- Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease or COPD for short is a lung disease that has asthma like symptoms. Having COPD makes it very difficult to breathe.
- COPD is caused mainly by smoking. It can be caused by other harmful materials in the air such as chemicals in pollution and dust or pollen irritating the lungs and creating bacteria that damage the lungs. The air sacs and air pathways are either restricted or deformed causing discomfort and difficulty breathing.
- Common forms of COPD are Emphysema and Bronchitis.
- Emphysema is caused by damage to the Alveoli or air sacs in the lungs. It causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing during exercise.
- Bronchitis is caused by a blockage in the bronchi, or the passage to the lungs. Symptoms of Bronchitis are the coughing up of mucus and chest tightness.
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An unexplained increase or decrease in weight
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Increased feeling of fatigue and lack of energy that is persistent
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Trouble Sleeping
- Wheezing
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Increasing morning headaches, dizzy spells, restlessness
- Changes in weight
3.Treatment of COPD
- Treatments may not cure COPD but they can subdue the effects of the disease.
- The main treatment for COPD would be to get as much fresh air as you can, and do not smoke. Smoking causes an increase in all COPD symptoms.
- Fresh air and proper exercise are a must to stay healthy and help stave off symptoms.
- There are nebulizers and inhalers that allow steriods and medicines to stop the effects of the disease, but not completely cure them.
- Specialized coughing techniques and proper breathing methods can help reduce risk of COPD.
- They are looking into new surgeries like the Lung Volume Reduction Surgery(LVRS) which may increase the quality of breathing.
Sites:
http://www.nlhep.org/lung_trtmnt.html
http://www.nationaljewish.org/healthinfo/conditions/copd/index.aspx
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copdchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.html#cat3
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