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what is COPD? | |
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causes & symptoms | |
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treating COPD | |
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help someone cope | |
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glossary | |
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expert Q & A | |
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Katharine Knobil (rhymes with "Mobile," as in Mobile, Alabama), MD, is Principal Clinical Research Physician in Respiratory North American Medical Affairs at GlaxoSmithKline. She is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Knobil is board certified in internal and pulmonary medicine. She is a member of the American Thoracic Society, the Drug Information Association, and the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians. question: "Is COPD different from emphysema or chronic bronchitis?" answer: Emphysema and chronic bronchitis with airflow obstruction are the two main diseases associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients may experience symptoms of one or both of these conditions. question: "What is chronic bronchitis?" answer: Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways, which causes increased production of mucus. It is considered chronic (or long-term) when a person is coughing and producing excess mucus for most days of the month, at least 3 months of a year, 2 or more years in a row. question: "What is emphysema?" answer: Emphysema is a disease that affects the air sacs and/or the smallest breathing tubes in the lungs. Simply put, the lungs lose elasticity, similar to an overused rubber band, and that causes the affected areas to become enlarged. When lungs lose their elasticity, it becomes hard for patients to get air into and out of their lungs. question: "What is the difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema?" answer: Bronchitis is the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. These tubes connect the windpipe with the lungs. When the tubes are inflamed and/or infected, less air is able to flow to and from the lungs and heavy mucus, or phlegm, is coughed up. This is bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is defined by the presence of a mucus-producing cough most days of the month, at least 3 months of a year, for 2 or more years in a row, without other underlying disease to explain the cough. Emphysema is a disease that affects the air sacs and/or the smallest breathing tubes in the lungs. Simply put, the lungs lose elasticity, similar to an overused rubber band, and that causes the affected areas to become enlarged. When lungs lose their elasticity, it becomes hard for patients to get air into and out of their lungs. question: "Why can’t people with emphysema seem to catch their breath?" answer: When affected areas of the lung become enlarged, they trap "stale" air and don’t effectively exchange it with fresh air, causing a shortness of breath. Over time the lungs can become badly damaged, leaving fewer functioning areas where air can be exchanged. question: "What can be done for chronic bronchitis associated with COPD and emphysema?" answer: The first thing to do is stop smoking. Even if you already have COPD, quitting smoking can help prevent further lung damage. There are also medications available that can help people with chronic bronchitis associated with COPD or emphysema breathe better. Talk to your healthcare professional to see if you are doing all you can for your condition. These medications may decrease mucus, increase the amount of air that can get into and out of the lungs and help relieve symptoms of shortness of breath. question: "I’ve never smoked cigarettes before, but my healthcare professional diagnosed me as having chronic bronchitis. How is this possible? I thought this condition was only associated with smoking." answer: Cigarette smoking is by far the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. The bronchial tubes of people with chronic bronchitis may also have been irritated initially by bacterial or viral infections. Air pollution and industrial dusts and fumes are also causes. Chronic bronchitis symptoms worsen when atmospheric concentrations of sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants increase. These symptoms are intensified when individuals also smoke. question: "I’ve heard that chronic bronchitis associated with COPD affects my lungs and may affect my heart as well. Is this true? Can this be life-threatening?" answer: Chronic bronchitis associated with COPD is often neglected by individuals until it is in an advanced state because people mistakenly believe that the disease is not life-threatening. By the time a patient goes to his or her healthcare professional the lungs have frequently been seriously injured. Then the patient may be in danger of developing serious respiratory problems or heart failure. question: "Is smoking the main cause of emphysema?" answer: Smoking is responsible for the vast majority of COPD cases, including emphysema. However, it is estimated that 50,000 to 100,000 Americans living today were born with a deficiency of a protein known as alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT), which can lead to an inherited form of emphysema called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related emphysema. AAT deficiency is rare, and the numbers of patients who develop emphysema due to AAT deficiency are very low, especially when compared to those who develop emphysema from smoking cigarettes. question: "How can people with COPD live more comfortably with their condition?" answer: Healthcare professionals can help people with COPD live more comfortably with their disease. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of symptoms and prevent progression of the disease. The healthcare professional’s advice and treatment may include: quitting smoking, bronchodilator medications, exercise, and antibiotics. question: "Does exercise help relieve COPD symptoms?" answer: It’s true. Believe it or not, even a mild to moderate workout routine can improve your health. In fact, physical activity has many benefits for the person with COPD. It improves muscle tone, increases energy level, strengthens the heart, and gives you a more positive outlook. Exercise also improves cardiovascular efficiency, which helps you to get more oxygen with less effort. Your healthcare professional will tell you how much exercise you should do, and how much is too much. question: "My healthcare professional instructed me to perform breathing exercises. Do breathing exercises really work?" answer: Breathing exercises can help strengthen the muscles used in breathing as part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program to condition the rest of the body. Training in deep breathing helps those with lung conditions get the most oxygen out of every breath and breathe with less effort. Breathing exercises also can reduce anxiety and stress. Because anxiety and stress increase the heart and breathing rates, and increase the body’s demand for oxygen, learning to control them as part of your respiratory management plan is a big benefit. question: "Are there diet tips for people with COPD?" answer: Use salt in moderation. Too much sodium can cause you to retain fluids, which can interfere with your breathing. Also, snack healthfully. Prepackaged snack foods like potato chips and cookies typically contain large amounts of salt, fat, and sugar; they also usually have little in the way of nutrients. It’s best to eat fresh, healthy foods. Healthy snacks also help keep up your energy. Finally, drink lots of fluids, unless you are told not to by a healthcare professional. Go light on the soft drinks; fruit juices are better choices, and pure water is best of all. Keeping your body hydrated may help loosen phlegm, mucus, or sputum so that they can be more easily dislodged by coughing. |
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