Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that makes it hard for you to
breathe. COPD is an umbrella term used when you have one or more of these conditions: Emphysema. This results from damage to your lungs’ air sacs (alveoli) that
destroys the walls inside them and causes them to merge into one giant air sac. It can’t absorb oxygen as well, so you get less oxygen in your blood. Damaged alveoli can make your lungs stretch out and lose their springiness. Air gets trapped in your lungs and you can’t breathe it out, so you feel short of breath. Chronic bronchitis. If you have coughing, shortness of breath, and mucus that lingers at least 3 months for 2 years in a row, you have chronic bronchitis. Hair-like fibers called cilia line your bronchial tubes and help move mucus
out. When you have chronic bronchitis, you lose your cilia. This makes it harder to get rid of mucus, which makes you cough more, which creates more mucus. Refractory asthma. This type may also be called nonreversible. It doesn’t respond to normal asthma medications. Long-term exposure to things that irritate your lungs is the most common cause. In the U.S., that’s cigarette, pipe, or other types of tobacco smoke. If you hang around other smokers and breathe in a lot of
secondhand smoke, that can play a role, too. Your odds also go up if you smoke and have asthma. If you smoke and have COPD, it tends to get worse faster. You might also develop this condition if you’ve been exposed to things like
dust, air pollution, or certain chemicals for long periods of time. Your age can make COPD more likely. It develops slowly over the years, so most people are at least 40 when symptoms begin. It’s rare, but your genes could put you at risk for COPD. If you lack a protein called alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT), you may be more likely to get it. At first, you might not have any symptoms. But as the disease gets worse, you might notice these common signs of COPD: Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, your medical history, and whether you smoke or have
been exposed to chemicals, dust, or smoke at work. They’ll also do a physical exam and breathing tests. Let them know if you have an ongoing cough. The most common test is called spirometry. You’ll breathe into a large, flexible tube that’s connected to a machine called a spirometer. It’ll measure how much air your lungs
can hold and how fast you can blow air out of them. Your doctor may order other tests to rule out other lung problems, such as asthma or heart failure. These might include:
What Are the Treatments for COPD?There’s no cure, so the goal of treatment is to ease your symptoms and slow the disease. Your doctor will also want to prevent or treat any complications and improve your overall quality of life. One of the best things you can do to stop your COPD from getting worse is to stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about different things you can try. Medical treatment Your plan may include:
Surgery In severe cases of COPD, your doctor may suggest:
Complications of COPDCOPD can cause many other health problems, like:
Living With COPDThough there’s no cure, there are things you can do to stay healthy and ease your symptoms. Try taking these steps to enhance your quality of life:
There may be times when your symptoms get worse for days or weeks. You might notice you’re coughing more with more mucus, or you have more trouble breathing. Your doctor will call this an acute
exacerbation. If you don’t treat it, it could lead to lung failure. Medications, like antibiotics or steroids, can help, and so can oxygen treatments. You might need to go to the hospital. When you’re better, your doctor will tell you how to prevent flares:
Track Your COPD Diet and TreatmentsYou can improve life with COPD by taking part in the management of your condition. One way to help your doctor is to monitor your COPD symptoms, diet, and exercise daily. Keeping a daily written log may help you recognize a COPD exacerbation when it begins. With a log, you’re more likely to notice when COPD symptoms suddenly get worse. This may allow you to seek medical treatment early, when it’s most effective, and might keep you from having to go to the hospital. It is also important to follow a healthy, balanced diet to prevent being overweight, which can make shortness of breath worse, or underweight, which is linked to a poorer outcome. Your doctor or a nutritionist can suggest healthy food choices for you. Use your log to track these things each day:
When Should I Call 911?Get medical help right away if any of these things happen:
What is COPD most commonly caused by?Smoking. Smoking is the main cause of COPD and is thought to be responsible for around 9 in every 10 cases. The harmful chemicals in smoke can damage the lining of the lungs and airways.
Is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD?COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed. The main cause is smoking, although the condition can sometimes affect people who have never smoked. The likelihood of developing COPD increases the more you smoke and the longer you've smoked.
What is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Canada?Risk Factors
In 80% to 90% of COPD cases, cigarette smoking is the principal underlying cause. The contribution of primary smoking is very clearly established, and exposure to second-hand smoke likely also plays an important, although less well defined, role.
What is the most common cause of COPD Mcq?Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious illness that makes breathing difficult.
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