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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as seen in a thoracic CT scan.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term that describes a group of progressive and disabling lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the world. More than 15 million Americans have COPD and as a result experience reduced activity levels, reduced quality of life, and a reduced life span. Nine out of 10 cases of COPD are due to a present or past history of smoking.
What is COPD?
COPD is a disease that causes swelling and thickening of the airways, as well as destruction of the delicate air sacs of the lung that deliver oxygen to the blood. While normal healthy lungs are very flexible and elastic, the lungs of people with COPD become scarred and stiffen, making it harder and harder to breathe.
What causes COPD?
Without question, the most common cause of COPD is smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals that are toxic to the lungs. Inhaling these toxic substances damages the lungs and leads to COPD. Exposure to other inhaled toxins, such as may be found in air pollution or the dust and fumes created in some industries, can also cause COPD. In rare cases, COPD can be caused by genetic or inherited factors, sometimes even in the absence of an inhaled exposure.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
COPD develops gradually over years. At first, COPD causes no symptoms. As it gets worse, people with COPD may have some or all of the following symptoms:
How do I know if I have COPD?
If you have the symptoms of COPD, or are over 40 and have smoked for longer than five to 10 years, you should ask your doctor if you have COPD. Doctors use a simple test called spirometry to diagnose COPD. This test measures how deeply you can breathe and how fast air moves out of your lungs. You will be asked to take a deep breath in and blow out through a tube.
What treatments are available for COPD?
There is no cure for COPD, but there several things that you and your doctor can do to make your breathing better.
What steps can I take to prevent COPD?
Quitting smoking is the only option ......
Quitting smoking is MY only option!! Right now I'm on oxygen only at night. I have been on it 24/7, and it's a mind blowing experience. Thanks, Thomas, for reminding me what I'm fighting here. I had bronchitis really bad before my surgery, and it took 10 days of steroids and antibiotics before my pulmonary doctor would okay me for anesthesia. Love you bunches, and glad I got thru my big crave this afternoon and had you to make such wise suggestions.
Thank you Thomas. If smoking did to the outside of the body what it does to the inside, no one would ever smoke.
Your time researching and teaching here about smoking is valued.
Thanks for everything, Thomas including the CT scans. I am still asymptomatic, on no meds.
Thank you, Thomas -- this is the type of education that always needs to be reinforced. You do a wonderful job of that for us, and we appreciate it!
You are our source for COPD info. Period.
As usual great info!!