A guide to COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disorder that makes it hard to breathe. COPD tends to get worse over time, but catching it early, along with good care, can help many people stay active and may slow the disease.
What causes COPD?
About 90% of people with COPD are current or former smokers — and their disease usually appears after age 40. Secondhand smoke and exposure to environmental irritants and pollution also can increase your risk of COPD.
Symptoms of COPD
COPD can cause shortness of breath in everyday activities, wheezing, chest tightness, constant coughing, producing a lot of mucus (sputum), tiredness and frequent colds or flu. Severe COPD can make it difficult to walk, cook, clean house, or even bathe. Advanced illness can also cause swollen legs or feet, weight loss, less muscle strength and endurance, headache in the morning and blue or grey lips or fingernails.
Treatment
Bronchodilators are medications that relax the muscles of the airways to help keep them open and make it easier to breathe. If bronchodilators don't provide enough relief, people with COPD may take corticosteroids. Steroids may also be given by pill or injection to treat flare-ups of COPD.
Pulmonary rehabilitation classes teach people ways to keep up with their daily activities without as much shortness of breath.
If your cough and shortness of breath get worse or you develop fever, talk to your doctor. These are signs that a lung infection may be taking hold, and your doctor may prescribe medications to help knock it out as quickly as possible.
A small number of people with COPD may benefit from surgery. Bullectomy and lung volume reduction surgery remove the diseased parts of the lung, allowing the healthy tissue to perform better and making breathing easier.
How quitting smoking helps
Smoking destroys the tiny hair-like cilia that normally repair and clean the airways — and harms the lungs in other ways, too. Quitting will slow or stop the damage, and is simply the most important step you can take for COPD.
COPD and diet
A healthy diet is important for people with COPD. Common guidelines include drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily; eating high-fibre foods; avoiding overeating and gassy foods such as fried foods or carbonated drinks, and eating 4-6 small meals each day.
Living with COPD
It is important to stay active, even if you feel short of breath. Avoid secondhand smoke, chemical fumes, and other lung irritants. Be sure to get vaccinated against the flu and pneumococcal disease. Wash hands frequently, and avoid hacking, sniffling people during cold and flu season.
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