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Breathing Better with a COPD Diagnosis

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Breathing Better with a COPD Diagnosis Difficulty Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Em- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease physema Shortness of Breath Feeling of Suffocation Excess Mucus Difficulty Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shor tness of Breath Feeling of Suffocation Excess Mucus Difficulty Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shortness of Breath Feeling of Suffocation Excess Mucus Difficulty Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chron- ic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shortness of Breath Feeling of Suffocation Excess Mu- cus DifficultyBreathing Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Better Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shortness of Breath Feeling of Suffocation Excess Mucus Difficulty Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shor tness of Breath Feeling of SuffocationWith Excess a COPDMucus Difficulty Diagnosis Breathing Chronic Bronchitis Smoker’s Cough Chronic Coughing Wheezing Emphysema Shortness of Breath Feeling of did you know? When COPD is severe, shortness of breath and other COPDdid you is the know? 4th leading cause of death in the symptomswhen you can get are in the diagnosed way of doing even the most UnitedCOPD States.is the 4th The leading disease cause kills ofmore death than in 120,000 basicwith tasks, copd such as doing light housework, taking a Americansthe United eachStates year—that’s and causes 1 serious, death every long-term 4 walk,There and are even many bathing things and that getting you can dressed. do to make minutes—anddisability. The causesnumber serious, of people long-term with COPDdisability. is COPDliving withdevelops COPD slowly, easier: and can worsen over time, increasing.The number More of people than 12with million COPD people is increasing. soQuit be sure Smoking to report any symptoms you might have areMore currently than 12 diagnosed million people with areCOPD diagnosed and an with to your doctor as soon as possible, no matter how If you smoke, the best thing you can do to prevent additionalCOPD and 12 an million additional likely 12 have million the diseaselikely have and mild they may seem. don’tthe disease even knowand don’t it. even know it. more damage to your lungs is to quit. Ask your aredoctor you about at new risk? options for quitting. Many whatBut there is is reasoncopd? for hope. You’ve taken the Mostresources people to who help are you at quit risk arefor availablegetting COPD online. have first step by being aware of your symptoms and COPD is a serious lung disease that over time neverVisit evenwww.smokefree.gov heard of it and, in; manywww.lungusa.org cases, don’t even; or seeing your doctor for testing and diagnosis. makes it hard to breathe. You may have heard realizecall 1-800-QUIT that the condition NOW has for amore name. information. Some of the Now that you know you have COPD, your doctor COPD called other names, like emphysema or things that put you at risk for COPD include: chroniccan suggest bronchitis. treatment options and ways to help you manage COPD and improve your quality SmokingTalk with your doctor about treatment In people who have COPD, the airways—tubes of life. COPDoptions. most You often can occurs take in steps people to age make 40 and that carry air in and out of your lungs—are partly breathing easier and live a longer and blocked, which makes it hard to get air in and out. over with a history of smoking (either current or what is copd? formermore smokers),active life. although as many as 1 out of 6 whatCOPD isare a serious the lungsymptoms? disease that over time people with COPD never smoked. Smoking is the makes it hard to breathe. You may also have heard Many people with COPD avoid activities that they mostAvoid common Exposure cause to of Pollutants COPD—it accounts for as usedCOPD to enjoycalled because by other they names, become like shortemphysema of breath many as 9 out of 10 COPD-related deaths. Try to stay away from other things that could moreor chronic easily. bronchitis. Environmentalirritate your lungs, Exposure like dust and strong fumes. SymptomsIn people who of COPD have COPD, include: the airways—tubes COPDStay indoors can also when occur the in outside people airwho quality have hadis poor. long- that carry air in and out of your lungs—are n Constant coughing, sometimes called “smoker’s termYou exposureshould also to thingsstay away that from can irritateplaces whereyour lungs, there partiallycough” blocked, which makes it hard for the likemight certain be cigarette chemicals, smoke. dust, or fumes in air to get in and out. COPD develops slowly and n Shortness of breath while doing activities you the workplace. Heavy or long-term exposure to worsens over time, so be sure to call your doctor Visit Your Doctor on a Regular Basis used to be able to do secondhand smoke or other air pollutants may also to report any new symptoms or if your current See your doctor regularly, even if you are feeling n Excess sputum production contribute to COPD. symptoms get worse. fine. Be sure to bring a list of all medicines you n Feeling like you can’t breathe Geneticare taking Factors to each doctor’s visit. n Not being able to take a deep breath In some people, COPD is caused by a genetic n Wheezing conditionFollow Treatment known as alpha-1 Advice antitrypsin, or AAT, deficiency.Be sure to takeWhile your very medications few people andknow follow they have AATyour deficiency, doctor’s advice it is estimatedon how to that treat as your many disease. as 100,000If you have Americans any questions—ASK! have it. People with AAT deficiency can get COPD even if they have never smoked or had long-term exposure to harmful pollutants. How Does COPD Affect Breathing? The “airways” are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs through the nose and mouth. Healthy airways and air sacs in the lungs are elastic—they try to bounce back to their original shape after being stretched or filled with air, just the way a new rubber band healthy or balloon does. This elastic quality helps retain the normal structure of the lung and helps to move the air quickly in and out. In people with COPD, the air sacs no longer bounce back to their original shape. The airways can also become swollen or thicker than normal, and mucus production might increase. The floppy airways are partially blocked, or obstructed, making it even copd harder to get air out of the lungs. Take Precautions Against the Flu Seek Support From Other COPD Patients Do your best to avoid crowds during flu season. There are many COPD support groups offered It is also a good idea to get a flu shot every year, at local hospitals and there is a very active COPD since the flu can cause serious problems for people community online. Family members are also with COPD. You should also ask your doctor a great resource for support as you learn to live about the pneumonia vaccine. with and manage COPD. taking action Once you have been diagnosed with COPD, there are many ways that you and your doctor can work together to manage the symptoms of the disease and improve your quality of life. Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following options: Medications (such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids) Bronchodilators are medicines that usually come in the form of an inhaler. They work to relax the muscles around your airways, to help open them and make it easier to breathe. Inhaled steroids help prevent the airways from getting inflamed. Surgery Each patient is different—your doctor may Patients with very severe COPD may have a hard suggest other types of medications that might time breathing all the time. In some of these work better for you. cases, doctors may suggest lung surgery to improve Pulmonary Rehabilitation breathing and help lessen some of the most severe symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you participate in pulmonary rehabilitation, or “rehab.” This is a program that helps you learn to exercise and manage your disease with physical activity and counseling. It can help you stay active and carry Spirometry Can Help Your out your day-to-day tasks. Doctor Determine the Best Course of Treatment Once you have been diagnosed with COPD, there are many ways that you and Spirometry is a simple, noninvasive breathing your doctor can work together to manage test that measures the the symptoms of the disease and improve amount of air a person your quality of life. can blow out of the lungs (volume) and how Physical Activity Training fast he or she can blow Your doctor or a pulmonary therapist recommend- it out (flow). The spirom- ed by your doctor might teach you some activi- etry reading can help ties to help your arms and legs get stronger and/ your doctor assess how or breathing exercises that strengthen the muscles well your lungs are working and determine needed for breathing. the best course of treatment. Lifestyle Changes Spirometry is one of the best and most common lung function tests. The test is Lifestyle changes such as done with a spirometer, a machine that quitting smoking can help measures how well your lungs function, you manage the effects of records the results, and displays them on a COPD. graph for your doctor. You will be asked to Oxygen Treatment take a deep breath, then blow out as hard If your COPD is severe, and as fast as you can using a mouthpiece your doctor might suggest connected to the machine with tubing.
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