COPD is almost always caused by smoking. Over time, tobacco smoke irritates the airways and destroys the elastic fibres in the lungs. Breathing in second-hand smoke, chemical fumes, dust, or air pollution over a long period of time may also put you at risk for developing COPD. Since it usually takes many years for the lung damage to start causing symptoms, COPD is most common in people over the age of 60. On rare occasions, a person may develop COPD in their 30s or 40s. This is usually caused by the inherited deficiency of an enzyme known as alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT). Between one and three percent of people with COPD are AAT deficient.
What Are The Symtoms
The main symptoms of COPD include a long-lasting cough, mucus produced when coughing, and shortness of breath that worsens during exercise. As COPD progresses, even simple tasks like housecleaning or getting dressed can be exhausting. Due to the extra energy expended trying to breathe, people frequently lose weight and become weaker.
When COPD is advanced, the symptoms may suddenly flare up and worsen. This is knows as a COPD exacerbation. Exacerbations grow more frequent and severe as the condition progresses and range from mild to life threatening.
What Can Be Done
There is no cure for COPD as the damage to your airways and lungs cannot be reversed. Fortunately, there are things you can do to feel better and slow the damage. With the right treatment, people with COPD can lead long, active lives. The single most effective way to slow COPD is to quit smoking. It is never too late to quit. No matter how long you have smoked or how serious your COPD is, stopping smoking can help halt the damage to your lungs. Since quitting smoking can be difficult, you may wish to attend a London Drugs Smoking Cessation Clinic early in 2008. Dates and times are provided on the following two pages. Since people with COPD are more likely to develop lung infections, it is important to get a flu shot every year as well as vaccine for pneumonia. (Although the vaccine may not prevent you from contracting pneumonia, it will likely help keep you from becoming as sick as you might without it.) There are many other things you can do to help keep yourself as well as possible. These include:
• Avoiding things that may irritate your lungs, such as smoke; indoor chemicals such as cleaning products and hair sprays; outdoor pollution, and cold, dry air.
• Using an air conditioner or air purifier in your home.
• Taking rest breaks during the day.
• Building physical activity into your day.
• Eating healthy foods, including lean protein, whole grains and plenty of fruit and vegetables. If you are losing weight, ask your doctor or dietitian how to obtain the calories you need.
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