Here’s
to your health
Learn
to Recognize the Symptoms of COPD
COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – is
a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.
It is the 4th leading cause of death in the US, killing more
than 120,000 Americans every year, and causing serious, long-term
disability. There are more than 12,000,000 people diagnosed
with COPD and doctors believe that another 12,000,000 don’t
even know they have it.
In the lungs, the airways, or bronchial tubes, that carry
air in and out are shaped like upside down trees with
tiny air sacs at the end of the branches. In healthy
lungs, the
airways and air sacs are elastic. When you breathe in,
the air sacs fill up. When you breathe out, they
deflate.
However, if you have COPD less air goes in and out because
the airways and air sacs are damaged. In the United
States, COPD includes 2 main conditions: (1) emphysema,
where
the walls between many of the air sacs become damaged.
If the
walls are destroyed, that leads to fewer and larger
air sacs, and (2) chronic obstructive bronchitis,
where the
lining
of the airways is constantly irritated and inflamed
which causes them to thicken. Thick mucus forms in
the airways
making it hard to breathe. Most people who have COPD
have both emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD in the
United States, but long-term exposure to other lung
irritants—such
as chemical fumes or heavy dust—can contribute to COPD
as well.
Most people who have COPD are at least 40 years old
when symptoms begin. But people younger than 40
can also develop
the disease. Unfortunately, most people who are
at risk have never even heard of it. Dr. Gail G.
Weinmann,
of
NIH’s
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says, “People
are probably making adjustments to their lifestyles to accommodate
without even realizing it. They often attribute the first
symptoms to things like aging, gaining weight or being out
of shape. And because of this, they don’t even recognize
the symptoms.”
Although COPD has no cure at this time, treatments
and lifestyle changes can help you feel better,
stay more
active and slow
the progress of the disease. That’s why it’s
important to recognize COPD if you have it. You can then
take steps to reduce the complications and progression of
the disease.
Signs and symptoms of COPD include: constant
coughing (sometimes called “smoker’s cough”), shortness of
breath while doing activities you used to be able to do,
wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe),
chest tightness, feeling like you can’t breathe or
can’t take a deep breath.
If you think you might have—or are at risk for—COPD,
see your health care provider. Together, you can come up
with a plan to manage COPD and improve your quality of life.
For
more information , go to Links.
(Sources: Nat’l Inst of Health, Nat’l Heart
Lung & Blood Institute)
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