Everything You Need to Know About COPD

4 minute read

By Chris Brown

Confronting a COPD diagnosis can be scary, but with the right knowledge and professional support, you can lead a long, healthy, and comfortable life. From symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and management strategies, the following facts can help you face this condition with confidence.

What is COPD?

COPD, short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a disease that obstructs the passage of air into the lungs. Generally, this happens as a result of two lung conditions occurring at the exact same time: chronic bronchitis and emphysema.1

Chronic bronchitis causes the bronchial tubes to be inflamed, which can lead to coughing and excess mucus production. Emphysema happens when the alveoli, which is the smallest air passage of the lungs, is destroyed by prolonged exposure to smoke or pollutants.

COPD is a condition that progressively worsens over time. There is no cure, but lifestyle changes in combination with personalized treatment strategies, the condition can be managed and the patient can’t live a good life.

Causes and Risk Factors

COPD is a condition that develops through long-term exposure to airborne irritants. Over time, this exposure can lead to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Primary causes of COPD include:

Genetics may play a role in the development of COPD as well. Physicians call it alpha-1 antitrypsin (AATD) deficiency. AATD is an inherited, genetic condition that inhibits the production of a protein called Alpha-1. Alpha-1 protects the lungs from the genetic form of emphysema. While smoking is far and away the leading cause of COPD, other risk factors include age, gender, and respiratory infections.2

Symptoms of COPD

Unfortunately, symptoms of COPD don’t begin to present themselves until a lot of damage has already been done. You should still familiarize yourself with the common and uncommon signs of this debilitating condition.3 Symptoms of COPD include:

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult a medical professional. You should seek immediate medical care if you are running a fever, can’t catch your breath, can’t slow your heartbeat at rest, or if you have trouble concentrating and feel foggy.

Diagnosis of COPD

Diagnosing COPD involves a thorough analysis of your symptoms and family history before running any tests. Should your doctor deem it necessary, they’ll likely run one or more of the following tests:

There’s no telling how many of the above tests you’ll be expected to undergo. These are just the tools that doctors have at their disposal. If your doctor determines that you do indeed have COPD, they’ll prescribe a combination of medical treatment options and lifestyle adjustments aimed to ease your symptoms and enhance the functionality of your lungs.

Treatment and Management

As touched on earlier, there is no cure for COPD. Instead, doctors rely on a combination of medical treatments, lifestyle changes, and surgery to off-set the damage and increase the patient’s quality of life.

Medical Treatments

Physicians rely on a variety of medications to treat COPD. Some must be administered on a regular basis while others can be used as needed. The most common medical treatments include:

Lifestyle Changes

In addition to medications, a doctor will likely prescribe a number of lifestyle changes to help enhance the lungs as well as mitigate risk.4 Some of these changes include:

Surgical Options

In some cases, where medication and treatment doesn’t work, surgery may be suggested to relieve symptoms.5 Surgical interventions for COPD include:

Breathe Easy With Personalized Support

COPD can impact a patient’s quality of life dramatically. It’s a lifestyle condition that is usually the result of prolonged exposure to harmful substances like smoke and pollution, though there are some genetic factors that can lead to the development of the disease. There is no cure, but personalized treatment plans that include lifestyle modifications, medication, and surgery can help ease discomfort and limit the severity of symptoms.

The key to living a long, healthy life with COPD comes down to awareness and immediate intervention. It can be difficult to spot the symptoms of COPD until it is already advanced, the earlier you seek treatment the better. If you suspect you might have COPD, consult professional help as soon as you can. You can’t be rid of it entirely, but you may be able to adopt strategies that will allow you to live comfortably.

Chris Brown

Contributor