Causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Definition:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung problem that causes difficulty in breathing. It is due to the liver getting damaged for a prolonged period of time, often because of smoking.

COPD is mostly the combination of two diseases viz. chronic bronchitis and Emphysema.

·     Chronic bronchitis – In this condition, the airways that supply air to the lungs, which is known as the bronchial tubes get inflamed and there is formation of mucus. This causes blockage of airways making it difficult to breath.

·     Emphysema – In normal cases, the tiny sacs in the lungs which are like balloons; expand and contract as one breaths in and out and this allows smooth flow of air through the lungs. But if a person has emphysema, the air sacs gets damaged and do not stretch properly. Due to this condition, there is less flow of air in an out of the lungs which causes shortness of breath.

COPD is such a condition that gets worse with time and the damage that has been caused to the lungs is irreparable. But one can take some measure to avoid any further damage and to live in a better condition.

What are the causes of COPD?

COPD is mostly caused by smoking; this is because breathing tobacco continuously over a long period of time causes irritation to the airways and damages the stretchy fibers in the lungs.

Some of the other factors that can cause COPD include;

·         Breathing harmful chemical fumes, dust or polluted air over a long period of time

·         Secondhand smoke

It normally takes many years to experience symptoms related to COPD, thus this problem is mostly seen in people who are above 60 years of age.  A person is more likely to develop COPD if he/she has had a lot of lung problems as a child.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

Some of the main symptoms of COPD are as follows;

·         Chronic Cough

·         Mucus that is accompanied with the cough

·    Difficulty to breath which becomes worse while exercising or performing any exhaustive activities

As COPD progresses, a person may fall short of breathe while doing simple activities like getting dressed up, preparing a meal etc. It gradually becomes difficult to even eat or perform any exercise. Breathing consumes a lot of energy and makes the person very weak.

In some cases the symptoms get aggravated which is called as COPD exacerbation. This condition can either be mild or life-threatening. The longer a person is suffering from COPD, more the chances for the symptoms to flare-up.   

How can COPD be diagnosed?

The doctor will be able to diagnose COPD by doing the following;

·         Conducting a physical examination of the patient and listening to the lungs

·         Ask certain questions to know about the medical history of the patient and whether the person smokes or has been exposed to harmful chemicals that can cause irritation to the lungs

·         Will ask the patient to undergo certain breathing tests which will include spirometry, to know how well the lungs are functioning and chest X-ray and other tests to rule out the chances of other problems that are causing the symptoms.

It is always best to diagnose COPD at an early stage as it will help the patient to take the preventive measure to slow down the damage to the lungs.

How can COPD be treated?

The best option for slowing COPD is to quit smoking. It is the most important step a patient has to take to control the damage to the lungs. It is always good to stop smoking due to all the health hazards associated with it. And it is never too late to take this step even though it will be a difficult task especially for those who are addicted to smoking. Even though a person is suffering from severe COPD, by quitting smoking he/she can stop or slow the damage to the lungs

The doctor will prescribe treatments that will help give relief from the symptoms and make the patient feel better.

·    There are medicines available which will help the patient breath easily. Most of these medicines are inhaled because of which it directly goes to the lungs. While making use of inhalers it is important to use it as directed by the health provider.

·    There is lung rehab programs arranged for patients to educate them on how COPD can be managed. In such programs a team of professionals provide counseling to the patients and guide them how to breathe easily, perform some exercises and eat a healthy diet.

·       As the disease progresses, the patient may have to use oxygen at times or always depending upon the condition and the damage to the lungs.

Patients who are suffering from COPD are more prone to getting lung infections; therefore they will have to get a flu vaccine every year. And one must also get a pneumococcal shot done as a precaution. This does not necessarily mean that the patient will not get pneumonia, but the intensity will be lesser thus making the patient feel less sick and recover faster.

How can patients live well with COPD?

There are many things that a person suffering from COPD can do at home to remain healthy and positive;

·         Avoid as much as possible things that cause irritation to the lungs like smoke or air pollution

·         Make use of air filters in the house

·         Regularly exercise to remain fit and strong

·         Eat healthy food to avoid weakness and if one is losing weight, then consult a doctor or dietician to get a planned diet to gain calories required by the body

Handling flare-ups:

As COPD progresses the patient may have flare-ups and worsening of the symptoms. It is very essential to be aware of how to handle such situations. The doctor will give the patients an action plan and a list of medicines that will help the patient to breathe better during a flare –up. But in cases where the flare-ups are very severe one will have to seek immediate medical attention.

Controlling and managing depression and anxiety:

It is quite common for patients to get depressed when they know that they have COPD and gradually as the symptoms gets worse. They also get anxious when they find it difficult to breathe while doing simple activities. If patients are going through depression and anxiety, it is advisable to inform the doctor. There are counseling, medications and support groups to help the patients..