Early Detection of COPD: Why It Matters?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lungdisease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems. It is sometimescalled emphysema or chronic bronchitis.[1]

COPD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,with approximately 70% to 80% of adults with COPD being undiagnosed. Patientswith undiagnosed COPD are at increased risk of poor outcomes and a worsenedquality of life, making early detection a crucial strategy to mitigate theimpact of COPD and reduce the burden on healthcaresystems.[2]

The leading risk factor for COPD is a history of smoking,either current or past.[3] People with COPD are athigher risk of other health problems.¹

COPD is not curable but symptoms can improve if one avoidssmoking and exposure to air pollution and gets vaccines to prevent infections.It can also be treated with medicines, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.¹

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of COPD are difficulty breathing,chronic cough (sometimes with phlegm) and feeling tired.¹

COPD symptoms can get worse quickly.¹ Treatment isbased on how severe your symptoms are and whether you often have bouts whensymptoms get worse. These bouts are called exacerbations. Effective therapy cancontrol symptoms, slow how fast the condition worsens, lower the risk ofcomplications and improve your ability to lead an active life.[4]

People with COPD also have a higher risk for other healthproblems. These include:

• lung infections,     like the flu or pneumonia
• lung cancer
• heart problems
• weak muscles and     brittle bones
• depression and     anxiety.¹

Causes

Several processes can cause the airways to become narrow andlead to COPD. There may be destruction of parts of the lung, mucus blocking theairways, and inflammation and swelling of the airway lining.¹

COPD develops gradually over time, often resulting from acombination of risk factors:

·      tobacco exposure from active smoking or passiveexposure to second-hand smoke;¹

·      occupational exposure to dusts, fumes orchemicals;

·      indoor air pollution: ¹

·      early life events such as poor growth in utero,prematurity, and frequent or severe respiratory infections in childhood thatprevent maximum lung growth;

·      asthma in childhood;¹

·      a rare genetic condition called alpha-1antitrypsin deficiency, which can cause COPD at a young age.¹

How do I take care of myself with COPD?

If you have COPD, some tips to take care ofyourself include:[5]

·      Avoid lung irritants and anything that makesyour symptoms worse. This includes smoking, secondhand smoke, dust, strongfragrances and toxins in the air.⁵

·      Attend pulmonary rehabilitation sessions. Thisincludes physical and occupational therapy and education sessions. Keep up withthe plan they outline even after your sessions have ended.⁵

·      Talk to a registered dietitian. They can tellyou if there are specific foods to eat or avoid that can help keep you healthy.⁵

·      Take all of your medications as prescribed.Make sure you have daily medications on hand before you run out.⁵

·      Make a plan for flare-ups. Work with yourprovider on a plan for what to do if you have an exacerbation. This mightinclude having certain medications on hand and knowing when to go to thehospital.⁵

·      Know how to use your medical devices. This caninclude inhalers, nebulizers, a CPAP machine and other devices. Ask yourprovider to demonstrate correct usage.⁵

·      Take care of your mental health. Having achronic illness can take a toll on your mental health. A mental health providerlike a psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor can help you manage social,emotional and other mental health issues.⁵

Living with chronic lung disease like COPD might feeloverwhelming, scary, frustrating or even lonely at times. But there are ways tokeep your lung muscles strong for as long as possible and even improve yoursymptoms. Making a plan with your healthcare team that will keep you healthyand reduce exacerbations can help it feel more manageable. Talk to your lovedones about how they can help, and what to do if you have a flare-up.⁵

If you feel out of breath frequently, have a chronic cough orfeel tired easily, don’t wait to talk to a healthcare provider. Early diagnosiscan improve your quality of life and help keep you healthy for the years ahead.⁵

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