EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT COPD( CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISORDER)

COPD typically refers to two lung diseases – chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A person with COPD may have one or the other, but most people with COPD have both.

Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Over time this leads to changes in the airway lining, which leads to excess mucus production and chronic cough. Emphysema is the irreversible breakdown of the walls of the lungs’ air sacs. As a result, the lungs lose elasticity and their capacity to exchange oxygen to the bloodstream for carbon dioxide. COPD also adds to the work of the heart.

Because COPD often progresses slowly, many people don't realize they have a problem. Also, they may blame their breathlessness or coughing on the aging process and think their condition is normal for someone who is getting older. And people adjust their daily routine to reduce or avoid activities that leave them breathless.

Early diagnosis and treatment is the most likely way to preserve lung function.

Early warning signs of COPD vary, but among the most common are:

• An increased amount of sputum coughed up from the lungs
• Shortness of breath during activity
• Chronic coughing

It is possible to have both COPD and asthma, and the diseases share several characteristics. Many people with COPD also suffer from asthma, but most people with asthma do not have COPD.

One difference between the two is that asthma sufferers can be nearly free of symptoms between exacerbations with proper treatment. Also, the symptoms of asthma – wheezing, shortness of breath, cough – are usually caused by obvious triggers, such as allergens, cold air, or exercise. Onset of asthma generally occurs in younger non-smokers, while COPD is more often linked to older age and smoking. Airway obstruction with asthma is typically reversible, while people with COPD develop permanent lung damage that progresses over time.

Although COPD is not curable, the symptoms can be treated and your quality of life can improve. Factors include how well your lungs are functioning and how well you follow your treatment program and respond to it. It is possible to feel better, stay active, and slow the progression of the disease.

The muscles used in breathing may burn up to 10 times more calories for a person of average weight with COPD than for a person without COPD. Also, if you are overweight, your heart and lungs have to work even harder to breathe properly. If you are underweight, you are more susceptible to complications from illnesses. Maintaining proper weight and achieving good nutrition are important to coping with COPD.

In COPD, less air flows in your lungs' airways for one or more of the following reasons:

• Bronchial tubes become inflamed and thickened.
• Your airways are clogged with mucus.
• Walls between your lungs' air sacs are destroyed, causing them to lose elasticity and lessen the exchange of oxygen/carbon dioxide.

COPD is diagnosed most often in people who are over 45. The CDC reports that 11% of men and 10% of women aged 75-84 had COPD in 2007-2009, compared to 2% of men and 4% for women aged 25-44.

Quitting smoking is the single most effective way to slow the progression of COPD or reduce the risk of developing it. If you quit smoking, you can stop or slow down further damage to your lungs.

The flu can cause serious problems for people with COPD, so they should get a flu shot every year. People with COPD are also at greater risk for pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, so talk to your health care provider about getting the pneumococcal "pneumonia" vaccine.

There is no cure for COPD, but there are effective treatments, and you can make lifestyle changes that can improve the symptoms and slow the disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation involves exercise, education about nutritional needs, and sometimes psychological counseling. Your health care provider also may prescribe inhaler medicines to relax your airways and make breathing easier. If you have severe COPD, you may require the use of supplemental oxygen.

When your COPD gets suddenly worse, it's known as an exacerbation. Common signs are wheezing, increased cough or shortness of breath, shallow or rapid breathing, increased heart rate or temperature, and a change in the color of your mucus. People with COPD may experience one or two exacerbations each year, and they will worsen as the disease progresses. Talk to your health care provider about a plan for treating exacerbations.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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