C.O.P.D Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010

By Gary Forsythe

Living Life to the Fullest with COPD

When You Can't Get Enough Air

COPD is a condition that keeps your lungs from working normally. It causes shortness of breath that can interfere with your daily life. If you have COPD, you'll be glad to know that treatment can help you breathe easier. This article will help you understand what you can do to feel better.

What Is COPD?

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The airways in your lungs are blocked (obstructed). Because of this, breathing takes more effort. You may have started limiting your actives to avoid shortness of breath. Without treatment, you may not be able to do as much for yourself and need to depend more on others. This can make life less enjoyable.

How Did I Get COPD?

Most people get COPD from smoking. Cigarette smoke causes lung damage, which can develop into COPD over many years. You may be diagnosed with COPD one or more of these problems is preventing air from flowing normally through your lungs:

• Chronic bronchitis occurs when damaged lungs produce more mucus than they should.

• Emphysema occurs when damaged lung passages collapse as you breathe.

• Chronic asthma occurs when substances in the air cause the lung passages to become inflamed. Asthma can sometimes be reversed with medication. But with chronic asthma, the passages stay inflamed all the time.

How Treatment Can Help

Your doctor will work with you to come up with a personalized treatment plan. This plan will likely include medication and exercise. You'll also learn new techniques for breathing and dealing with shortness of breath during daily tasks. Treatment will improve your symptoms. It will help you breathe better, be more active, and live life to the fullest..

A look Inside The Lungs

The lungs job is to get air into and out of the body. Inside the lungs, air travels through a network of airways (tubes). Air can pass easily into and out of normal airways. When you have COPD, though, some airways are blocked. This makes breathing in and out harder.

Healthy Lungs

Inside the lungs are branching airways made of stretchy tissue. Each airway is wrapped with bands of muscle that help keep it open. The airways branch out and get smaller as they go deeper into the lungs. The smallest airways end in clusters of tiny balloon like air sacks (alveoli). These clusters are surrounded by blood vessels.

When You Breathe

When you inhale (breathe in), air enters the lungs. It travels down through the airways until it reaches the air sacs. When you exhale (breath out), air travels up through the airways and out of the lungs,

What The Lungs Do

The air you inhale contains oxygen, a gas your body needs. When the air reaches the air sacks, oxygen passes into the blood vessels. Oxygen-rich blood then leaves the lungs and travels to all parts of the body. As the body uses oxygen, carbon dioxide (a waste gas) is produced. The blood carries this back to the lungs. Carbon dioxide leaves the body with the air you exhale.

To Keep the Lungs Clean

The cells in the lining of the airways produce a sticky secretion called mucus. The mucus traps dust, smoke, and other particles in the air you breathe. The cells have tiny hairs called cilia. They sweep mucus up the airways to the throat, where it's coughed out or swallowed.

How COPD Affects Breathing

With COPD, some airways are obstructed. You must work harder to breathe. Air may get trapped in the lungs, which prevents as much new air from entering when you inhale. So, it's harder to take a deep breath. Over time, your lungs may become enlarged. This makes it more difficult for the lungs to expand fully in the chest. These problems can lead to shortness of breath (also called dyspnea). You may also experience wheezing (hoarse, whistling while breathing) and fatigue (feeling tired and worn out ).

When Airways Are Blocked

(Chronic Bronchitis or Chronic Asthma)

When cells in the airways make more mucus than normal, blockages sometime results. The mucus builds up, narrowing the airways. This means less air traveling into and out of the lungs. The lining of the airways may also become inflamed (swollen). And the muscle surrounding the airways may constrict (tighten). These problems cause the airways to narrow even more.

When Airways Collapse

(Emphysema)

When airways are damaged, they lose their stretchiness and become baggy and floppy. Damages airways may collapse when you exhale, causing air to get trapped in the sacs. This trapped air makes breathing harder. Over time, the air sacs lose there clustered shape. This may mean that less oxygen enters the blood vessels.

When Cilia Are Damaged

Smoking harms the cilia that line the airways. Damaged cilia can't sweep mucus and particles away. Some of the cilia are destroyed. This damage makes the problem described above even worse.

Diagnosing COPD

Shortness of breath may have prompted you to see the doctor. In many cases, through, COPD progresses for years without obvious symptoms. To diagnose COPD, a medical evaluation and tests must be done. Once your doctor suspects COPD, breathing tests are done to learn the extent of the problem.

Your Evaluation

Your evaluation starts with the following things. They help your doctor make a diagnosis.

• A health history will be taken. You'll be asked about your lifestyle and smoking habits. You'll also be asked about your symptoms, medical history, and family history of lung disease.

