Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: What you should know

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disease of the lungs characterised by airflow limitation. The airflow limitation is attributed to two types of COPD diseases, namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is characterised by excessive cough and sputum production. Emphysema refers to shortness of breath and the destruction of lung tissue. If you are dealing with COPD, the inflammatory response of your lungs to air pollutants and gases will keep on progressing. If left untreated, it can lead to severe respiratory infections and heart problems.

COPD Symptoms

It is mostly characterised by shortness of breath. Symptoms may be mild or barely noticeable initially, but they can worsen when left untreated. COPD signs and symptoms vary with COPD stages.

Stage 1 or Initial stage:

Stage 1 shows mild symptoms such as cough and increased mucus production. You may also mistakenly take these symptoms for the flu.

Stage 2 or the mild stage:

Stage 2 is characterised by frequent coughing, shortness of breath after physical activity, and an urge to clear the throat, especially after waking up in the morning.

Stage 3 or severe stage:

Stage 3 is characterised by Shortness of breath even after light physical activity, tightened chest, wheezing, trouble taking deep breaths, frequent colds, and swelling in ankles.

Stage 4 or very severe stage:

Stage 4 is characterised by low blood oxygen levels, fatigue, and difficulty breathing even at rest.

COPD causes

It is caused by long-term exposure to smoking, harmful particles, gases, air pollutants, and dust. A rare genetic condition, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), can also cause COPD.

Complications of COPD

People with COPD are susceptible to certain risk factors, including heart problems, diabetes, mobility problem, poor health, memory loss, social isolation, and even depression.

COPD Diagnosis

The diagnosis of COPD includes a set of questions on your medical history, your symptoms, your smoking history, and your family history of the disease. A physical examination is also performed with a stethoscope to listen to your breathing. Besides, lung function tests, a chest x-ray or CT scan, and blood tests are also conducted to diagnose COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment

It is not a curable disease. The treatment options for COPD can ease symptoms, prevent severity, and slow the disease’s progression. You should consult a lung specialist or pulmonologist to get COPD treated. The treatment options for COPD are listed below:

1. Oxygen therapy

Your doctor may recommend oxygen therapy if your blood oxygen levels are low. You may use an oxygen mask and nasal prongs at home to fulfil oxygen levels in your body.

2. Medications

The medications available for COPD include

• Inhaled bronchodilators: These are inhaled to help to relax muscles of the airways and make breathing easier.
• Corticosteroids: These are inhaled to reduce inflammation in bronchial tubes quickly.
• Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors help reduce swelling, open airways, and make breathing easier.
• Theophylline: It works like a bronchodilator and is cost-effective. It is available as a pill and helps your lungs work better.
• Antibiotics and antivirals: Antibiotics can kill bacteria and treat lungs infection. It also prevents CPOD symptoms from getting severe by infection.

3. Surgery

It is recommended only if none of the above treatment options is not working. The surgeries done for COPD include bullectomy and lung volume reduction surgery. Lung transplantation is a rare case. It is followed by a high risk and lifetime dependency on medications.

4. Pulmonary rehabilitation:

The exercise program, COPD management training, nutritional counselling and psychological counselling programs under pulmonary rehabilitation help people to deal with chronic breathing problems.

COPD Prevention

COPD can be prevented by making a few alterations in your lifestyle and eating habits. These changes include

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking will not only prevent but also slow the progression of COPD symptoms. You can always seek medical guidance to help you quit smoking.

Read more– Harmful effects of cigarette smoking on health

Reducing exposure to air pollutants

You can avoid exposure to air pollutants near you by avoiding open fires, avoiding spraying paint or insect repellent, and wearing a protective face mask while stepping out or even dusting and cleaning.

Improving air quality at home

You can improve the air quality at your home by using air filtration systems, creating good Ventilation, and avoiding inhaling fragrances or fumes in the kitchen directly.

Managing stress levels

Anxiety and depression may also trigger COPD. Therefore, it’s recommended to manage your stress levels by following stress management techniques such as exercise, yoga, meditation, a healthy diet, and socialising.

Maintaining a healthy weight

Your being underweight can also make you susceptible to breathing problems. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight is recommended to improve your breathing ability.

Having adequate Vitamin D

Adequate vitamin D levels in your body can also reduce the risk of COPD outbreaks and slow disease progress.

Read more – Causes of vitamin D deficiency

Conclusion

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an irreversible disease of the lungs characterised by breathing difficulty. A person with COPD may have chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or both. Since there is no cure for COPD, it is better to take precautionary measures to avoid the onset of this disease. Quitting smoking is the best preventive measure for COPD. It’s also essential to wear protective masks before stepping out of the home or even at home while cleaning and dusting activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: The information given in this article is true to our best knowledge. Still, we recommend you consult your doctor before taking any medication or treatment mentioned in this article.