COPD - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a fatal lung disease that inhibits the lungs from taking in enough fresh oxygen and expelling the stale, carbon dioxide filled air. COPD also keeps the airways inflamed so it's more difficult to air to flow through. Often mistaken as bronchitis or emphysema, COPD is actually a combination of both illnesses and is characterized by these symptoms -

Symptoms of COPD

A cough that just won't go away and shortness of breath that becomes increasingly worse during any type of physical activity. COPD also presents with frequent bouts of bronchitis and lung infections which progressively take longer to heal.

The bronchitis side of COPD keeps the airways inflamed and swollen, causing them to produce more mucous. The constant coughing is the body's way of attempting to clear the airways so air get through the narrowed, mucous covered air passage.

The lungs contain millions of tiny air sacs which air moves through and then into the blood vessels every time you breathe in. The reverse occurs during the exhale, carbon dioxide leaves the blood vessels, moves into the lung's air sacs then is expelled out. The emphysema side of COPD destroys these air sacs in the lungs causing your body to be less able to take in oxygen and keeping carbon dioxide trapped in the lungs.

Cause of COPD

The vast majority of people who have COPD are either current or past smokers. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, including people exposed to secondhand smoke. Environmental factors, like smog or exposure to toxic fumes, can contribute to and/or cause some cases of COPD.

To quit smoking will not bring about lung healing and cause COPD to go away, but it will slow the progression of the disease.

Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Medication is prescribed to reduce the inflammation in the airways and reduce the mucus production so getting air into the lungs is easier. Treatment also includes breathing exercises to help keep the lungs working as efficiently as possible and to strengthen the muscles used for breathing.

The body works harder with COPD and is more susceptible to other illnesses, especially those that attack the respiratory system, like colds and flu. Stick with a healthy diet and avoid crowds during cold and flu season. There is no cure for COPD, treatment can only ease the symptoms and slow the disease's progression.

Source: Amercian Profile FAQs About COPD