Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) means damage to the lungs and airways that can’t be fixed. This damage makes it hard to breathe because it blocks your airways. It is known as COPD if you have either asthma or chronic coughing.
In COPD, your lungs and airways change in the following ways:
- Your airways and air sacs in your lungs (alveoli) lose their flexibility.
- Blurred vision, thickening (fibrosis), and lungs that get smaller.
- Mucus that is too thick in your lungs.
- Breaking down the walls between your air sacs. This makes them bigger and keeps air inside.
People who have COPD often have worsening of their symptoms, such as having a lot of trouble breathing, thicker mucus, breathlessness, and coughing. If your symptoms get bad, you might need to go to the hospital.
It gets worse over time for people with COPD. Flare-ups happen more often and get worse. It takes years or decades for most people, but some get worse faster.
Different kinds of chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD)
Emphysema and chronic asthma are both parts of COPD. A lot of people with COPD have traits of both.
• If your lungs get damaged and get bigger, you have emphysema. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the most usual sign.
• Chronic asthma makes your large lungs swell up. This makes your lungs shrink and mucus build up a lot. The most usual sign is a cough.
Signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD)
The first signs of COPD often don’t show up until the lungs have been damaged a lot. Most of the time, symptoms get worse over time, especially if you keep smoking or being exposed to other things that bother you.
If you have COPD, you might have trouble getting your breath, especially when you’re doing hard things.
- Sounds like wheezing or whistling when you breathe.
- Cough that won’t go away and may spew up a lot of mucus. It could be clear, white, yellow, or greenish.
- Feeling heavy or tight in the chest.
- Not having much energy or being very tired.
- Lung illnesses that happen often.
- Swelling in the legs, feet, or joints.
- Losing weight and not realizing it. This could happen as the illness gets worse.
Also, people with COPD often have times when their symptoms get worse than they usually do from day to day. This period when symptoms get worse is known as an exacerbation. A flare-up can last for days or even weeks. Some things that can set them off are smells, cold air, air pollution, and illnesses or colds. Being able to breathe more easily or having more trouble breathing may be signs:
- Shortness of breath.
- Having more coughing fits.
- More mucus or changes in the color or thickness of the mucus.
- A fever.
Why does chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD) happen?
The main reason people get COPD is that they smoke and hurt their lungs. In addition, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic disease that can damage the lungs, is another reason.
• Being around smoke.
• Bad air quality.
• Being close to dust and fumes at work or leisure.
Causes of risk of chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD)
• Tobacco smoke is a risk factor for COPD. Long-term cigarette smoking is the main thing that makes you more likely to get COPD. The risk goes up the longer you smoke and the more packs you smoke. You may also be more at risk if you smoke a pipe, a cigar, or pot. COPD can also happen to people who take in a lot of secondhand smoke.
• The flu. People with asthma have lungs that get narrow, swell, and sometimes make more mucus. If you have asthma, you may be more likely to get COPD. Even more people get COPD if they smoke and have asthma.
• Exposure at work. Chemical fumes, smoke, vapors, and dusts that are breathed in for a long time at work can hurt and swell the lungs. This might make getting COPD more likely.
• Flames that give off smoke. People in the poorer world are more likely to get COPD if they live in homes that don’t have good air flow and burn wood for cooking and heating.
Genetics of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)
Some people with COPD have a lack of AAT because of a gene change that runs in their families. Not many people have this specific type of emphysema. Because of their genes, some smokers may be more likely to get COPD.
In what ways does chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD) make things worse?
If you have COPD, germs can get stuck in your lungs and cause illnesses. Another thing it can do is stop your body from getting air and carbon dioxide. This can lead to major problems, such as:
Pneumonia.
Hypercapnia, which means having a lot of carbon dioxide in your blood.
Hypoxemia means that your blood doesn’t have enough oxygen.
Failure of the lungs.
Hypertension in the lungs.
Cor pulmonale, which is heart failure on the right side.
Pneumothorax means a collapsed lung.
It means that the body is making too many red blood cells.
How to Diagnose and Test
How do you tell if someone has chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)?
A doctor will do a check and ask you about your health history to figure out if you have COPD. They may take pictures of your lungs and test how well your lungs work.
