Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes
obstructive airflow to the lungs. COPD causes airways to become narrowed, which makes it harder to
exhale quickly, resulting in air getting trapped in the chest. COPD is mainly caused by lung damage
incurred due to breathing in harmful elements in the air, smoking, exposure to harmful fumes etc. COPD
is generally common among people whose jobs require them to be exposed to dust, fumes and chemicals.

The most common forms of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis and it is often seen that people
with COPD generally suffer from both of these conditions simultaneously. Emphysema is a disease which
damages the air sacs in lungs which ultimately leads to interference in outward air flow. Bronchitis on the
other hand causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes (tubes which carry air into the
lungs) resulting in excessive build-up of mucus.

The main risk factors of COPD include:

 Smoking: People who smoke are at a larger risk to develop COPD. This includes cigarette or
cigar smokers, pipe smokers, marijuana smokers and even people who are exposed to secondhand
smoke.
 People diagnosed with Asthma: Asthma could be a potential risk factor for developing COPD as
it is a disease which affects the airways.
 Exposure to fumes, harmful smoke, dust, chemicals and other harmful substances present in the
air.
 Genetics: COPD could also be inherited from family members who are suffering from lung
diseases.

Symptoms of COPD

Symptoms of COPD can be mild initially but get worse gradually. A few early symptoms of COP are:

 Occasional shortness of breath, especially after arduous physical labor.

 Mild cough which might become recurrent.
 Build-up of mucus in the throat and an urge to clear the throat early in the morning.

The early symptoms of COPD are mild and are often mistaken for a cold. But if let unattended, these
symptoms will progressively become worse. Some later symptoms of COPD are:

 Shortness of breath even after mild physical activity

 Wheezing
 Chest tightness
 Frequent need to clear mucus from the throat
 Suffering from frequent respiratory diseases like colds, flu etc.
 Fatigue
 Weight loss (extreme case)
 Swelling of feet and ankles (extreme case)
Treatment of COPD

A patient suffering from the aforementioned symptoms should immediately consult with doctors and get
immediate medical attention. COPD is generally diagnosed by running tests such as:

 Spirometry: A test which is run to determine the capacity of lung function.

 Chest X-ray and blood tests.
 BMI calculation.
 A doctor might also run other tests to know how well the patients lungs functioning, check the
level of oxygen in blood etc.

Although there is no definite cure for COPD, there are treatments or changes one can make in their
lifestyles that might decelerate the progression of the conditions and reduce certain symptoms associated
with the disease. The fundamental treatments of COPD are:

 Undergoing treatment and professional help to quit smoking.

 Get flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
 Performing exercises such as pulmonary rehabilitation.
 Consume medications that help reduce symptoms such as breathlessness or COPD flare-ups.

Further intensive health care might also be recommended for patients who suffer from serious symptoms.
This healthcare includes:

 Oxygen therapy
 Non-evasive ventilation
 Surgery

Managing COPD

Since COPD is a disease without a definite cure, living with it does come with its fair share of challenges.
COPD makes living a satisfactory life difficult as the people suffering from it have to constantly be
careful about triggering their symptoms. This proves to be an emotional burden on them as well since
they are constantly worried about their condition. Such emotional burden might lead to other mental
conditions such as severe anxiety or depression. But despite lacking a proper cure, the symptoms of
COPD and its progression can be reduced by undergoing the right treatment and by bringing substantial
change into one’s lifestyle. The first step to managing one’s condition is to be aware about the condition.
A patient suffering from COPD should know about their symptoms, causes which led to the disease,
medication and on how to deal with symptoms or flare- ups on a daily basis. It is generally seen that
people who are able to manage COPD without consuming drugs find their practices to be more effective.
A few effective measures one can take to manage COPD are:

 Keeping active and exercising: It has been noticed that keeping active and performing exercises
can yield a considerable amount of positive change into a COPD patient’s life. Being active and
performing the right kind of exercises can improve breathing problems, fitness and the overall
quality of life. Exercising strengthens muscles and thus helps conditions such as breathlessness.
 Regular exercising and physical activities can also improve heart conditions and help prevent
conditions such as irregular blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. A person suffering from
COPD can learn how to exercise with a lung condition by taking part in pulmonary rehabilitation
courses along with performing other physical activities such as yoga, tai chi, waking, gardening
etc. It has been testified by a lot of people that pulmonary rehabilitation classes have brought
considerable improvement in their daily lives and has made living with COP more tolerable.

 Breath control: Breathing exercises are essential in managing COPD as they can help control
breathlessness. Breathing techniques such as Blow-as-you-go, Paced breathing, Pursed-lip
breathing along with different breathing postures can help one cope with breathlessness and can
make one take control of one’s breathing. A COPD patient who is aware of which breathing
technique or posture helps them alleviate breathlessness can activate or practice that technique
when they feel short of breath. Therefore a COPD patient should strive to join a breathing
exercise class or a group. It has also been seen that many COPD patients who have joined singing
classes have talked about how it has helped them reduce breathing difficulties.

 Eating healthy: Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is extremely beneficial not only for
COPD patients, but for everyone. A COPD patient must strive to maintain a healthy as being
overweight can make conditions such as breathlessness worse. A COPD patient should work out
a proper nutritional scheme with the help of their doctor or a dietician. A doctor might even
recommend nutritional supplements if necessary.

 Emotional wellbeing: As mentioned earlier, a chronic disease such as COPD can take a heavy
mental toll on an individual. Physical symptoms such as breathlessness and coughing can make
one frustrated, anxious and depressed. It has been found that there is a greater risk of anxiety and
depression in patients who have severe COPD, patients who have been admitted to hospitals and
patients with low oxygen levels. Therefore it is essential that a person suffering from such mental
trauma does not ignore these symptoms. One should consult with a GP or professional and talk
things out instead of bottling them up. One should talk to their health care specialist about
medication or counseling. One can also join a local group and communicate with people who
have been through similar experiences.

 Getting enough rest: A person suffering from COPD should get enough rest and sleep in order to
keep their energy levels high. It has been reported that many COPD patients have difficulties
falling asleep. People suffering from this problem should discuss it with their health are expert.

 Advance care planning: A COPD should plan in advance about their treatments with the help of
their doctors so that they know what to do in case their symptoms become worse.