COPD Expert in Perumbakkam
Your Trusted Partner in COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways and obstruction of airflow. We are here to provide you with top-notch care and guidance to tackle your problems.
Understanding COPD
Signs of COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways and obstruction of airflow. It is a group of lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, both of which result in breathing difficulties.
Smoking: The leading cause of COPD is long-term exposure to irritants, particularly cigarette smoke. This is the most significant risk factor.
Environmental Exposures: Prolonged exposure to workplace dust, chemicals, or indoor air pollution can contribute to COPD.
Genetic Factors: A small number of people with a deficiency of a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin can develop COPD, even without exposure to tobacco smoke or other irritants.
Symptoms of COPD:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Lack of energy
- Unintended weight loss
- Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
Risk factors
Risk factors for COPD include:
- Exposure to tobacco smoke: The most significant risk factor for COPD is long-term cigarette smoking. The more years you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater your risk. Pipe smokers, cigar smokers and marijuana smokers also may be at risk, as well as people exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke.
- People with asthma: Asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease, may be a risk factor for developing COPD. The combination of asthma and smoking increases the risk of COPD even more.
- Occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals: Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, vapors and dusts in the workplace can irritate and inflame your lungs.
- Exposure to fumes from burning fuel: In the developing world, people exposed to fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes are at higher risk of developing COPD.
- Genetics: The uncommon genetic disorder alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is the cause of some cases of COPD. Other genetic factors likely make certain smokers more susceptible to the disease.
Complications
COPD can cause many complications, including:
- Respiratory infections: People with COPD are more likely to catch colds, the flu and pneumonia. Any respiratory infection can make it much more difficult to breathe and could cause further damage to lung tissue.
- Heart problems: For reasons that aren’t fully understood, COPD can increase your risk of heart disease, including heart attack
- Lung cancer: People with COPD have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
- High blood pressure in lung arteries: COPD may cause high blood pressure in the arteries that bring blood to your lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
- Depression: Difficulty breathing can keep you from doing activities that you enjoy. And dealing with serious illness can contribute to the development of depression.
Prevention
Unlike some diseases, COPD typically has a clear cause and a clear path of prevention, and there are ways to slow the progression of the disease. The majority of cases are directly related to cigarette smoking, and the best way to prevent COPD is to never smoke — or to stop smoking now.
If you’re a longtime smoker, these simple statements may not seem so simple, especially if you’ve tried quitting — once, twice or many times before. But keep trying to quit. It’s critical to find a tobacco cessation program that can help you quit for good. It’s your best chance for reducing damage to your lungs.
Occupational exposure to chemical fumes and dusts is another risk factor for COPD. If you work with these types of lung irritants, talk to your supervisor about the best ways to protect yourself, such as using respiratory protective equipment.
Here are some steps you can take to help prevent complications associated with COPD:
- Quit smoking to help reduce your risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
- Get an annual flu vaccination and regular vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia to reduce your risk of or prevent some infections.
- Talk to your doctor if you feel sad or helpless or think that you may be experiencing depression.
Treatments
Inhaled steroids
Inhaled corticosteroid medications can reduce airway inflammation and help prevent exacerbations. Side effects may include bruising, oral infections and hoarseness. These medications are useful for people with frequent exacerbations of COPD. Examples of inhaled steroids include:
- Fluticasone (Flovent HFA)
- Budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler)
Combination inhalers
Some medications combine bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. Examples of these combination inhalers include:
- Fluticasone and vilanterol (Breo Ellipta)
- Fluticasone, umeclidinium and vilanterol (Trelegy Ellipta)
- Formoterol and budesonide (Symbicort)
- Salmeterol and fluticasone (Advair HFA, Air Duo Digihaler, others)
Living with COPD
Lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms of COPD.
Quit smoking or vaping. This is the most important thing to do. Even if you have been smoking for many years, quitting can still help.
Avoid second-hand smoke or smoke from indoor cooking fires.
Stay physically active.
Protect yourself from lung infections:
- Get a flu vaccine every year.
- Get the pneumonia vaccine.
- Get all available COVID-19 vaccines and make sure you have had the latest boosters.
People living with COPD must be given information about their condition, treatment and self-care to help them to stay as active and healthy as possible.
Frequently Asked Question on COPD
Over time, exposure to lung irritants like tobacco smoke or chemicals can damage your lungs and airways. This long-term exposure can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
For most people with COPD, short-acting bronchodilator inhalers are the first treatment used. Bronchodilators are medicines that make breathing easier by relaxing and widening your airways
COPD isn’t curable, but it can get better by not smoking, avoiding air pollution and getting vaccines. It can be treated with medicines, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation. There are several treatments available for COPD. Inhaled medicines that open and reduce swelling in the airways are the main treatments.
There is no cure for COPD, and the damaged lung tissue doesn’t repair itself. However, there are things you can do to slow the progression of the disease, improve your symptoms, stay out of hospital and live longer. Treatment may include: bronchodilator medication – to open the airways.
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