November is COPD Awareness Month

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Millions of people suffer from COPD but have not been diagnosed. Although there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated.

Symptoms

Sometimes people chalk up shortness of breath to they are “just getting older.” But shortness of breath can be an important symptom of lung disease. If you experience any of the following signs or think you might be at risk for COPD, it is important to talk with your health care provider:

• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea)
• Frequent respiratory infections
• The blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis)
• Fatigue
• Production of a lot of mucus (also called phlegm or sputum)
• Wheezing

Risk Factors

Eighty-five to ninety percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking – the most significant risk factor. Female smokers are nearly 13 times as likely to die from COPD as women who have never smoked; male smokers are almost 12 times as likely to die from COPD as men who have never smoked.

Other risk factors for COPD include:

• Exposure to air pollution
• Breathing secondhand smoke
• Working with chemicals, dust, and fumes
• A genetic condition called Alpha-1 deficiency
• A history of childhood respiratory infection

How is COPD treated?

• Quit smoking.
• Avoid tobacco smoke and other air pollutants

Your doctor may also consider the following treatment options:

• Symptoms such as coughing or wheezing can be treated with medicine.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation is a personalized treatment program that teaches you how to manage your COPD symptoms to improve your quality of life. Plans may include learning to breathe better, conserve your energy, and what types of food and exercise are suitable for you.
• Prevention and treatment of lung infections.Lung infections can cause severe problems in people with COPD. Certain vaccines, such as flu and pneumonia vaccines, are essential for people with COPD.
• Supplemental oxygen.A portable oxygen tank may be needed if blood oxygen levels are low.

Lung Surgery for COPD

In rare cases of severe COPD that don’t improve with medication, your health care provider may suggest lung surgery. Lung volume reduction surgery can improve lung capacity and the ability to breathe. This surgery entails 20%-30% of the most diseased lung tissue to be removed, leaving the healthiest part of the lung to perform better. Lung transplant surgery is another option in other severe cases.

You are not Alone

Being diagnosed with COPD can leave you feeling sad, frustrated, and depressed — all of which can make it hard to manage symptoms. If you are having problems living with COPD, you are not alone. Talk with your health care provider and join a COPD support group.

Amy Renfro, APRN-CNP
Ringling Family Care