DON’T LET COPD TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) isn’t one disease but a group of conditions, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis that block airflw and cause breathing difficulties. The No. 1 risk factor for COPD is being a current or former smoker. However, environmental pollutants, such as those found in some industrial work environments, can also increase your risk.

Symptoms And Diagnosis

The earliest symptoms of COPD are easy to mistake for other conditions. Symptoms include:

■ Shortness of breath

■ Wheezing

■ Chronic coughing that produces mucus

■ Chest tightness

■ Fatigue

■ Rapid weight loss

■ Swelling in ankles, feet, or legs

“Symptoms often don’t appear until signifiant lung damage has occurred,” Dr. Anastasiia Rudkovskaia, an interventional pulmonologist at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, said. “And they will worsen over time, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks.”

It is important to talk with your doctor if symptoms persist and progressively get worse so that, together, you can come up with a treatment and management plan.

If your doctor suspects your symptoms are pointing to COPD, he or she may order several tests to diagnose your condition. Lung function tests are the most common and measure how much air you can inhale and exhale.

It also measures how quickly you can exhale air to stage your condition. If needed, your doctor may also order lung X-rays.

Treatment And Management Of Copd

While there’s no cure for COPD, there are ways to slow its progression, reduce flareups, and improve your quality of life.

■ Quit smoking. The most essential thing you can do to manage COPD is to quit and avoid being anywhere near smoke.

■ Medications. There are several kinds of medications used to treat symptoms of COPD. Some are to be taken on a regular basis, while others are on an as-needed basis.

■ Lung therapies. In moderate to severe cases, patients can participate in therapies such as oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation to help them perform everyday tasks.

■ Surgery. Surgery is an option for severe cases for which medications alone are not effective.

“COPD is a progressive disease, but it is treatable,” Rudkovskaia said. “With prompt and proper management, most people can effectively manage their symptoms to achieve a better quality of life and reduce the risk of developing other associated conditions.” •