Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Dr.Akshay Budhraja, 4 mins read

We all know how harmful tobacco smoke and the miasma of burning fuel are to overall well-being. It could lead to several health problems, including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonology).

It's an umbrella term for a series of lung issues, like chronic bronchitis, nonreversible asthma, and emphysema. The burden of COPD is continuously rising globally. 

Understanding the condition, its symptoms, causes, and available treatment can make things easier.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be explained as chronic inflammation of the lungs that cause obstructive airflow. It can progress with time and can affect your day-to-day life.

Asthma vs COPD

Both are similar in many ways, like similar symptoms - obstructed airflow and shortness of breath. However, COPD is caused due to smoking, and asthma is usually set off by sinus infections and allergens.

Symptoms

Initially, it doesn't show noticeable signs. But with time, the situation gets worse, and you may experience the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in chest
• Wheezing
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Chronic cough with clear, yellow, white or greenish mucus

Causes

Inhaling harmful smoke and fumes for a long time can affect the elasticity of bronchial tubes and make them over-expand. This affects the capacity of the lungs to get air into and out of your lungs.

Another is emphysema, a condition in which the alveoli's elastic fibre and fragile walls get damaged. 

However, not all smokers develop this disease. Many factors other than harmful smoke, like genetic susceptibility to the disease, play a role in the development of COPD.

In about 1% of COPD patients, it has been seen that the deficiency of the hormone alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) was the cause of the disease. This hormone is secreted by the liver and released into the bloodstream to protect the lungs.

Complications

If a person with COPD regularly gets exposed to air pollution and harmful smoke, the situation may worsen. This can raise your risk of getting a cold, flu, pneumonia, respiratory infections, heart problems, lung cancer, high blood pressure and depression.

Who is At More Risk of Getting COPD?

• People who have asthma.
• People over 65 years of age.
• Those who regularly smoke or get exposed to second-hand smoke, harmful chemicals fumes, dust, and vapours.
• People who have a deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Diagnosis

To assess your lung health, the doctor may ask about your medical history, like 

• Do you have a family history of COPD?
• Do you smoke, experience shortness of breath, or cough up phlegm?

The doctor may also perform a physical examination. He may listen to your lungs and heart, examine your nose and throat, and check your blood pressure and pulse. 

Your doctor may also run a few other tests like chest X-ray, chest CT scan, spirometry, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gases (ABGs), and electrocardiogram.

Prevention & Management

Most COPD cases are due to smoking. So, the best way to prevent yourself from the disease and slow its progression is to quit smoking. However, this simple statement may not help you to stop smoking because you may have heard it many times before. But keep trying and look for a tobacco cessation program.

Another cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is occupational exposure to dust and chemical fumes. In such a case, you can talk to your supervisor and ask for respiratory protective equipment.

If you're diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, your doctor may prescribe:

• Inhalers
• Tablets like Mucolytics, antibiotics, steroids, Theophylline, etc.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation - a specialized program to ease lung problems
• Nebulised medicine

In severe cases, your doctor may recommend long-term oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation or surgery.

Takeaway!

COPD is a group of lung diseases that obstructs airflow. People with this disease experience breathlessness and various respiratory problems. Smoking and exposure to harmful gases are the primary cause of this disease. If you experience such signs and symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Also, Read: Pneumonia- Everything You Need to Know!