COPD- or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease- is a condition that affects over 15 million Americans. It is also a chronic illness that many are not familiar with — but information and raising awareness can help to change that. Here’s what you need to know about COPD.
According to the CDC, COPD is a term referring to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
According to The American Lung Association, there are a number of causes or “risk-factors” that contribute to the development of COPD:
Of these causes, cigarette smoking accounts for 85-90% of all COPD cases.
The Mayo Clinic lists the common symptoms of COPD as:
Symptoms often will not appear until significant lung damage has occurred.
COPD is often described as occurring in “stages”. Below is an overview of these 4 stages, according to the Lung Health Institute. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) refers to the volume of air that an individual can exhale during a forced breath in 1 second, and is a metric that helps diagnose severity of COPD.
During mild stage COPD (stage 1), people may not realize that they have a problem yet. Daily activities may cause slight limitations to their breathing, and some experience a cough and phlegm.
During the moderate stage of COPD (stage 2), people notice more coughing and mucus production.
During severe stage COPD (stage 3), lung function continues to decline, and breathing becomes more difficult. Typically, COPD symptoms make it challenging to enjoy activities or to perform daily tasks. During this level, many people feel more fatigue and have difficulty exercising.
End-stage COPD (stage 4) is classified as very severe and often affects quality of life profoundly. Flare-ups and breathing issues may become life threatening. Many people have trouble receiving enough oxygen, and low blood oxygen levels can lead to serious health conditions such as hypoxia or hypoxemia, cyanosis and other problems.
According to the CDC, there are a number of lifestyle changes and treatments that doctors will often recommend:
Remember that COPD is not a condition that you should self-diagnose. Consult your doctor if you are concerned that you are displaying symptoms to get an official diagnosis.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most forms of COPD CAN be prevented. If you are a smoker, smoking cessation programs and other aids can help you quit before you develop COPD. Avoiding any environment that has poor air quality- air that has particles like dust, smoke, gases, and fumes- can also help to prevent COPD.
If you want to help spread the word about COPD, the NHLBI has a number of resources for social media that you can find here. You can also share this article with others to help raise awareness!