The Basics of COPD: A Guide for Understanding the Disease
January 4, 2024
6 min read
In 2020, around 15 million people in the United States were officially diagnosed with COPD. However, the American Lung Association estimates that there could be over double this number yet to receive a diagnosis.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease affecting millions worldwide. While many cases stem from smoking cigarettes or exposure to other airborne pollutants, COPD has many causes and consequences.
A Comprehensive Look at Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a collective term for progressive lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A COPD diagnosis could mean your lungs are deteriorating due to one of these respiratory illnesses or joint symptoms. Unfortunately, the condition can gradually worsen, making breathing increasingly difficult.
Chronic Bronchitis
This dreaded lung disease destroys the alveoli's fragile walls and elastic fibers, resulting in small airways that collapse during exhalation. This impedes airflow from escaping the lungs—a frightening prognosis for those with this condition.
Emphysema
People with this condition often experience bronchial tubes becoming swollen and constricted, making it difficult for air to pass through. This restriction increases mucus production in the lungs, resulting in a persistent cough as your body attempts to clear these blocked passages.
COPD: What Is the Impact on Your Lungs?
The human respiratory system is a complex network of tubes, similar to the branches on a tree. Air travels down our windpipe and splits into two pathways known as bronchi that continue to branch off multiple times before reaching their destination—small groups of air sacs called alveoli found deep within the lungs.
The alveoli have thin walls filled with tiny blood vessels known as capillaries. When you inhale air, the oxygen in it is transferred into these blood vessels and enters your bloodstream, while the waste product of metabolism, carbon dioxide, is expelled when you exhale.
Healthy lungs rely on the elasticity of their components to properly push air in and out. COPD, however, impairs this vital process by causing a loss of natural flexibility that leads to an accumulation of trapped oxygen upon exhalation.
COPD: What Causes It?
Smoking tobacco is the most common root cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the developed world. However, in lower-income areas and developing countries where many families still rely on burning fuel for cooking and heating, unventilated houses as their primary energy source can also lead to COPD.
Only some smokers develop apparent symptoms due to prolonged exposure, while others may be misdiagnosed with this condition until a further diagnosis eliminates it from being considered.
Deficiency of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin
In the majority of cases, COPD is associated with long-term cigarette smoking. However, this disease may not be exclusive to smokers since some reports suggest a genetic predisposition in some individuals.
Furthermore, numerous environmental factors have been linked to COPD, including smoke from cigars and pipes and air pollution or workplace exposure involving specks of dust and fumes.
Cigarette Smoke
In rare cases, COPD can be attributed to Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) deficiency, a genetic disorder caused by the lack of a protein in the liver which is usually secreted into the bloodstream for lung protection.
This form of COPD may lead to severe respiratory and hepatic problems; however, it can be treated with AAt replacement therapy and other treatments designed specifically for more conventional types of this condition.
COPD: What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of COPD can vary from person to person and may gradually worsen over time. Some of the most common symptoms of COPD include:
Shortness of breath. This is the most prominent symptom of COPD, and it may become more noticeable during physical activity or when climbing stairs.
Coughing. People with COPD often have a persistent cough that produces mucus or phlegm.
Wheezing. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, a common symptom of COPD.
Chest tightness. Some people with COPD experience a feeling of tightness in their chest, especially when breathing deeply.
Fatigue. Chronic shortness of breath and coughing can lead to fatigue, making it difficult for people with COPD to carry out everyday activities.
Fluid buildup. In severe cases, COPD can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing up blood.
COPD: What Are the Risk Factors?
COPD, a serious and potentially life-threatening respiratory condition, can be triggered by various risk factors such as:
1. Genetic factors
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency is an emergent yet rarely discussed genetic disorder. Having it significantly increases the likelihood of certain smokers developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
2. Inhalation of fumes from burning fuel
In areas with limited access to modern fuels and ventilation, inhaling toxic fumes from combusting fuel for domestic use can devastate lung health. As a result, those exposed are at increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
3. Individuals who have asthma
Asthma can be a dangerous precursor to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), especially when combined with smoking. Those with asthma should take precautionary measures to reduce their risk of developing COPD later.
4. Exposure to dust and chemicals in the workplace
Prolonged inhalation of toxic chemical fumes, vapors, and dust particles in the workplace can eventually lead to respiratory distress by causing inflammation of your lungs.
5. Frequent exposure to smoke
Prolonged cigarette smoking is the primary force behind COPD, with high risks correlating to extended use and higher numbers of packs smoked. But it goes beyond cigarettes—pipe smokers, cigar enthusiasts, marijuana users, and those influenced by secondhand smoke could all be at greater risk for developing this illness.
COPD: What Are the Possible Complications?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Some of the possible complications of COPD include:
Lung infections. Individuals diagnosed with COPD are at a higher risk of respiratory infections, including the common cold, flu, and pneumonia. These illnesses can drastically reduce lung function while potentially leading to further damage to already fragile tissues.
Cardiac issues. Those living with COPD may risk their heart health and life, as the condition has been linked to an increased chance of developing lung cancer and other cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack.
Pulmonary hypertension. COPD can lead to a dangerous form of high blood pressure known as pulmonary hypertension, which affects the vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood into your lungs.
Depression. Shortness of breath may limit the activities you'd usually enjoy, and prolonged or severe illnesses can sometimes lead to depression. Overcoming these struggles, however, will help accentuate your strength of character.
COPD: How Do You Prevent It?
COPD is a preventable respiratory disease that is primarily caused by smoking. To prevent COPD, it is best never to smoke or to quit smoking if you already have. Occupational exposure to chemical fumes and dust can also increase the risk of COPD.
To prevent complications associated with COPD, one should quit smoking, get regular flu and pneumonia vaccinations, and speak with a doctor if experiencing depression. In addition, finding a tobacco cessation program that can help you quit smoking for good is essential.
Clear the Way for Healthy Lungs
Managing COPD can be difficult, but it's crucial to remember that a good quality of life can be achieved with proper care. This can involve changing your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking or minimizing exposure to harmful substances.
Treatment options include medications, oxygen therapy, vaccinations, and surgery. But, with proper care, individuals with COPD can still lead fulfilling and healthy lives.
