What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive (meaning that it gets worse as time goes by) disease that negatively impacts a person’s ability to breathe.

COPD sufferers often experience symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, as well as other symptoms that are uncomfortable both physically and psychologically for those who suffer from it.

To better understand COPD, it is necessary to first have a better understanding of how the lungs work. As you breathe, the air goes down your windpipe into tubes in your lungs called bronchial tubes. Inside the bronchial tubes are thousands of small, thin tubes called bronchioles that end in clusters of miniscule air sacs called alveoli.

Tiny blood vessels called capillaries run through the walls of the alveoli. When air reaches the alveoli, oxygen passes through their walls and enters the blood in the capillaries. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide moves from the capillaries into the alveoli in a process called gas exchange. While this process is somewhat difficult to understand, simply put, the problem caused by COPD is that less air flows in and out of the airways. This can be caused by several factors:

  • The airways and alveoli lose their elastic quality.
  • The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed
  • The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.

Causes of COPD

There are several factors that can lead to people developing COPD. Most smoke cigarettes, or did in the past. Chronic exposure to things like air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust may also increase the chances of developing COPD. However, cigarettes are by far the leading cause of this disease, and even smokers who quit after many years can see a marked improvement in their health; if you smoke, it is encouraged to discuss with your doctor ways that can help you quit.

Warning Signs of COPD

As COPD is a progressive disease, many sufferers do not immediately recognize the symptoms as being anything more than a common allergy or they may think that they have a simple sinus infection or are experiencing a bout with asthma. In the early stages of COPD, symptoms may be somewhat mild and not very noticeable.

Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are obvious, the damage is often already done to the lungs. Therefore, it is important to be on the lookout for early signs of COPD. These warning signs may include:

  • Chronic coughing that is not related to any other illness. It is more likely to be COPD-related if it seems to be getting worse over time instead of going away.
  • Shortness of breath during basic activities such as getting out of a car or climbing stairs. In later stages, this can happen even when you are sitting still and not moving.
  • Excessive mucus that is coming from the lungs instead of the sinuses. COPD related mucus tends to be yellowish or greenish, and it may occasionally be bloody.
  • Sudden weight loss without a change in diet or exercise can happen to COPD patients because the lungs are having to work harder to get oxygen, and this burns more calories.
  • Headaches in the morning can be one of the early signs of COPD because it is harder to breathe correctly while laying down. You may wake up with excessive carbon dioxide building up in the bloodstream, and this causes headaches. Some people with COPD find that they need to sleep upright because it is hard to breathe while lying flat.
  • Swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs can happen during COPD because blood vessels cannot function properly without oxygen. This causes fluid to build up in the lower extremities.
  • Frequent fatigue is often one of the first signs of COPD because your body uses oxygen to power cells. When oxygen levels drop, you feel weakened, tired, and fatigued all the time.
  • When you are deprived of oxygen, your lips and nails can start to look bluish or purplish. COPD also causes changes in blood flow that can make skin seem pale, yellowish, or grayish.

If you notice any of these signs, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of COPD. Diagnosing this condition in the earlier stages increases your chances of lowering the severity of the disease.

COPD Treatment

Unfortunately, many patients do not see COPD as a serious illness until symptoms are very advanced. However, it is the third leading cause of death in the United States and millions of people are diagnosed with COPD, while others are not aware that they have it. In its advanced stages, simple, everyday activities such as walking, cooking, working or even doing day to day chores and caring for your personal needs may become impossible. While there is no known way to reverse or cure this disease, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that may improve your quality of life.

Because COPD can have many different underlying causes, such as bronchitis or emphysema, the treatments for COPD will vary slightly depending on your unique needs. Generally treatments focus on controlling COPD symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. COPD treatment options include many different treatment methods.

Lifestyle Changes to Slow Disease Progression

The majority of patients with COPD also smoke tobacco. One of the most important steps in managing COPD is to stop smoking immediately. This is one of the most effective ways of stopping the progression of the disease before it becomes life threatening. Doctors may also recommend pulmonary rehabilitation programs that provides exercise regimens designed to boost heart efficiency. This helps your circulatory system to manage better on lower oxygen levels.