They could ask you things like, “Do you smoke, or have you ever smoked?”
• Have you been around dust or air pollutants for a long time?
• Does anyone else in your family have COPD, another lung disease, or liver disease?
• Do you get short of breath when you work out? When you’re resting?
• Have you coughed or wheezed for a long time?
• Do you cough up mucus?
What kinds of tests do doctors use to find out if someone has COPD?
To help figure out if you have COPD, your doctor may use the following tests:
• Tests of pulmonary function. People who take care of you can check your lungs’ health with spirometry and other tests.
One is pulse oximetry. For this test, a device is put on your finger to check how much oxygen is in your blood.
• X-ray tests. X-rays or CT pictures of the chest can look for changes in the lungs that are caused by COPD.
• Blood gas test in the arteries. This test checks how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood.
• Tests of exercise. This helps your doctor figure out if the amount of oxygen in your blood drops when you work out.
ECG or EKG stands for electrocardiogram. Without heart disease, this test rules out heart disease as the cause of shortness of breath.
• Blood tests. If you think you might not have enough Alpha-1 antitrypsin, your doctor may check your amounts of the protein AAT.
• Testing for genes. If your doctor thinks that your lung problems might be caused by a genetic condition, they may use a blood test to look for changes in your genes.
What are the different stages of chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD)?
The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) test can help your doctor figure out what stage of COPD you have. Your FEV1 is the amount of air you can breathe out in one second. It can help your doctor figure out how blocked your lungs are. Spirometry is used by your provider to measure FEV1.
Based on how bad the COPD is, the steps are:
• Stage 1: FEV1 is 80 or higher.
• In Stage 2, FEV1 is between 50 and 79.
• Stage 3: FEV1 is between 30 and 49.
• Stage 4: FEV1 is less than 30.
Your doctor can also use the letters A, B, and E to look at your symptoms and your risk of getting worse:
The signs aren’t too bad, and there’s not much chance that they will get worse.
• B: Your symptoms are worse, and you don’t have a high chance of them getting worse.
• E: You are likely to have flare-ups.
Your stage doesn’t always correspond to your symptoms. For example, you might be in stage 3 or 4 but only have mild symptoms. Your stage, symptoms, and number of flare-ups can help your doctor decide how to treat you.
How to Manage and Treat
When you should see a doctor
If your symptoms don’t get better or get worse after treatment, talk to your doctor or another health care worker to get help. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have fever or mucus that is different from what you normally cough up. These are signs of an infection.
How do you treat COPD?
COPD can’t be cured. The goal of treatment is to make your symptoms better and stop or treat flare-ups. This is what your source might say:
• Programs to help people stop smoking. If you smoke, giving up can slow the growth of COPD.
• Medicines inhaled: Steroids and bronchodilators can open up your lungs and lower swelling. You could get these in the form of a puffer or a liquid that you put in a vaporizer.
• Getting oxygen: You might need extra air to raise your oxygen levels.
• Rehabilitation for the lungs: This is a workout and teaching program that can help you deal with COPD and make your lungs stronger.
• Steroids: During a flare-up, you may need a course of drugs to lower inflammation.
• Airway pressure that is good: During an episode, your doctor may tell you to use a BiPAP machine to help you breathe.
- Antibiotics: If you get bacterial infections in your lungs often, your doctor may give you antibiotics to stop them from happening or make your symptoms worse.
• Loss of lung volume (LVR): If you are a good candidate and have severe COPD, your doctor may offer surgery or a valve treatment that lets more air into your lungs.
• Tests in humans: New medicines are put through clinical studies to see if they are safe and work. If a new treatment might work well for you, your doctor may suggest one.
Safety First
Can COPD be stopped?
Stopping smoking and being around secondhand smoke and other air pollutants that hurt your lungs is the best way to avoid getting COPD.
Respiratory infections are more likely to happen to people with COPD. These infections can make your symptoms much worse or even lead to pneumonia.
Get all your recommended vaccines, like those for flu, pneumococcal pneumonia, and COVID-19. This will lower your chance of getting infections.
• Getting your hands clean often.
• Making surfaces germ-free.
