COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as “smoker’s lung” because smoking is the most common cause of the condition.
However, this name can be misleading because smokers aren’t the only ones at risk of getting the disease. Currently about 30% of patients diagnosed with COPD worldwide have never smoked.
Here’s what you need to know about COPD, if you’re at risk, what the treatments are, and what steps you can take to prevent it.
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition that blocks airflow in the lungs and makes it hard for a person to breathe. It often results from a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
COPD is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms develop slowly and get worse over time. Eventually COPD can limit a person’s ability to participate in routine daily activities due to shortness of breath.
COPD is one of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S.
Who is mostly likely to be diagnosed with COPD?
COPD is a progressive illness that’s usually diagnosed in people over the age of 40. Rates of COPD are higher in women, but more men die from it.
More than 14 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD. But the actual number of sufferers is much higher, because COPD often goes undiagnosed, even in older patients.
There is growing evidence that COPD does develop in people as young as their 20s. However it usually goes undiagnosed because COPD presents different signs and symptoms (clinical characteristics) in younger people.
One study found that non-Hispanic black or white males who smoke are at highest risk for “young COPD” and that young COPD sufferers are at higher risk for death.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
The most common symptoms of COPD include:
- coughing, wheezing and other breathing problems
- difficulty completing daily activities such as routine self-care, walking or cooking
- challenges with concentration, memory, and decision-making.
To avoid living with undiagnosed COPD, seek medical help if you have any of the above symptoms.
What causes COPD?
Smoking is the most common cause of COPD in wealthy countries like the US. Besides tobacco smoking, other factors that can lead to the disease include:
- genetics
- impaired lung growth
- respiratory infections and
- environmental exposures including secondhand smoke, occupational exposures, and outdoor and indoor air pollution.
COPD symptoms cross over with other chronic diseases
COPD often coexists in patients with other chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, as well as mental health issues such as depression.
Although COPD progresses slowly, having shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest tightness can also be symptoms of a cardiac emergency. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.
How is COPD diagnosed?
Patients concerned about COPD should talk to their primary care provider. The provider may order a spirometry lung function test, or will refer the patient to a Pulmonary doctor for further evaluation.
To diagnose COPD, a health provider will review a patient’s symptoms and medical history, any family history of lung disease, and whether the person has ever smoked or had exposures to air pollution (such as growing up next to a freeway, working in a factory, or proximity to recurring wildfires).
The main test for COPD is spirometry, in which patients are asked to blow into a tube to measure airflow. X-rays or a CT scan may also be recommended to rule out lung cancer as the cause of the patient’s symptoms.
What are the treatments for COPD?
There is no cure for COPD, but patients can see improvements if they:
- Quit smoking
- Minimize exposure to air pollution and
- Stay up to date on vaccinations against respiratory diseases (such as flu and COVID) that worsen COPD symptoms.
Although exercise can be challenging for a person with reduced lung capacity, staying active helps slow the progression of COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation can also help strengthen the lungs.
The most common medical treatment for COPD is bronchodilator inhalers, which may be prescribed for immediate relief during acute flare-ups. Steroids and antibiotics may be prescribed for use with flare-ups to reduce inflammation and prevent future attacks. In patients with advanced COPD, supplemental oxygen or surgery may be beneficial.
What can you do to protect your lungs and prevent COPD?
- Quit smoking – To prevent COPD the most important thing a person can do is to quit smoking, or even better, never smoke at all. Any history of smoking raises one’s risk, and that risk increases the longer a person smokes.
- Minimize exposure to air pollutants – Different types of air pollutants raise a person’s risk of developing COPD. As mentioned above, to reduce your risk, avoid secondhand smoke, exhaust fumes, and wildfire smoke whenever possible.
- Wear personal protective equipment – When working with chemicals, always use PPE such as gloves, respirators, and goggles. To protect your lungs, minimize exposure to harmful substances such as ammonia, asbestos, carbon monoxide, and chemical fumes.
- Pay attention to indoor air quality – Don’t ignore indoor air quality at home. Common toxins found in dust, smoke, cleaners, aerosol spray products, mold, and bacteria can also irritate the lungs. To minimize your exposure, choose low-VOC cleaning products, use exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers, and open windows while cleaning.
How to check your COPD risk
If you have a chronic cough or frequently experience mild shortness of breath, contact your WWMG primary care provider, who can assess your symptoms and refer you to a pulmonary specialist if needed.
The COPD Foundation has an online quiz to measure your risk of developing COPD. If your result shows you’re at higher risk, bring it up with your primary care provider at your next appointment.
Whether you’re a smoker or not, the information in this article can help guide you if you have COPD symptoms, even in the early stages. Knowing what you can do to protect your lungs will have a positive effect on your health, now and for many years to come.