Health and Fitness | January 2008

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Millions of people have COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In fact, COPD is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.

COPD is a chronic lung disease - a lung condition that makes it more and more difficult to breathe. Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema are considered part of COPD. 

COPD can affect your life as early as your early 40s. Both men and women can get it. Tobacco smoke causes approximately 80% to 90% of all cases of COPD. In fact, a smoker is 10 times more likely to die of COPD than a nonsmoker.

Another cause of COPD is exposure to indoor or outdoor pollutants. If your job exposes you to toxic chemicals and pollutants, you will also have increased odds of developing COPD.

A recent study found that an estimated 19.2% of COPD was attributed in part to work-related exposure.

Experts believe that about 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD. However, just as many people have some form of lung impairment but have not been diagnosed with COPD.

COPD may go unnoticed in its early stages. This is because it is often confused with asthma, a bad cough, or a natural part of aging.

Also, many people think of COPD as a disease that only affects the elderly. In fact, more than 70% of patients who have COPD are under age 65. And some people start having symptoms in their early 40s.

THE SYMPTOMS OF COPD

The symptoms of COPD tend to develop gradually and can begin in a person's early 40s.
They may be worse some days than others, or they may be bad all the time.
The important thing is to identify the symptoms early and get treatment.

Common symptoms of COPD include:

* Shortness of breath (dyspnea) - In the early stages of COPD, patients may experience breathlessness only during strenuous activity. This might include climbing stairs or exercising. At first, they may see this as a sign of aging or being out of shape. But gradually, patients begin to feel shortness of breath even during simple activities. This can happen when simply walking across the room, or even at rest

* Chronic cough - It is often the first symptom of COPD to develop. Many people discount it as “smoker's cough” or the effect of cold weather at first.

* Increase and/or change in sputum - Patients often produce sputum (also called phlegm) after coughing.

* Wheezing - Wheezing is a whistling or squeaking noise that is heard when the patient breathes. It may be caused by the narrowing of the airways in the lungs.

* Chest tightness - Patients describe this as a feeling of pressure on the chest, as if being wrapped tightly by a blanket.

Common causes of COPD 

The most common cause of COPD is known. And it's preventable.

Smoking is the primary cause of COPD. It is 10 times more likely that a smoker will get COPD than a nonsmoker. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke may also increase a person's chance of getting COPD.

Another cause of COPD is exposure to indoor or outdoor pollutants. If your job exposes you to toxic chemicals or pollutants, you will also have an increased risk of developing COPD. A recent study found that an estimated 19.2% of COPD cases are connected in part to work-related exposure.

Additionally, COPD can be caused by a rare genetic condition called Alpha - Antitrypsin Deficiency.

COPD is under-diagnosed and under-treated for several reasons:

COPD symptoms are often mistaken for "getting older."

Some people get short of breath during activities. They may just think they're getting older. Or think they are out of shape. Soon they do less and less activity. They begin missing out on things they enjoy.

It's easy to believe that as you age you can do less. But COPD is not a normal part of aging. It's a serious disease that tends to get worse over time.

COPD is easily confused with asthma.

COPD and asthma are different conditions. But they are often confused. Studies have shown that many people with COPD have been told they have asthma. COPD needs to be correctly diagnosed. That way, it can be treated properly. The chart below shows some of the differences.

Speaking with your doctor about your symptoms and getting a lung function test (also known as spirometry) can help you get the proper treatment for COPD.

COPD symptoms are often misunderstood during early stages.

Some people believe that they get out of breath or cough just because of smoking. They think that if they quit smoking, the symptoms will go away. But these symptoms are signs of a serious disease that needs treatment. For people who still smoke, quitting smoking is the only way to slow the progression of COPD. If you do smoke, consider talking to your doctor about quitting and ask if you should be taking medication to help you breathe better.

So what can I do if I have COPD?

At first, healthy lifestyle changes may not seem important. But things like exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and quitting smoking can all add up to an effective recipe for fighting COPD.