What is COPD?

What is COPD?

"COPD is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases". Factors that influence the disease development and progression are genetics, environmental and occupational exposures, socioeconomic factors, age, sex, lung growth, and development.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is not one single disease but an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases that cause limitations in lung airflow.

The most common symptoms are breathlessness, or a 'need for air starting at exertion which eventually becomes persistent even at rest', excessive sputum production, and chronic cough. However, COPD is not just simply a "smoker's cough", but an under-diagnosed, life threatening lung disease that may progressively lead to death.

According to WHO, in high income countries, COPD is growing as a cause due to increased tobacco use, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. About 65 million people have moderate to severe COPD. More than 3 million people died of COPD in 2005 corresponding to 5% of all deaths globally and it is estimated to be the third leading cause of death by 2030.

Smoking is by far recognized to be the most important risk factor for development of COPD. Smoking behaviors in India are also peculiar with a large number of people using nonconventional form of tobacco in hookah, bidi, or chillum. Traditionally these forms of tobacco have been believed to be innocuous because of a variety of reasons like passage of smoke through water in case of hookah. Recent studies have, however, dispelled these misperceptions. Lung cancer has been found to be nearly 6-times common in hookah smokers compared to non-smokers, and Chillum smoking has been demonstrated to result in much higher increase in end tidal carbon monoxide levels than cigarette smoking, testifying to its injurious potential.

Lifestyle changes are essential for treating COPD. Patients who smoke or are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke must stop. There are many smoking cessation programs and products available to help people make this change. This is, by far, the best thing they can do to improve their outcomes. Avoiding places with dust, fumes, and other lung irritants that may be inhaled will also help. In addition, it is important to maintain adequate nutrition. Shortness of breath and fatigue often make eating difficult, but proper nutrition is essential inlowering the risk ofinfections and reducing symptoms.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation helps improve the well-being of patients with COPD. This is a team approach and include dietitians, doctors, exercise specialists, nurses, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists. The goal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is to bring disease management training, an exercise program, and nutritional and psychological counseling together to promote positive health outcomes. Supportive treatment like Bronchodilators,oxygen therapy,nebulizers,aerosol therapy can be given and if the patient condition is not recovering, surgery might be required for their recovery.

Dr. Bindi Desai ( MPT Cardio )
Assistant Professor