• Putting on a mask around other people if your doctor tells you to.
Stay away from busy places, especially when it’s cold and flu season or when COVID cases are high.
The outlook or prognosis
Can someone who has chronic obstructive lung disease(COPD) get better?
If you have COPD, your lungs will always be damaged and won’t get better. You can, however, deal with your problems for a long time and sometimes even make them better. A lung therapy program and doing what your doctor tells you to do can help improve your symptoms and quality of life.
With COPD, can you live a long time?
How long you have COPD depends on how bad it is and how fast it’s getting worse. A lot of people can live for decades after being diagnosed, especially if they get care right away. People in stages 3 or 4 are six to nine years less likely to live than the average person.
Is COPD a disease that will kill me?
COPD gets worse over time, but it’s not always a disease that will kill you. Different people go through it at different speeds. People with COPD often won’t be able to breathe on their own for years or even decades. But some people can go a long time without having any serious signs.
Getting Along With
How should I take care of myself if I have COPD?
To take care of yourself if you have COPD, stay away from things that irritate your lungs and make your symptoms worse. This includes smoking, breathing in secondhand smoke, dust, air pollution, and strong smells.
• Go to classes for pulmonary therapy. This includes sessions for schooling and physical and occupational training. Follow the plan they give you even after your lessons are over.
• Talk to a dietitian who is licensed. They can tell you what good things you should eat and which ones you should avoid.
• Make sure you take all of your medicines as directed. Before you run out, make sure you have your daily medicines on hand.
• Plan ahead for flare-ups. Make a plan with your provider for what to do if your symptoms get worse. For example, this could mean having certain medicines on hand and knowing when to go to the hospital.
• Learn how to use your medical gear. This can include nebulizers, inhalers, a CPAP machine, and other tools. Ask your service to show you how to use it correctly.
• Take good care of your mind. Having a long-term illness can make you feel bad about your mental health. Someone who works in mental health, like a doctor, psychologist, or counselor, can help you deal with social, emotional, and other mental health problems.
When do I need to see my doctor or nurse?
You should see a doctor right away if you think you might have COPD. If you get diagnosed and treated quickly, your symptoms are less likely to get worse.
If you have COPD and your symptoms change, like your shortness of breath getting worse, you should see your doctor. These could be signs of an infection. It’s possible that you can’t walk as far as you used to, that you have more trouble breathing at night, or that you need to use your breathing treatments or inhalers more often than normal.
• Your mucus (sputum) changes. Color changes, bloody phlegm, a bad smell, or more or thicker mucus than normal could all be signs of this.
• Coughing or hacking more often.
• The swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs is new or getting worse. Talk to your doctor if it doesn’t go away after you sleep with your feet up.
• No clear reason for weight gain or drop.
• Headaches or dizziness at first thing in the morning.
• Extreme tiredness or weakness that can’t be explained. If it lasts longer than a day, call your insurer.
• A fever or chills.
• Some other signs of an illness. Some of these are a sore throat, sinus fluid that isn’t normal, stuffy nose, headaches, or pain along the top of your cheeks.
When should I visit the emergency room?
Visit the emergency room if any of these happen:
A fever of more than 103 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
• Sudden or serious trouble breathing.
• Feeling restless, confused, forgetful, or angry.
• Speech problems.
What should I ask the person who is taking care of me?
• What are the best ways for me to take care of myself? This is something you might want to ask your doctor.
• Can I get better from my symptoms?
• How should I take this medicine?
What is the best way to use my puffer, nebulizer, or other medical gadgets?
• When should I get back to you?
• When should I visit the emergency room?
A message from the Reprospot
People who have a long-term lung disease like COPD may sometimes feel overwhelmed, scared, frustrated, or even lonely. But there are things you can do to keep your lung muscles strong as long as possible and even make your symptoms better. It can feel easier to handle if you make a plan with your healthcare team to stay healthy and cut down on flare-ups. Tell the people you care about how they can help and what to do if your symptoms get worse.
Talk to a doctor right away if you often feel out of breath, have a cough that won’t go away, or get tired quickly. If you get a diagnosis early, it can make your life better and help you stay healthy for years to come.
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