COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects 11 percent of the population and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.   COPD symptoms are often mistaken for asthma, and sufferers are mainly people over age 40 who have been smoking for many years.   COPD treatment varies with diagnosis and can be dependent on other conditions and COPD complications in a patient. COPD... Read more >

Causes and Risk Factors

Each year, nearly 10 million adults are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, many people with COPD go undiagnosed and untreated. In order to understand your chances of getting COPD, it is important to understand the disease's causes and risk factors. COPD Causes Many people who have COPD also have one of the following: Asthmatic Bronchitis: Also known as bronchial... Read more >

Signs and Symptoms

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term for a cluster of lung conditions that cause airway obstruction. COPD cannot be cured, but COPD symptoms can be improved and lessened by medication and lifestyle changes. Signs and Symptoms of COPD Shortness of breath is probably the most common sign of COPD. This may make a person feel as if he can't get enough air into his lungs. Actually, however, the... Read more >

Diagnosing COPD

Also referred to as “Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease” (COAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of lung disease marked by the permanent constriction of the lungs’ small airways, known as the bronchi. Over time as COPD obstructs more and more bronchi, people with this condition can’t exhale as quickly. This causes them to wheeze, cough and suffer from general breathing problems. ... Read more >

Living with COPD

Coping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cannot be done through medical intervention alone. Self-management of symptoms is recommended for anyone living with COPD.   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease that cannot be cured. Learning how to cope with COPD helps improve quality of life and reduce symptom severity. Smoking and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary... Read more >

COPD Vs. Asthma

It's difficult to distinguish between COPD and asthma symptoms. Both conditions obstruct the airways and interfere with breathing. Asthma symptoms can also contribute to COPD, although COPD is usually caused by a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.The distinction between asthma symptoms and COPD is important, as treatment options are different for each disease. Generally speaking, asthma symptoms are... Read more >

How Healthy Lungs Work

If you were to look at a slice of a normal lung with the naked eye, you would find that it looks like a sponge and is filled with tiny bubbles or holes. If you were to take that same slice of lung and look at it under a microscope, you would find that around each bubble are many intricate blood vessels.   It is these blood vessels that give the lungs a large surface to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide... Read more >

Preventing COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an obstruction of the lungs that is caused by a chronic condition, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Unlike many other diseases, COPD is usually preventable. Reducing COPD Risk There are many steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting COPD, including: Anyone with chronic lung conditions should receive vaccinations against influenza as well as... Read more >