What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD: chronic bronchitis, which causes inflammation that narrows your airways, and emphysema, which damages tiny air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. Chronic bronchitis symptoms typically include a long-term cough with mucus, while emphysema causes shortness of breath. Many people with COPD have both conditions.
While there is no cure for COPD, experts at Penn Medicine can help you live more comfortably with the disease while slowing its progression. We have dedicated specialists in chronic lung disease care who create individualized treatment plans to help you manage your COPD and maintain the best possible quality of life.
Symptoms of COPD
COPD progresses through various stages, from mild to severe. Because COPD symptoms develop slowly, many people may not know they have COPD until there’s some damage to the lungs. As COPD progresses to later stages, you may have flare-ups that are more frequent or severe, sometimes requiring hospitalization.
Symptoms may include:
- Cough, with or without mucus
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity
- Trouble catching one’s breath or breathing deeply
- Wheezing or unusual sounds when breathing
- Fatigue
- Skin with a bluish tint
Additionally, there can be complications related to COPD, including pneumonia, collapsed lungs, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia), thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), and anxiety or depression. It’s important that you see your doctor regularly and get treated for any complications promptly to help you stay healthy.
What causes COPD?
While there are many causes of COPD, smoking is the most common. Certain environmental factors and genetic conditions can also cause the disease. Those assigned female at birth or over age 65 may be at higher risk.
Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While some people smoke for years and never get COPD, the more you smoke, the more likely you will develop the disease.
Some forms of COPD can be traced to environmental risk factors, including:
- Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace
- Exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution
- Frequent use of a cooking fire without proper ventilation
Some people have a rare condition in which they lack a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin. They can develop emphysema even without smoking.
Diagnosing COPD
Your pulmonology specialist will listen to your lungs and check for wheezing or abnormal breathing. They’ll also check your breathing capacity to evaluate lung function. Imaging may be ordered to assess visual signs of COPD, along with blood tests that measure the amount of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood. If alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is suspected, a specialized blood test will likely be ordered to detect this genetic condition.
COPD treatments
While there is no cure for COPD, you can take steps to relieve symptoms and keep the disease from getting worse. If you are a smoker, the best way to slow lung damage is to quit smoking. For symptom relief, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce inflammation in the lungs and airways. Antibiotics may be prescribed if you have an infection, which can make COPD symptoms worse. Additional treatments or pulmonary rehabilitation may be needed for more severe cases or during flare-ups.
Living with COPD
You can take steps every day to keep COPD from getting worse, protect your lungs, and stay healthy.
COPD will get worse more quickly if you do not stop smoking. Penn Medicine offers smoking cessation programs that provide resources and support to help you quit.
Work with your respiratory therapist or doctor to create guidelines for a regular walking program:
- Identify how far you should walk
- Slowly increase the length of your walks
- Avoid talking if you get short of breath when you walk
- Use pursed lip breathing when you breathe out, to empty your lungs before the next breath
You can make it easier and more comfortable to breathe at home with these tips:
- Avoid very cold air or very hot weather
- Make sure no one smokes in your home
- Reduce air pollution by not using the fireplace and getting rid of other airborne irritants
- Manage stress and your mood
- Use oxygen if prescribed for you
Nutritious foods like fish, poultry, lean meat, and fruits and vegetables can help you feel better. If it’s hard to keep your weight up, talk to a provider or dietitian about eating foods with more calories, often by eating small frequent meals.
You can ease stress and learn about helpful resources by joining a COPD support group. Sharing information with others who have common experiences can help you feel less alone and discover ways to stay healthier.
Expert treatment for chronic lung disease
Penn Pulmonology specialists diagnose and treat chronic lung diseases like COPD. Our multidisciplinary care includes access to lung doctors, radiologists, chest surgeons, advanced practice nurses, and respiratory therapists all in one convenient location.
We don’t just treat the disease. We educate you about the cause of your COPD and what you can expect in the future from your treatment options. We encourage you to ask questions and discuss vital issues so you can be an active participant in your treatment plan. Whether you need early treatment for a mild case of COPD or more advanced treatment, you can count on us to provide a full range of clinical care and support services to help you manage the disease and feel better.