Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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It is one of the most common diseases of the lungs. COPD causes difficulty breat
hing.
There are two main forms of COPD:
Chronic bronchitis, which implies a prolonged cough with mucus.
Emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time.
Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.
Causes
The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is smoking. The m
ore a person smokes, the more likely that person will develop COPD although some
people smoke for years and never get COPD.
Emphysema
Other risk factors for COPD are:
Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace.
Exposure to heavy amounts of pollution or cigarette smoke indirect.
Frequent use of cooking fire without proper ventilation.
SYMPTOMS
Cough with or without phlegm
Fatigue
Many respiratory infections
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity
Difficulty for air
Wheezing
Since the symptoms of COPD develop slowly, some people may not know they have th
e disease.
Exams and Tests
The best test for COPD is a lung function test called spirometry, which involves
blowing out as hard as you can into a small machine that tests lung capacity. T
he results can be analyzed immediately.
Spirometry
Use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs can also be used, however, sometimes th
e lungs sound normal even when a person has COPD.
The images of the lungs (such as X-rays and CT scans) can be helpful, but someti
mes the lungs look normal even when a person has COPD and has taken a chest radi
ograph.
Some patients may need to make them a blood test, called a blood gas analysis to
measure the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Treatment
There is no cure for COPD, but there are many steps you can take to relieve symp
toms and prevent the disease from getting worse.
If you smoke, now is the time to quit. This is the best way to reduce lung damag
e.
Medications used to treat COPD include:
Inhalers (bronchodilators) to help open the airways.
Inhaled or oral steroids to reduce lung inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce swelling in the airways.

In severe cases or during flare-ups, it may be necessary to receive:
Steroids by mouth or through a vein (intravenously).
Bronchodilators via a nebulizer.
Oxygen therapy.
Assistance during breathing from a machine (through a mask, BiPAP, or endotrache
al tube).
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for flare-ups of symptoms, because infecti
ons can worsen COPD.
Home oxygen therapy may be needed if you have a low level of oxygen in the blood
.
Pulmonary rehabilitation does not cure COPD, but you can teach breathe different
ly so that they can remain active.
LIVING WITH COPD
You can take steps every day to prevent COPD worse, protect your lungs and stay
healthy.
Walk to increase strength:
Ask your doctor or therapist how you can both walk.
Slowly increase walking distance.
Try not to talk when you walk if you have difficulty breathing.
Use breathing through pursed lips as you exhale to empty your lungs before the n
ext breath.
The steps you can take to make life easier in the home include:
Avoiding very cold air.
Ensure that no one smokes in the house.
Reducing air pollution by eliminating fireplace smoke and other irritants.
Eat healthy foods like fish, poultry or lean meat, like fruits and vegetables. I
f you find it difficult to maintain weight, talk to your doctor or a dietitian a
bout getting foods with more calories.
Surgery can be used to treat COPD, but only a few patients benefit from these su
rgical treatments.
Surgery to remove parts of the diseased lung, which can help other areas less af
fected work better in some patients with emphysema.
Lung transplantation for severe cases.
Support Groups
The stress of illness may be eased by joining a support group. Sharing with othe
rs who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Expectations (prognosis)
COPD is a term (chronic) disease will get worse more quickly if you do not quit.
If you have severe COPD, you will experience shortness of breath with most activ
ities and will be hospitalized more frequently.
Talk to your doctor about respirators and care at the end of life.
Complications
With COPD, you may have other health problems such as:
Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias).

Need for breathing machine and oxygen therapy.

Right heart failure or cor pulmonale (heart swelling and heart failure due to ch
ronic lung disease).
Pneumonia.
Pneumothorax.
Severe weight loss and malnutrition.
Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).
Weakness.
Call your health care provider
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911 in the
United States) if you have a rapid increase in shortness of breath.
Prevention
Failure smoking prevents most cases of COPD. Ask your doctor or health care prof
essional regarding smoking cessation programs. There is also availability of dru
gs to help you quit.
Alternative Names
COPD; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive airway disease;
Emphysema; Chronic bronchitis; Chronic bronchitis type
References
Anderson B, Conner K, C Dunn, et al. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.
Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Updat
ed March 2013. Available at: https://www.icsi.org/_asset/yw83gh/COPD.pdf.Accesse
d April 26, 2014.
Balkissoon R, S Lommatzsch, B Carolan, Make B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary dis
ease: a concise review. Med Clin N Am.
SD Shapiro, JJ Reilly Jr., Rennard SI. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In:. Ma
son RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds.Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respirat
ory Medicine
Updated 4/26/2014
Version Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pul
monary, Allergy and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pe
nnsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Ogilvie Isl
and, PhD, and the ADAM Editorial team.
Translation and localization by ADAM Logo
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