COPD and You
COPD, short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, is an umbrella term that applies to multiple progressive lung conditions, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Nearly 16 million Americans currently have a diagnosis for COPD, but there are millions more living without knowing they have it. COPD is a relatively common condition, but it most affects older age groups, primarily those aged 65 or older, with most diagnoses happening at age 45 or older.
COPD is progressive, meaning the symptoms become worse over time. The primary effect most people notice is that it becomes difficult to breathe, as the condition makes it more difficult for the lungs to move air in and out. Most people notice something is wrong when the normal activity they engage in becomes taxing. Suddenly, climbing a flight of stairs or doing light exercise leaves them out of breath and gasping for air. It may feel like a persistent tightness in the chest, or a constant need to clear one’s throat and cough. The coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath that COPD can cause from normal activities can be emotionally harmful, making people rethink what their activity level can be and cause them to retreat inside and away from their normal routines.
Common risk factors for developing COPD later in life include:
- Genetics
- Smoking
- Asthma
- Living in areas with high air pollution
- Jobs that involve high amounts of dust, chemicals, inhalants, and airborne particulates, such as construction, mining, or painting.
Currently, there is no known cure for COPD, but medical treatment and lifestyle management can help slow the progression of symptoms and improve your quality of life, should you be diagnosed with the disease.
If you’re a smoker, that’s probably sadly to blame for the diagnosis. You may think that once the damage is done, there’s no reason to quit, but the fact is that no matter what negative effects you’ve already suffered from cigarettes, the best time to quit is always right now, and there’s never a bad time to do it. Among all the other well-researched and understood health risks associated with smoking, cutting cigarettes out of your life is one of the best things you can do for COPD. Cigarette smoke is filled with toxins and harmful chemicals that damages your lungs when you breathe them in. The smoke also destroys the tiny sacs in your lungs called alveoli that are responsible for moving oxygen in and out.
Particulates in the air can irritate your breathing as well, so make sure to keep your living space free of dust. Investing in an air purifier can also help keep your space easier to breathe in.
Staying active and maintaining a healthy diet is another way you can help yourself. Aerobic exercise strengthens your lungs and makes your breathing stronger, so start slow and build up over time, slowly increasing the intensity or duration of your workouts, to help keep yourself as strong as you can be. Excess weight can also make breathing more difficult, as your body has to work harder to carry oxygen to all the parts of your body. Diet and exercise can help you maintain a normal weight, helping you breathe a bit easier.