Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is a group of chronic lung diseases that obstructs air intake.The two most common causes of obstructive disease are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and approximately 12 million Americans have COPD. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated one in 20 deaths in the United States could be attributed to COPD in 2005, with smoking the etiology for at least 75 percent of these deaths. There is no cure for COPD, with the disease progressively getting worse over time. However, treatment can help to control the symptoms.
Symptoms
A chronic obstructive lung disorder does not happen over night, rather, respiratory damage occurs slowly over time. Common symptoms of COPD include persistent shortness of breath and wheezing. A productive cough with chest tightness is experienced on a frequent basis. Upon physical examination, a patient in later stages of the disease may exhibit what is called a "barrel chest," that is, a rounded chest that looks like a barrel. According to the Mayo Clinic, this occurs over time because chronic lung over-inflation makes the rib cage expand and the barrel shape results from the rib cage remaining partially and chronically expanded. According to COPD International, other possible symptoms of COPD may include:
"Smokers cough" (morning)
Persistent colds (last weeks at a time)
Pulmonary infections
Inability to perform normal activities of your age group
Stage Symptoms
According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, the following stages, which are determined by a pulmonary function test, are helpful in assessing patients diagnosed with an obstructive pulmonary process (see full table at "COPD International" in References):
Mild Stage. Minimal shortness of breath that typically is not detected on examination as being abnormal at this early point in the disease trajectory.
Moderate Stage. This likely is when symptoms become problematic enough for one to seek out a physician. Moderate or major shortness of breath now is detected and assessed on the pulmonary function test during patient exertion.
Severe. Symptoms increase in severity and fatigue is present; for example, shortness of breath is severe with reduced ability to exercise. Quality of life is affected.
Very Severe. Respiratory distress severely reduces the patient's quality of life, and major episodes may endanger patient's life.
Prognosis
It may take years for the symptoms of COPD to present, yet the outcome is severe, long term and potentially disabling. Lung damage remains and the condition gets worse with time for the remainder of the lifespan.
