If
you've ever had trouble breathing, you know how scary the feeling can be. If
your breathing problem is diagnosed as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you might fear that it's only going to get
worse. With the right treatment, that’s not necessarily true.
COPD is
a lung disease with two main forms (many people have both at the same time).
The first, chronic bronchitis, is an inflammation
of the breathing tubes that results in swollen, narrowed airways. The second,
emphysema, is the result of damage to the delicate alveoli (air sacs) in the
lungs. Damaged alveoli carry less oxygen to your bloodstream from the air you
inhale. They also trap stale air in your lungs so there's less room for fresh,
oxygen-rich air to enter.
Healthy
lungs are elastic like a new balloon. COPD decreases that elasticity, so the
tissue gets floppy. You can take air in, but you have a hard time getting the
old, unoxygenated air back out. It gets trapped in the lungs with every breath.
Symptoms of COPD can include a cough and shortness of breath during physical
activity.
These
symptoms are usually mild to begin with. You can even have COPD without having
symptoms, and without treatment get worse over time. If you're experiencing any
shortness
of breath,
it's important to see your doctor right away to figure out the cause. Below are
myths about COPD, and their truth.
You have to be a
smoker to get COPD-While it's true that about 75 percent of the estimated
30 million people with COPD in the U.S. are current or former smokers that's
not the only cause. The following are the most common causes besides smoking.
·
You can develop COPD from exposure to
secondhand smoke or other air pollutants like silica dust, concrete dust, and
chemical fumes.
·
If you grew up in a country where it's
common to use indoor wood fires for cooking, you might also be at risk.
·
A genetic disorder called Alpha-1
antitrypsin deficiency can cause COPD.
There's no truly
effective treatment for COPD-While COPD is not reversible, treatment can
greatly improve your quality of life by making it easier to breathe. If your
COPD is caused mainly by emphysema, your doctor may recommend that you use
supplemental oxygen. Chronic bronchitis that causes COPD is usually treated
with two kinds of medication.
·
Bronchodilators open
the airway by relaxing the irritated small muscles around it. They're usually
delivered through an inhaler, but some are also taken via tablet, liquid or
injection.
·
Inhaled corticosteroids
are used to reduce lung inflammation.
There's no point in
quitting smoking once you're diagnosed, since the damage is done-In that study,
active smokers with COPD who quit were able to significantly slow their loss of
lung function. Free smoking-cessation programs like Courage to Quit provides
tools for managing cravings, avoiding triggers and choosing over-the-counter
medications that can help.
If you have COPD, you
can't exercise-Exercise
is important to maintaining good quality of life after a COPD diagnosis. If
you're not moving around much because you're short of breath, you lose muscle
mass, bone mass and stamina. When you lose stamina, your shortness of breath
gets worse. It's a vicious cycle. Pulmonary
rehabilitation can
teach you safe exercises and breathing techniques. For example, your rehab
specialist might teach you how to do pursed-lip breathing, a way to release
trapped air and make every breath more effective. And you'll learn a customized
series of stretches; cardio and strength-building exercises that will help you
make you feel better by increasing your endurance and fitness.
COPD affects only the
lungs-Bronchitis
and emphysema affect lung tissue, but COPD can have effects throughout the
body. If you have low oxygen levels, your heart has to work harder. It's more
difficult for your heart to send blood through your lungs, and system pressure
builds up, which can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. When
COPD limits your physical activity, it can also affect your mental health with
social isolation and depression after their diagnosis. They do less with
friends because they feel they can't keep up. Remaining active gets you out of
the house and helps you stay socially engaged.
“Many times COPDers in the same stage and at the same level in that stage
can experience totally different symptoms and COPDers at different level and
stages can be having the same symptoms.” (“Same Devil – Different Levels, Same Level – Different
Devils”)[i]
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