C is for COPD

If you go into your doctor and he or she writes SOB in your chart, it means shortness of breath.

Pardon my digression...COPD, COPD, what in the world is COPD?  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  Let's break that down; CHRONIC means persistent, lasting or slowly developing; OBSTRUCTIVE means to block or to fill a passage with obstacles; PULMONARY means having to do with the lungs; and DISEASE means abnormal condition.  Putting that together we deduce that a person with COPD has slowly developed abnormal blockage in his airways making it increasingly difficult to breathe.  According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD refers to a group of lung diseases, with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis as the main conditions that make up COPD.  The symptoms associated with COPD  include: an ongoing cough that produces large amounts of mucus (often called smoker's cough); shortness of breath, especially with physical activity; wheezing (a whistling or squeaking sound when you breathe); and chest tightness.  Remember in the beginning of this entry we defined chronic as persistent, lasting, and slowly developing?  Here's how that comes into play:  these symptoms often occur YEARS BEFORE the flow of air into and out of the lungs declines.   OK, next question, how can I avoid getting COPD?  That's easy, avoid the risk factors.  QUIT SMOKING!  Steer clear of second hand smoke.  Avoid occupational dusts and chemicals (vapors, irritants, fumes).  Be mindful of indoor air pollutants from some fuels used for cooking and heating in poorly vented dwellings.  Of course asthma, frequent respiratory infections, and a positive family history do increase one's chances of developing COPD, but if you avoid the aforementioned risk factors, you can deter the onset or prevent the disease.
That's all well and good, but what if I am diagnosed with COPD, can it be cured?  Answer NO, but on the bright side, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can help make a sufferer of COPD feel better, stay more active, and slow the process of the disease.  QUITTING SMOKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP YOU CAN TAKE TO TREAT COPD.  You may want to talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit.  Additionally, AVOID SECOND HAND SMOKE.  Shy away from using aerosol sprays.  Remember to eat a well-balanced diet, and to drink enough fluid to keep the lungs from stiffening up.  You may have to increase your liquids to 2-3 quarts per day to keep secretions thin if there is a large amount of phlegm present.  Interestingly, it is best to maintain a stable environmental temperature, avoiding extremes of heat and cold.  Be sure to keep the air as moist as possible, using a humidifier if necessary.  Try to practice energy conservation techniques to avoid fatigue.  Establish a formal, consistent exercise program to improve exercise intolerance and quality of life.  Find out if there is a pulmonary rehab program in your area and enroll there.  Ask your doctor about effective coughing and breathing exercises that you can do every day.  Get a flu vaccine every year.  Finally, it should go without saying:  report signs and symptoms of respiratory infections (i.e. fever, change in sputum color or amount, or increased shortness of breath; and take medications and respiratory treatments as ordered.
If you or your aging loved one is diagnosed with COPD, let Superior Health, Inc. help.  We offer supportive care education about the disease process; management and evaluation of patient care; observation and assessment; medication education; assistance with activities of daily living, as well as restorative therapy including physical, occupational, and speech therapies.  And remember you're not an SOB, you just have shortness of breath!