Frequently Asked Questions About COPD

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which is a long-term lung disease usually caused by smoking.

COPD symptoms include shortness of breath, increased mucus and coughing. Some people with COPD say it feels like they're breathing through a straw.

COPD slowly damages your airways – the tubes that go in and out of your lungs. People with COPD have swollen and partly blocked airways. They can also have damage in the air sacs at the tips of their airways.

People with COPD usually have a combination of these symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• A barrel-shaped chest
• Wheezing
• Frequent, long-lasting lung infections (the flu, pneumonia, etc.)
• Feeling tired (fatigue)
• Losing weight without trying

People might think that feeling short of breath is a normal sign of aging – but it's not. If you have these signs and symptoms, see your doctor.

• Heredity (for example, a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
• Second-hand smoke
• Air pollution at work and in the environment (dust or chemicals)
• A history of childhood lung infections

An estimated 1.5 million Canadians have been diagnosed with COPD; however, a recent report shows that 1.6 million Canadians may have COPD but remain undiagnosed. ¹

COPD is on the rise. Today, many people with COPD are women. More and more women who started smoking in the 1960s are being diagnosed with COPD. Doctors think COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the world by the year 2020.

Anyone who smokes or who smoked in the past can get COPD. People with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, exposure to second-hand smoke or pollution, or many childhood chest infections, can also get it.

People usually notice COPD symptoms in their 40s, 50s or 60s. Often people think their COPD symptoms – shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing – are a normal part of getting older. They're not.

If you are over 40 and currently smoke cigarettes, or have smoked in the past, you may be at risk for COPD.

This disease does not only affect older people (i.e. >65 yrs). People usually notice COPD symptoms in their 40s, 50s or 60s. Often people think their COPD symptoms – shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing – are a normal part of getting older. They're not.

The sooner COPD is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. That's why it's important to catch symptoms early. If you are over 40 and currently smoke cigarettes, or have smoked in the past, you may be at risk for COPD.

To figure out if you have COPD, your doctor may ask questions about your health history, such as:

• What is your smoking history?
• Do you suffer from shortness of breath?
• What makes your shortness of breath worse?
• Do you cough?
• Do you bring up sputum (phlegm, mucus), and if so, what does it look like?
• What is your family history of lung disease?

Your doctor may also administer one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

Spirometry — Spirometry is a common and effective diagnostic test that can easily be done in your doctor's office or at a nearby hospital or clinic. You will be asked to blow, as long and hard as you can, into a small tube attached to a machine. The machine measures how long it takes to blow out all the air from your lungs. The more blocked your airways, the longer it takes to blow the air out. Spirometry is the most reliable method of testing your lungs.

Chest x-ray — The x-ray will help the doctor see if there is damage to the lungs.

Blood test — This measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood.

COPD and asthma are fundamentally different. COPD patients generally have a later age of onset of symptoms and have a significant smoking history. In COPD, symptoms are chronic and slowly progress over the years, whereas in asthma, symptoms of shortness of breath are more intermittent and less likely to be associated with progressive disability.

The emphysema part of COPD means you have damage to the air sacs at the tips of your airways. This makes it hard for your body to take in the oxygen it needs.

The chronic bronchitis part of COPD means your airways are irritated and red, and make too much sticky mucus. The walls of your airways are swollen and partly block the air from passing through.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. ⁷ Doctors think COPD will be the third leading cause of death in the world by the year 2020. However, people with COPD can live for a long time after they are diagnosed. If you have COPD, how long you'll live depends on many things:

• What age you were diagnosed at
• How bad your lung damage is
• Whether you keep smoking, cut back or quit (cutting back is a start, quitting is the best!)
• What kind of medical care and treatment you get
• What other health problems you might have

It is possible to live well with the disease.

Learning to breathe properly can be a big help. Visit the Lung Association website (www.lung.ca) for tips on better breathing techniques. These exercises can help you pace your breathing with the activity you are doing.

Otherwise, consider seeking medical attention.

It helps to quit smoking, even if you already have COPD. In fact, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to feel better. COPD gets worse over time if you continue to smoke or breathe dirty air. The damage doesn't stop until you stop smoking and stop breathing dirty air. By quitting smoking now, you can't undo the damage that's already done, but you can protect your lungs from any more damage.

In order to breathe, your body requires a lot of energy or fuel. In fact, a person with COPD can use up to 50% more energy on breathing compared to a person who does not have a lung disease! A healthy and balanced diet is recommended.

Exercise is very important for people with COPD to break the cycle of inactivity. At first, you might want to try stretching exercises while sitting to warm up and cool down. It is good to set up a routine several times a week. Know when your best time to exercise is during the day.

Unfortunately, COPD is a chronic condition that progresses over time. Quitting smoking will slow that progression – the earlier you quit, the better. This will increase your ability to do things in your daily life for a longer period of time.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your symptoms of COPD. Be sure to take all of the medications the way your doctor instructs you. Different medications may be prescribed to manage COPD.

Bronchodilators form the mainstay of pharmacological therapy for COPD. They help open up airways and reduce shortness of breath. .

Anti-inflammatories help treat inflammation of the airways and help reduce the frequency of flare-ups (exacerbations). Anti-inflammatories may need to be used with bronchodilators in COPD.

Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections and may be required in addition to COPD medication during a flare-up (exacerbation).

Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections and may be required in addition to COPD medication during a flare-up (exacerbation).

Your doctor should be consulted when your medications do not appear to be working. It may be that your technique is not allowing you to get the most from your medication.

Generally not, as inactivity tends to breed more inactivity. It's important that people with COPD socialize. Use the Breathworks Program (www.lung.ca) to find an option that will work for you, even if it is as simple as going from an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned building.

The Breathworks Program ( www.lung.ca ) will help you support and encourage those you care for, and direct you to the appropriate materials and resources.