1. The Facts
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs in which airways carrying oxygen through the lungs are obstructed making breathing difficult. COPD is a major cause of death in Americans with more than 14 million people suffering from the disease.
2. Two Distinct Diseases
COPD consists of two diseases (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) which are characterized by a lack of oxygen that makes breathing difficult. Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and scarring of the bronchial tubes. Once the bronchial tubes have been irritated for a prolonged period of time the lining of the tubes becomes thickened causing excessive mucus and decreased air flow. This leads to frequent bacterial infections and scarring of the lungs. Emphysema is a gradual destruction of the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs resulting in permanent damage to the tissue of the lower lungs. This condition causes the lungs to lose their elasticity and transfer less oxygen leading to shortness of breath and difficulty with exhaling.
3. How to Diagnose
Diagnosis involves a full medical history and may include several diagnostic procedures such as radiological procedures, pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gases, oximetry and alpha-1-antitrypsin level. According to Sandra Adams, MD, COPD is frequently diagnosed at a late stage when intervention will have little effect or change in the outcome of the disease.
4. Several Risk Factors
Patients with COPD usually have a history of smoking, are over 40 years of age, experience a shortness of breath during physical activities and present with a productive cough. Indeed, tobacco use is the number one risk factor for this disease with cigarette smokers being at the greatest risk. In addition, having alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is another risk factor for COPD with approximately 1 percent to 3 percent of all emphysema cases being caused by this deficiency.
5. Current Treatments
There is no cure for COPD, but certain factors and treatments can slow the progression of this disease. Quitting smoking can greatly improve a patient's quality of life. Once a patient stops smoking, their lung function will decline at a much slower rate. Since cigarettes are psychologically and physically addictive, patients will need help through medications, nicotine replacement therapy, smoking cessation classes, stress reduction techniques and/or support groups. Other forms of treatment include pharmacological treatments (bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents), mucolytics (medications to break up mucus), antibiotics (for acute exacerbations), oxygen, behavioral therapy (pulmonary rehab and nutritional support) and surgical procedures (lung transplant, lung volume reduction surgery).
