subject: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And You [print this page] Having lung disease can be extremely challenging. This is especially true for those who suffer from respiratory and lung disease known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening respiratory condition which results in more than 130,000 deaths in the United States alone each year.
COPD is basically a combination of two other respiratory disorders - emphysema and bronchitis. With these diseases, just like with COPD, the air flow through your lungs and bronchial tubes is decreased. This is typically a permanent condition which grows worse over time, making it very difficult for the COPD sufferer to breathe.
What causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and what can you and your medical professional do about it?
The primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease around the world is smoking. Statistics show that nearly one of every six smokers will develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Smoking tobacco products damages the human lungs in a variety of ways. One of the best ways to prevent COPD or to keep it from progressing is to quit smoking immediately and try to avoid being around smoke since the exact effects of second hand smoke on COPD are not completely known yet.
A number of other environmental irritants and pollutants can cause or contribute to COPD as well. Indoor and outdoor air pollution is one of the most common. Stoves used for cooking as well as silica and similar pollutants are dangerous.
Another cause of COPD is a rare genetic condition called AAT. This causes approximately one case in a hundred each year.
If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the best thing to do is to learn as much as you can about how you got it and what kind you have. You can do this by working together with your doctor and talking about your medical history, family history and symptoms. Your doctor can help you come up with the best plan for treating your COPD. When left untreated, COPD is likely to grow worse.
The encouraging news for those suffering from this condition is that there are treatments that can help clear the blockage of the airways, making it easier for you to breathe normally again.
There are several of medications your doctor can recommend that can be helpful and provide some relief from your COPD symptoms. Exercise, as recommended by your doctor, can also provide some improvement.
The earlier you seek treatment for your COPD the more likely you'll be able to breathe more easily again.
Unfortunately, medical science has not developed a cure for COPD and the lung damage that results from it. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot be reversed, but it can, more often than not be prevented.
Would you like additional information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and related disorders? Click on Lung Health Articles.
