Breathe Easy
11/2/2022
Early diagnosis, treatment key to COPD management
By Dr. Mohanad Alfaqih, M.D.
Can’t seem to catch your breath? Huffing and puffing after your daily exercise? Is that rumbling cough becoming more and more frequent? Shortness of breath and decreased cardiovascular fitness are often attributed to being out of shape or “just getting old.” Don’t be so quick to dismiss breathing difficulties — they may signal the onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a serious respiratory condition.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases – and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
COPD affects more than 16 million Americans, and up to 24 million may have undiagnosed COPD.
COPD is a commonly overlooked health threat that goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are often dismissed or attributed to other health conditions until the disease is at an advanced stage. COPD has no cure, but is both preventable and treatable.
The primary cause of COPD is tobacco: 80 to 90 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking. COPD can also be caused by air pollution (including secondary smoke and exposure to occupational dust, gas, chemicals and toxic fumes), asthma and respiratory infections. People who work or have worked in industrial environments are also at risk. Poor nutrition, asthma and repeat respiratory infections have also been linked to COPD development.
The two main forms of COPD are emphysema, the destruction of the airways in the lungs which leads to decreased oxygen absorption; and chronic bronchitis, the inflammation of the lungs’ airways and build-up of mucus that causes breathing obstruction. The decreased ability of the lungs to absorb and use oxygen causes arteries in the lungs to narrow. This means that the heart has to work even harder to push blood through the smaller vessels, which can lead to pulmonary hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs) and possibly, heart failure.
Symptoms of COPD:
- A cough with mucus
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with mild activity
- Fatigue
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Wheezing
If you have any of these symptoms, bring them to your doctor’s attention.
COPD most commonly affects current and former smokers, women and individuals over age 45. It affects the quality of life by severely compromising the ability to breathe, which leads to decreased physical activity and increased risk for other chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Diagnosis
COPD can be diagnosed with a simple lung test, known as a pulmonary function test or spirometry. This test measures the amount of airway obstruction in the lungs by calculating the force and volume of air that a patient exhales over time. A blood test, a chest x-ray, electrocardiogram or CT scan can suggest the diagnosis, but pulmonary function tests are needed to be certain.
Treatment
COPD can be treated in several ways, from medication to supplemental oxygen to respiratory therapy (see related sidebar). Pulmonary rehabilitation, a hospital-based program that combines education and exercise classes, can help COPD patients improve lung function and reduce symptoms.
People with COPD should be vigilant about getting an annual flu vaccine, since they are prone to complications from flu and pneumonia. Research has found that an annual flu vaccine actually reduces serious illness and death in COPD patients by 50 percent. Good oral hygiene is also important, to prevent germs in the mouth from developing into more serious infections.
Contact us today for an appointment to assess your lung health or learn more about our rehabilitation therapy offerings for COPD patients. To learn more, visit website at www.pbrmc.com or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Alfaqih (Dr. Mo) call 573-778-3600.
About the Author: Dr. Alfaqih is a pulmonologist with Regional Physician Services and is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and board eligible in critical care. He did his residency in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. He went on to complete a fellowship in pulmonology and critical care at the same facility.
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