What is COPD? What are the symptoms of COPD? What causes COPD? How can I prevent COPD? How do I know if I have COPD? How is COPD treated? How can I find out more about COPD? COPD is known by many alternative names.
What is COPD?
COPD affects your ability to breathe. It is a progressive disease, which means that COPD gets worse over time and may lead to death. This means that, over time, the ability to breathe is affected, and because of this, daily activities may become more difficult as the disease worsens.
Chronic means it is persistent - the disease won't go away. Obstructive means the airways are partly blocked. Pulmonary means in the lungs. Disease means sickness.
COPD affects the several different parts of the respiratory system, that is the airways and lungs.
For a more in-depth explanation about what COPD is, see this section What is COPD.
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What Are The Symptoms of COPD?
In many patients, the earliest symptom of COPD is a cough that won't go away, frequently accompanied by sputum (phlegm) production. The most characteristic symptom of the disease is shortness of breath on exertion, such as when walking quickly or climbing stairs. As the disease progresses, this shortness of breath becomes more severe, and patients may have trouble walking even a short distance or performing everyday activities such as showering and dressing.
The most common symptoms of COPD are breathlessness, an increased effort to breathe, heaviness or a 'need for air', excessive mucus, and a chronic cough. Some people feel they are gasping for breath. These symptoms will get worse when exercising, when you have a respiratory infection or during an exacerbation - periods of time when there is a sudden increase in symptoms and the disease is worse.
COPD a complex, progressive, debilitating and possibly life-threatening disease. It is described as a multi-component disease because it results in changes in several different parts of the respiratory system at the same time. If you have COPD you may recognise some of these symptoms. Not everyone has all of these symptoms, and some people have different combinations of symptoms to other people.
What causes COPD?
The most important cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoking are also risk factors for COPD, and passive ("secondhand") exposure to cigarette smoke also contributes to respiratory symptoms and COPD.
Dusts and chemicals (vapors, irritants, and fumes) encountered on the job can also cause COPD when the exposures are sufficiently intense or prolonged.
How can I prevent COPD?
Quitting smoking is the single most effective way to prevent the development of COPD. If you already have COPD, quitting smoking can also to slow or stop the progression of the disease. It is never too late to quit smoking.
How do I know if I have COPD?
If you have symptoms of COPD and a history of exposure to the risk factors that cause the disease you should ask your doctor about COPD. The earlier COPD is detected, the better the results of treatment.
A diagnosis of COPD should be confirmed by a lung function test. This is best done by spirometry, which is performed in a health care clinic, to measure forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).
How is COPD treated?
COPD cannot be cured, but effective treatment is available that helps patients feel better and slows the damage to the lungs. Medicines for COPD include bronchodilators to control symptoms, influenza vaccines to prevent infections, and inhaled steroids to reduce the inflammation in the lungs. Other treatments that may be appropriate for some COPD patients are pulmonary rehabilitation programs, oxygen therapy and, in very limited situations, surgery.
How can I find out more about COPD?
For more information about COPD talk to your doctor, or contact the ICC patient member groups in your country. Although COPD is a serious disease, there are many things you can do that will have a positive impact on your life and improve how you feel.