Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term disease that is characterised by irritation of the lungs. COPD makes breathing difficult as the natural flow of air is blocked. Certain lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis contribute to COPD. Emphysema occurs when the sacs at the base of the lung that pass oxygen from the lungs to the blood are destroyed. Chronic bronchitis occurs when the passages in the lungs that carry air in and out are inflamed.
COPD is caused by exposure to harmful gases over a long period of time, most commonly cigarette smoke and biomass fumes. While there isn’t a cure for COPD, it is treatable.
COPD symptoms usually don’t appear until lung damage is severe.
Symptoms can include:
If you’re living with COPD, you will probably experience some days that are worse than others. Normal symptoms become worse for multiple days in a row for someone living with COPD.
There are 2 main causes of COPD. Smoking, or being a former smoker, and being exposed to smoke from burning fuel.
In a study of 12 cities around the world, Cape Town, South Africa, had the highest percentage of participants with Stage II and Stage III-IV COPD. This was due to a high percentage of participants reporting risk factors like childhood tuberculosis and smoking. Risk factors for COPD include:
A COPD diagnosis requires a thorough medical history, including potential exposure to tobacco smoke or burning fuels. A doctor will also want to know about any family history of COPD. A doctor will evaluate the symptoms you’re experiencing but will order tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
Common tests include lung function measurements that detect how much air you are able to inhale and exhale. They also include chest X-rays and computerised tomography (CT) scans to rule out other potential lung diseases, lab tests to rule out genetic causes of COPD, and an arterial blood gas analysis, a test that measures how much oxygen is getting into your blood and how much carbon dioxide is being removed each time you breathe.
A COPD diagnosis can lead to complications down the road. These complications include:
While there is no cure for COPD, symptoms can be effectively managed. One of the biggest steps someone with COPD can take to improve their quality of life is to stop smoking. This is also one of the hardest steps toward improving quality of life. Doctors often recommend nicotine replacement products and support groups.
A large variety of medications are used to help patients manage COPD. Additionally, using a portable oxygen device at home can help people feel better and extend life span. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a good option for people who want to learn new ways to manage their COPD. It may decrease the need for hospital visits and boost quality of life.
Surgery is an option for people who have exhausted all other treatment methods. Surgeons can remove damaged lung tissue to create room for healthy lung tissue to expand. Some COPD patients also opt to be put on the lung transplant list.