Here are a few more lifestyle tips for COPD patients:

  • Do activities slowly
  • Put items you need within arms’ reach, as much as possible.
  • Take care of your emotional wellbeing; consider joining a support group for COPD sufferers or even talking with a professional counselor.
  • Let your friends and loved ones help you when you need it, without feeling guilty.

Vaccinations to Prevent Dangerous Infections

One of the biggest dangers for COPD patients is an increased risk of respiratory infections. The mucus buildup caused by damaged lungs can allow dangerous bacteria and viruses to flourish, and the results can be very severe. Therefore, it is important to get an influenza shot and a pneumococcal vaccination each year to reduce disease risks and COPD complications.

Nutritional Changes to Preserve Health

When your lungs are not working correctly, it is important to keep the rest of the body strong enough to resist disease and illness. Most doctors recommend that COPD patients follow a high protein diet that is full of vitamins and minerals and get plenty of hydration.

Foods to eat include:

  • Lean meats
  • Dairy
  • Fresh fruit
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Whole grains

Foods to avoid include:

  • Excessive sugar
  • High sodium items
  • Processed junk food
  • More than two cups of coffee a day

A COPD diet should also include high levels of calcium and magnesium because these nutrients help to regulate lung and heart functions. COPD patients are at risk for both phosphorous and potassium deficiencies, so be sure to include these nutrients in your diet too.

Bronchodilator Inhalants to Open Airways

These are one of the most frequently prescribed COPD treatment options. These inhalers are similar to the ones used by people with asthma, and the apply medication that opens bronchial tubes directly to the affected area. Patients with COPD can carry around an inhaler and use it whenever they notice it becoming difficult to breathe. Depending on the severity of your COPD, a doctor may prescribe a short-acting or long-acting bronchodilator.

Steroid Medication to Reduce Inflammation

Most of the lung damage that COPD patients suffer is due to excessive inflammation harming the lungs on a cellular level. Since steroids help to reduce inflammation in the airways, either oral or inhalant versions of steroids can be very beneficial. However, steroid treatments generally do not work well on their own, so they are often packaged in a combination medication with a bronchodilator.

Experimental Medications to Prevent Lung Damage

There are already plenty of medications for controlling COPD symptoms, so the new COPD research is focusing on halting lung damage. Some of the latest COPD treatments include CXCR2 antagonists, soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors. These medications all work by blocking certain hormones and enzymes that may cause lung inflammation.

Oxygen Therapy to Prevent Oxygen Shortages

Many patients with COPD struggle due to a lack of oxygen in their bloodstream. If your lungs cannot process enough oxygen, you may need to use a supplemental oxygen device. Some patients just use oxygen therapy while they sleep, and others carry around a portable oxygen tank with them all the time. In the later stages of COPD, oxygen therapy is the most effective and simplest way of extending life, so this treatment is extremely beneficial.

Surgeries to Reduce Tissue Damage

When the cells of the lungs are damaged, the damaged tissue can keep the healthy parts of the lungs from working effectively. Sometimes patients develop large air spaces where lung tissue has decayed, and a bullectomy is a surgery that can reduce these air pockets and make more room for healthy lung tissue to expand and contract.

Another surgical method of COPD treatment removes any damaged lung tissue that is blocking access to healthy tissue. These types of surgeries normally are not necessary for several years after being diagnosed with COPD, but they can eventually be needed for COPD relief.

Lung Transplants for Severe COPD Cases

In very severe cases, people with COPD are risking complete lung failure, and the only treatment option is a lung transplant. Transplants are not recommended for very old or very ill patients who may not survive the very intensive surgery. However, for COPD patients who meet transplant criteria, a lung transplant is the best way to improve quality of life. Though patients will need to take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of their life, they will be able to breathe easier.

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Jun 18, 2018