Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a department of the National Institutes for Health.
What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
People with COPD are often diagnosed with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. However, the disease is a group of conditions characterized by swollen airways and a loss of elasticity in the airsacs in the lungs.
For people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, breathing under the stress of normal tasks becomes increasingly difficult over time as the lungs become less able to stretch and contract.
According to the NHLBI, symptoms of COPD include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing
- inability to take deep breaths
- constant coughing
- excessive mucus or sputum
Risk Factors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Three major risk factors are reported by the NHLBI for COPD: smoking, environmental exposure and genetic predisposition. While smoking is the most common cause of COPD, the NHLBI advises that one in every six cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in adults over 40 is attributed to non-smokers.
Adults who develop COPD following years of smoking experience the heaviest impact of the disease. According to the NHLBI, 90 percent of deaths caused by the disorder are attributed to smoking.
Some people develop COPD due to a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitypic deficiency, or AAT deficiency. The NHLBI reports that a startling 100,000 Americans have AAT deficiency, although few know that they have it.
For others, long-term exposure to toxic chemicals, second-hand smoke, dusts or fumes via the environment or in the workplace poses a significant risk factor for the development of COPD.
Preventing and Beating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
While there is no cure for COPD, those suffering with the disorder can benefit from treatment if diagnosed early. The NHLBI recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease be tested for lung function via spirometry.
Spirometry measures not only the volume of air that a person can expel from the lungs but also how quickly he can expel it. This test assays how efficiently the lungs are functioning and allows doctors to detect the disease in its earliest stages.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment Options
While there is no cure for COPD, the NHLBI recommends the following treatment options to help control and slow the progression of the disorder:
- medication, including bronchodilators and inhaled steroids
- lung rehabilitation
- quitting smoking
- physical activity under the guidance of a pulmonary therapist
- oxygen treatment
- surgery for patients experiencing the most severe symptoms
Beating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that approximately 24 million Americans have COPD while only 12 million know that they have it. This startling statistic demonstrates the need for those with risk factors experiencing symptoms to speak to their doctors and test early, while the disorder is still manageable.
Source:
COPD: Learn More, Breathe Better; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; accessed February 15, 2010
ROK101
Samantha Gordon - Samantha Gordon is a Regulatory Affairs Manager in the field of chemicals and consumer products. Moonlighting as a freelancer, Samantha ...
Join the Conversation