COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

COPD symptoms often do not show up until substantial lung damage has occurred, and they usually get worse over time, mainly if there is an exposure to smoke. For chronic bronchitis, the chief symptom is mucus (sputum) production and daily coughing for at least three months in a year. Some of common symptoms of obstructive lung disease include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
• Chest tightness
• Wheezing
• Having to always clear your throat due to excess mucus in your lungs
• Blueness of the fingernail beds or lips
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Swelling of ankles, feet or legs
• A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
• Lack of energy
• Unintended weight loss

Individuals with COPD are also likely to suffer from episodes called exacerbations, during which their signs become worse than usual everyday variation and persist for at least quite a few days.

COPD is mostly a combination of two conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both diseases are caused due to smoking. Even though an individual can have either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, people are most likely to have a mixture of both conditions. The various risk factors that increase the chance of developing chronic bronchitis symptoms are as follows.

• Long-term exposure to harmful pollutants in the workplace
• COPD most often happens in individuals 40 years of age and older
• Genetics can also be part of the cause in the development of COPD
• The majority of the people who have COPD (around 90% of them) have smoked
• Infectious diseases that harm the lung tissue in patients with asthma or hyperactive airways may also lead to obstructive lung disease

There are two main types of COPD:

• Chronic bronchitis, which leads to a long-term cough with mucus
• Emphysema, which harms the lungs over time

Other than this, refractory asthma, which is non-reversible, is also a part of COPD, as are some types of bronchiectasis, which leads to abnormal scarring of the airways.

Currently, there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but treatment can help in reducing the progression of the condition and also gradually control the symptoms. Once the patient is finished with the numerous diagnostic tests, the doctor may suggest one or more COPD treatments options depending on how severe the condition is. The main chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment options include:

• Quitting Smoking - If a person has COPD and they smoke, this is the most crucial thing they can do.
• Medications and Inhalers - This makes breathing easier.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation - It is a specialized programme of exercise as well as education.
• A Lung Transplant or Surgery - This is only a possibility for a minimal number of individuals.

The doctor will discuss the possible treatment options with the patient to ensure that the COPD symptoms are efficiently controlled.

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