Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
by Debra Wood, RN
En Español (Spanish Version)
More InDepth Information on This Condition
Definition
| Causes
| Risk Factors
| Symptoms
| Diagnosis
| Treatment
| Prevention
Definition
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes it difficult to push air out of the lungs. The oxygen-poor air will build up. If the lungs are filled with this air, there is no room for fresh, oxygen-rich air. COPD includes:
The changes to lung tissue differ with the two diseases. However, the causes and treatment are similar.
Causes
COPD develops due to:
- Cigarette smoking
- Inhaling toxins or other irritants
- Genetic predisposition can make a person's lungs more susceptible to damage from smoke or pollutants (includes alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency)
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your chance of developing COPD include:
- Smoking cigarettes
- Long-term exposure to second-hand or passive smoke
- Family members with COPD
- Exposure to pollutants
- History of frequent childhood lung infections
- Age: 50 or older
Symptoms
Early symptoms of COPD include:
- Coughing in the morning
- Coughing up clear sputum (mucus from deep in the lungs)
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath with activity
As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:
- Increased shortness of breath
- Choking sensation when lying flat
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Heart problems
- Weight loss
- Breathing through pursed lips
- Desire to lean forward to improve breathing
- More frequent flare-ups (periods of more severe symptoms)
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Tests may include:
- Chest x-ray
—x-rays of the chest that may detect signs of lung infection
- CT scan
—a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the chest
- Blood tests—to assess the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
- Lung function tests
Treatment
There is no treatment to cure COPD. Treatment aims to ease symptoms and improve quality of life.
Treatment includes:
Smoking Cessation
Quitting
smoking slows the disease. Doctors consider it the most important part of treatment. Smoking cessation programs may include behavior modification and medicines to help you quit.
Environmental Management
Limit the number of irritants in the air you breathe. It may help make breathing easier. Avoid smoke, dust, smog, extreme heat or cold, and high altitudes.
Medication
Some may be taken by mouth. Nebulizers and inhalers deliver drugs directly to the lungs. Drugs for COPD may work in the following ways:
- Opening the airways
- Relaxing the breathing passages
- Decreasing inflammation
- Helping thin secretions and bring up mucus from the lungs
- Treating lung infections (antibiotics):
If you have chronic bronchitis and mild-to-moderate COPD, you may not need antibiotics. If you do need them, a study found that shorter antibiotic treatment (five days or less) is as effective as longer treatment (more than five days).
Vaccines
Get vaccinated against
pneumonia
and the
flu
. The flu vaccine may reduce COPD flare-ups.
Oxygen
It is given to improve the air you breathe in. It increases the amount of available oxygen. This can increase energy levels and heart and brain function.
Exercise
Special exercises can strengthen chest muscles and make breathing easier. Physical activity builds endurance and improves quality of life.
Yoga
is an example of an exercise routine that may offer benefits for people with COPD.
Follow your doctor's recommendations for activity levels and restrictions.
Breathing and Coughing Techniques
Special methods of breathing can help bring more air into and force trapped air out of the lungs. Coughing helps clear the lungs of mucus.
Nutrition
- Maintain a normal weight. Excess weight causes the lungs and heart to work harder.
- Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods.
- Eat several small meals during the day. It makes breathing easier.
- Avoid gas-producing foods. Large meals and excess gas swell the stomach, which pushes up on the diaphragm.
- Drink fluids to keep mucus thin.
Lifestyle Changes
- Pace your activities.
- Learn relaxation techniques and other methods to manage stress.
-
Seek emotional support from professionals, family, and friends.
Anxiety
can increase the rate of respiration, making breathing more strenuous.
Surgery
A small number of patients may benefit from surgery.
Prevention
Take these steps to reduce your chance of developing COPD:
- If you smoke, quit.
- Avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Avoid exposure to air pollution or irritants.
- Wear protective gear if exposed to irritants or toxins at work.
Last reviewed September 2009 by Christine Colpitts, CRT, MA
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