Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). COPD is not curable but can be treated and managed through the help of your physician and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What exactly is COPD?
COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused by damage to the airways or other parts of the lung that blocks airflow and makes it difficult to breathe. The two main forms of COPD are emphysema and asthmatic bronchitis.
The best way to prevent COPD is to refrain from smoking. Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of COPD, and long-term exposure to tobacco smoke greatly increases your odds of developing this pulmonary disease. If you already are a smoker, you should quit immediately. If you need assistance in quitting, you should consult your physician about nicotine replacement products and medications.
If you do not smoke, you should also limit your long-term exposure to secondhand smoke because it can contain certain toxic chemicals such as benzene, carbon monoxide, and cyanide. Particles from secondhand smoke can stay in the air for hours, so prolonged exposure can increase your risk for developing COPD.
The symptoms of COPD may include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and tightness of the chest. COPD develops slowly over time, so the long-term effects of these symptoms can cause serious damage. In severe cases, basic activities such as walking, getting dressed and light exercise can cause shortness of breath and make it difficult to complete these tasks.
If you think that you might suffer from COPD, you should consult your physician. There are a few tests your physician might conduct to determine the cause of your symptoms:
- Arterial blood gas analysis – Blood is taken from an artery and is tested for how well your lungs are bringing oxygen to your blood.
- Sputum examination – The mucus, or sputum, you might cough up is analyzed and this will help rule out certain cancers.
- Spirometry test- A clamp will go over your noise, and you will breathe into a tube while trying to exhale as hard as you can. The tube is attached to the spirometer, which will measure the airflow rate.
Since COPD is caused by long-term lung damage, there is no cure for this disease. However, there are some ways to help control your symptoms and reduce the risk of further damage to your lungs. If you are a smoker, the first thing that you should do is stop smoking immediately. This is a vital step to take to ensure that your symptoms do not progress into more serious problems.
There are a few medications you can take to treat your respiratory ailment. Bronchodilator is medication that usually is in the form of an inhaler and will relax your airways. Inhaled steroids can also help by reducing the inflammation in your airways. Antibiotics can assist with and help fight infections. All medications should be taken under the care of a physician.
Oxygen therapy might be recommended if you are not getting enough oxygen. Patients can use oxygen when doing light activities or sleeping. Portable oxygen tanks are useful for daily activities.
There might be some activities you have to give up when living with COPD. However, there are various things you can do to help you manage living with COPD:
- Ask your doctor for breathing techniques to do throughout the day to help when you find yourself short of breath.
- Keeping yourself healthy with exercise and diet will keep the rest of your body strong.
- Vaccinate yourself to help avoid worsening of symptoms. Vaccinations are the greatest defense against respiratory illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia.
- Minimize cold air exposure to help avoid triggering shortness of breath.
- Attending support groups will help you by sharing your emotions and fears with people who know what it is like to live with COPD. Search out local support groups for you and your caregiver to better support yourself and your loved ones.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help keep your body healthy and avoid unnecessary illnesses that will further infect your respiratory problems.
For more information about COPD and the treatment of COPD, please visit www.mayoclinic.com or www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.
This information is for educational purposes. Please consult your physician regarding any medical issues. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is committed to bringing trusted and quality home health, private care and hospice to Indian River County patients. For more information about VNA services, call 772-567-5551 or visit www.vnatc.com.
