THE BASICS

COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  This describes two different diseases; emphysema  and chronic bronchitis.  Many people have both of these.  COPD is progressive.  This means it gets worse over time.  With emphysema , the air sacs and the small airways are damaged.  They lose their stretch.  The trapped stale air and the damaged blood vessels in the air sacs make it harder to get oxygen into the lungs.  This also makes it harder to get carbon dioxide out of the lungs.  With chronic bronchitis, the airways are swollen and inflamed.  You make excess mucus.  This leads to a lot of coughing.  It can often lead to infection.  Breathing is harder because the airways are smaller and tighter.  Asthma is a breathing condition, too.  But with asthma, the problems can be fixed.  They can't with COPD. COPD is a chronic disease.  This means it doesn't have a cure.  However, it can be managed with the right treatment.

What are the Risk Factors for COPD

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.  There are about 16 million people who know they have COPD.  There may be many more people with COPD but they don't know they have it right now.  This is because it is in the beginning stages, and there are not many symptoms.  Medical attention has not been needed yet.

Most COPD is caused by smoking.  COPD may also be caused by being around other unhelthy particles and gases.  Some things that lead to COPD include;

• Work-related dusts and chemicals
• Indoor air pollution--this comes from fuels used for cooking and heating
• Second-hand smoke
• Anherited lack of alpha1-antitrypsin
• Childhood breathing infections leading to lower lung function in adulthood

American Lung Association, www.lungusa.org,  Accessed 10/2995  American College of Chest Physicians,  www.chestnet.org  Accessed 10/2005  The National Empyysema Foundation www.emphysemafoundtion.org Accessed 10/2005

Stages of COPD

There are four stages of severity for COPD.  Each is based on your symptoms and how much your airflow is blocked.  Your airflow is measured during a spirometry test.  Your COPD is mostly managed based on your symptoms but also based on the stage.

• Stage 0 = At Risk COPD
• Stage 1 = Mild COPD
• Stage 2 = Moderate COPD
• Stage 3 = Severe COPD
• Stage 4 = Very Severe COPD

Goals adapted from the Global Initiative for Chronic Lung Disease Guidelines, Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Executive Summary, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, September, 2005

Goals of COPD Treatment

1. Slow the disease.
2. 2Relieve symptoms.
3. Help ability to exercise
4. Improve health.
5. Prevemt and treat problems.
6. Live longer.
7. Prevent or reduce treatment side effects.
8. Provide help to quit smoking.

American College of Chest Physicians,  www.chestnet.org  Accessed 10/2005 

With COPD, you should not use over-the-counter cough or decongestant syrups.  Call your health care provider if you have coughing that won't stop.