnosis & Tests

Howcan I find out if I have COPD?

Talk to your doctor if you experience any symptoms of COPD.Your doctor will ask you if you smoke or if you have been exposed to excessiveamounts of dust, fumes, smoke, gases, vapors or mists over a long period oftime.

Your doctor might give you a pulmonary function test. Thisis a special test to see how well your lungs are working. In this test, youtake deep breaths and then blow into a machine. The machine measures how deeplyyou can breathe and how fast you can move air in and out of your lungs. Youmight also have a chest X-ray. The X-ray can show signs of COPD. Your doctormay also suggest a blood test or a special test that analyzes your mucus.

Treatment

Howis COPD treated?

If you have COPD, the most important thing you can do is tostop smoking. This can stop or at least slow the damage to your lungs. Talk toyour doctor about how to stop smoking. If you quit smoking soon, you have abetter chance of living longer and being healthier.

Your doctor may also have you take some medicines to make youfeel better and breathe more easily. These medicines can include antibioticsand some medicines that you inhale (breathe in). You might need to takesteroids and antibiotics if you get a respiratory infection.

Some people with more advanced COPD need to use oxygen. Youbreathe the oxygen through tubes that you put in your nose or through a maskthat goes over your mouth and nose.

Patients with very serious COPD might have surgery. Theymight have a lung reduction operation or a lung transplant. These surgeries areusually done only in people who have not done well with other treatments.

Howdo I take inhaled medicines?

To take inhaled medicines, you might use a small handheldcanister or you might use a nebulizer machine to deliver a specific amount ofmedication to your lungs. A nebulizer machine turns liquid medicine into avapor (like a cloud) that you can breathe. This machine is often used to treatpeople with more serious COPD. It also helps people who have trouble usinghandheld inhalers.

Your doctor will tell you how to take your medicine. It isimportant to follow your doctor's instructions carefully so that your lungsreceive the right amount of medicine.

Complications

Whatare the complications of COPD?

If you have COPD, you might be more likely to get colds andflu. Because your heart can be strained, it will get bigger. You might havehigh pressure in the vessels that bring blood to your lungs.

You should have a flu shot every year. You should also havea pneumonia shot. You are less likely to get flu or pneumonia if you have theseshots. Rehabilitation and exercise programs specifically for people who haveCOPD may also be helpful.

A note about vaccines

Sometimes the amount of a certain vaccine cannot keep up with the number of people who need it. More info...

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

  • I'm not a smoker or ex-smoker. Howcould I have COPD?
  • I smoke. Will quitting really make adifference? How do I start?
  • What lifestyle changes can I make athome to help reduce my symptoms?
  • What treatment options are best for me?Will I need oxygen?
  • What are the health risks associatedwith COPD?
  • Do I need any vaccines?
  • Is it safe for me to exercise? Whatkind of exercise can I do?
  • Will my symptoms get worse?

Source

COPD: Management of Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Stable Disease by MH Hunter, MD; DE King, MD (American Family Physician August 15, 2001, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010815/603.html)

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