What You Need to Know About COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, more commonly known as COPD, is not new, but the label is. It is a new category of illnesses that people have dealt with for ages. COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma.

Most individuals also experience breathing difficulty during daily tasks, yard work, exercise, or, sometimes when doing something quite simple with little exertion. This loss of air can be a direct result of  COPD, and if you are experiencing this symptom, you should see your doctor at once.

What Causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Most COPD patients are at least 40 years old and have at least some history of cigarette smoking. The longer you use tobacco products, the higher risk you have of developing COPD. Risk factors also include cigar and pipe smoking and secondhand smoke. Having asthma also puts patients at an increased risk of COPD.

A genetic disorder called AAT deficiency, involving an insufficient amount of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin, is present in about 5% of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. This deficiency causes lung damage and frequently affects the liver.

You can also develop COPD if you have repeated workplace exposure to lung irritants like chemicals and fumes. Long-term exposure to air pollution and inhaling dust are other factors.

The Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

About 16 million Americans have a COPD diagnosis. This lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More women than men die from it. Severe COPD is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Projections indicate the number of patients diagnosed with COPD will increase by 150% from 2010 to 2030 due to an agi

COPD is a progressive and (currently) incurable disease, but with the correct diagnosis and treatment, there are many things you can do to manage your COPD and breathe better. People can live for many years with COPD and enjoy life.

COPD Signs and Symptoms

When you breathe in, air passes through your main airways to the tiny air sacs at the end. When air arrives at these air sacs, it is supposed to inflate like balloons and then deflate when you breathe out.

In a person with COPD, these airways and tiny sacs become like stretched-out rubber bands. They lose their shape and become floppy, which makes them less likely to function fully.

COPD makes breathing harder. Symptoms may be mild at first, beginning with intermittent coughing and shortness of breath. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more constant, making breathing increasingly difficult.

You may experience wheezing and tightness in the chest or have excess sputum production. Some people with COPD have acute exacerbations, which are flare-ups of severe symptoms.

Early Mild Symptoms

Many people mistake mild symptoms for a cold. You might mistake them for a cold. Early symptoms include:

• Occasional shortness of breath, especially after exercise
• Mild, recurrent cough
• Clearing your throat often, especially first thing in the morning

Worsening Symptoms

COPD is a progressive disease, with symptoms getting worse and harder to ignore. As this lung disease inflicts more damage, patients may experience:

• Shortness of breath even after even mild forms of exercise
• Wheezing, especially during exhalations
• Chest tightness
• Chronic cough
• Need to clear mucus daily
• Frequent colds, flu, or respiratory infections
• Lack of energy

Severe COPD Symptoms

Patients in the latter stages of COPD experience even more difficulty breathing along with:

• Fatigue
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs
• Weight loss
• Increased shortness of breath
• Increased breathlessness
• Increased tightness in the chest

Living With Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Before receiving treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you should undergo several tests to determine whether you have this lung disease or another type of disorder. Among the procedures you doctor may order are an arterial blood gas test, spirometry to assess lung function and imaging tests like X-rays or a CT scans to assess your lung arteries, the presence of heart disease and other factors that can affect your health.

There is no cure for COPD. Nevertheless, you can manage the disease through COPD lifestyle changes, the most important of which is quitting smoking. Other disease control measures include maintaining a healthy weight and managing high blood pressure to help reduce symptoms.

Schedule Your COPD Diagnosis and Consultation

If you believe you are developing COPD and want to halt its progression, the VIVAA's healthcare professionals can help you modify your lifestyle through a workable plan and various treatment options. Contact our Seattle medical spa today by calling 425-250-9999 or completing our Request an Appointment form.