COPD

COPD is the new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

What is COPD? COPD is a long-term lung disease usually caused by smoking.
COPD includes a few lung diseases: the most common are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many people with COPD have both of these diseases.
COPD symptoms include shortness of breath, increased mucus and coughing. Some people with COPD say it feels like they're breathing through a straw.
COPD can't be cured, but it can be treated. With the right treatment, people with COPD can lead active lives and live for many years. People can learn strategies for living with COPD.

What does COPD do to lungs?COPD slowly damages your airways - the tubes that go in and out of your lungs. People with COPD have swollen and partly blocked airways. They can also have damage in the air sacs at the tips of their airways.

COPD makes it hard to breathe because:
the airways and air sacs in your lungs lose their shape and stretchiness the walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed the walls of the airways become thick and swollen cells in the airways make more mucus than usual, which blocks the airways. Many people with COPD have emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The emphysema part of COPD means you have damage to the air sacs at the tips of your airways. This makes it hard for your body to take in the oxygen it needs.
The chronic bronchitis part of COPD means your airways are irritated, red, and make too much sticky mucous. The walls of your airways are swollen and partly block the air from passing through.

What causes COPD?

Smoking cigarettes causes about 90 percent of COPD cases. Other things that can cause COPD are:
Heredity (for example, a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) Second-hand smoke Air pollution at work and in the environment (dust or chemicals) A history of childhood lung infections Who can get COPD?Anyone who smokes or who smoked in the past can get COPD. People with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, exposure to second-hand smoke or pollution, or many childhood chest infections, can also get it.
People usually notice COPD symptoms when they're in their 40s, 50s or 60s. Often people think their COPD symptoms - feeling short of breath, wheezing or coughing- are a normal part of getting older. They're not.
The sooner COPD is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. That's why it's important to catch symptoms early. If you are a smoker or a former smoker, take the Canadian Lung Health Test to see if you're at risk for COPD.
Can COPD be prevented?Yes. Most of the time, COPD can be prevented. Since most cases of COPD are caused by smoking, people can prevent COPD by not smoking. Smokers can reduce their chance of getting COPD by quitting as soon as possible - it's never too late to quit.
Can COPD be slowed down?Yes. If you have COPD and smoke, you can slow down the COPD by quitting smoking. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to feel better.

How does COPD progress? What can I expect?People with COPD eventually die from it, or from a complication of it.
Complications of COPD:
Recurring chest infections, including pneumonia, the flu, etc. Pulmonary hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs Cor pulmonale: enlargement and strain on the right side of the heart Increased blood count Arrhythmias (irregular heart beat) Dependence on mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy Pneumothorax (air outside the lung) Respiratory failure People with COPD can live for a long time after they are diagnosed. If you have COPD, how long you'll live depends on many things:

What age you were diagnosed at How bad your lung damage is Whether you keep smoking, cut back or quit (cutting back is a start, quitting is the best!) What kind of medical care and treatment you get What other health problems you might have If you have COPD and you smoke, it's important to quit smoking. Work with your doctor to get proper care and treatment for COPD, so that you'll live as long and as comfortable a life as possible. Many people with COPD find ways to enjoy a happy and productive life despite their disease.
It's also important to talk to your doctor and family about what kind of care you will need in future years, and what you can do now to get ready for the future.

Signs & symptoms

Diagnosis
People with COPD usually have a combination of these symptoms:
Feeling short of breath A barrel-shaped chest Wheezing Frequent, long-lasting lung infections (the flu, pneumonia, etc.) Feeling tired (fatigue) Losing weight without trying