• An exam will be done. This involves a complete physical evaluation. Your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs. Your nose and throat will be examined. The size of your chest will also be evaluated. This helps show if the lungs are enlarged.

• Tests may be ordered. These may include blood tests and a chest x-ray.

Pulmonary Function Test

Based on the results of your evaluation, pulmonary function (breathing) tests are done. The most common of these tests is spirometry. This measures how fast you can exhale (flow), and how much air you can blow out (volume). First you breathe in as deeply as you can. Then you exhale hard into a special instrument called a spirometer. This is connected to a computer that measures the air you breathed out.

Your Treatment Plan

Your COPD treatment plan will likely include several forms of treatment. These are based on your symptoms and the underlining cause of your COPD. Your doctor will prescribe the best treatment for your needs. Parts of a typical plan are listed below.

Treating Your Lungs

• Medication will be prescribed to treat the lung problems contributing to your COPD. Some medications help relieve symptoms when you have them. Others are taken daily to control inflammation in the lungs. Always take your medications, as well as how and when to use them.

• Oxygen Therapy may be prescribed if tests show tat your blood contains too little oxygen. In this situation, prescribed oxygen may make you feel better and even prolong your life. Oxygen may be used all the time. Or, it may be used onlt during certain activities.

Preventing COPD From Progressing

• Quitting Smoking is the best way to keep COPD from getting worse. No matter what shape your lungs are in, QUITTING now will make a difference ! !

• Learning How To Avoid Infection can help COPD symptoms from getting worse.

Coping With Shortness of Breath

• Exercising will improve energy levels and strengthen your muscles, so you can do more.

• Learning The Best Ways To Breathe helps you gain control over your breathing. You'll learn techniques for breathing more efficiently. And you'll learn how to keep anxiety from making shortness of breath worse.

• Conserving Your Energy and pacing yourself will help you do more and have less shortness of breath in your daily life.

• A Pulmonary Rehabilitation program may be prescribed to teach you about all aspects of your treatment plan. You'll get hands-on help with breathing techniques, exercise, and more.

Using Inhalers

Some COPD medications are taken using a device called an inhaler. The inhaler helps you take a measured dose of medication into your lungs. Not all inhalers work the same way. Have your healthcare provider show you how to use and care for your inhalers you are given.

• Using Metered-Dose inhalers (MDIs) with spacers.

• Using Metered-Dose inhalers (MDIs) without spacers.

• Using Dry- Powder inhalers (DPIs). Some inhalers use tiny grains of powder to dispense medication. These don't require spacers. Some have counters on them others you place in a receptacle. Be sure you know how to use yours properly.

If A Nebulizer Is Prescribed

A nebulizer is a machine that converts liquid medication into a mist that can be inhaled. It may be used in addition to or instead of and inhaler. If one is prescribed, you'll be shown how to use it.

Using Oxygen Safely

Oxygen is meant to help you, not to limit you. In most cases, it won't keep you from doing things such as leaving the house, being active, and traveling. But you must follow some safety guidelines. Oxygen makes fire burn hotter and faster. So, it's important to reduce chances of fire when using oxygen.

Traveling with Oxygen

It's okay to travel with oxygen. You just need to plan ahead. Call your healthcare provider to get copies of your oxygen prescription and any other paperwork you'll need. Depending on where you're going and how you're getting there, you may need to arrange for oxygen to be delivered. Your doctor's office or medical equipment company can help with this. Before you travel, call the carrier to find out the requirements for traveling with oxygen. Give yourself plenty of time to make needed arrangements.

By Car

Keep the windows open a crack so air can circulate. If you're using liquid oxygen, place the unit upright on the floor or on the seat beside you. If possible, secure it with a seat belt. Put extra oxygen units behind the seat. (Don't put them in the trunk --- it's too hot.) DO NOT SMOKE or let anyone else smoke in the car.

By Plane

Oxygen tanks aren't allowed on airplanes. But many airlines will supply you with oxygen for a fee. Call the airline in advance to make arrangements. Keep in mind that this oxygen is only supplied while in the plane – not in the airport. You must arrange to have oxygen delivered to your destination, as well as to any layovers during your flight.

By Bus or Train

Call the carrier in advance and tell them you're traveling with oxygen. You can likely take your own oxygen on board. You may need to show a copy of your prescription first.

By Ship

You can probably bring your own oxygen on board the cruise ship. Call to make arrangements. The cruise line will likely need a letter from your doctor, a brief medical history, and a copy of your oxygen prescription. You must arrange for oxygen units to be delivered to the cruise ship.

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