What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases with the chief symptom of breathlessness and cough. COPD is a slowly progressive disease and affects approximately 32 million Americans.
COPD leads to airflow obstruction due to the following reasons:
- Tiny air sacs in the lungs that are responsible for oxygen transfer to the blood lose their capacity to stretch and shrink back.
- The walls between many of the air sacs are damaged.
- The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed.
- Oversecretion of the mucus blocks the airflow.
The diseases in the COPD spectrum are as follows:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Irreversible asthma
What are the signs and symptoms of COPD?
In the initial stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there may be no symptoms. Later, the following non-specific symptoms are seen:
- Smoker’s cough (nagging cough)
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing (whistling sound while breathing)
When the disease progresses, the symptoms include:
- Weight loss
- Swelling in the feet and ankles
- Gasping for breath
- Feeling of missed beat or palpitations
- Respiratory failure
- Blue or gray lips and/or fingernails
- Disorientation
Who is at a risk of getting COPD?
Patients with the following conditions are at a risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):
- Continuous exposure to air pollution
- Smokers
- Exposure to second-hand smoke
- Infectious diseases that destroy the lung tissue
- Chronic asthma
- Immune deficiency syndromes
- Vasculitis syndrome (inflammation in the blood vessels)
- Connective tissue disorders (diseases that affect the parts of the body that connect the structures of the body)
- Genetic problems such as Salla disease
Which tests do physicians use to diagnose COPD?
Physicians use the following methods and tests to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):
- Taking a through history
- History of tobacco smoking, occupational exposure to dust and chemicals
- Information about exposure to air pollutants or history of any lung disease
- Chest X-rays
- Spirometry (lung function tests)
- Computed tomography (CT) of the lungs
- Measurement of the saturation level of oxygen in the blood with the help of arterial blood gas or a pulse oximeter
QUESTION
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is the same as adult-onset asthma. See AnswerHow is COPD treated?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management involves various therapies, which include:
- Cessation of cigarette smoking
- Taking vitamin and nutritional supplements
- Exercise training and breathing exercises
- Nutritional counseling therapy
- Energy-conserving therapies
- Psychological counseling
Medications to treat COPD include the following:
- Bronchodilators relax muscles around the airways
- Oxygen therapy
- Steroids to reduce swelling in the airway
- Antibiotics to treat a respiratory infection
- Vaccination
- Drugs that thin the mucous plug
Patients with severe COPD may require a surgery to remove the diseased portion of the lung or even lung transplantation.
What is the life expectancy of someone with COPD?
Depending on the disease severity, the five-year life expectancy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges from 40%-70%. That means 40-70 out of 100 people will be alive after five years of diagnosis of COPD.
COPD is a chronic, gradually progressing lung disease that is not completely curable. Timely medical treatments can slow the progression of this disease.
Health News
- Attachment Theory: What It Is, Stages & the Different Attachment Styles
- Gentle Parenting: What It Is, Techniques & Discipline
- U.S. Nursing Homes Fail to Report Many Serious Falls, Bedsores: Study
- The Younger You Get Diabetes, the Higher Your Risk for Dementia Later
- FDA Grants Full Approval to Paxlovid to Treat COVID-19
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone With COPD Related Articles
Respiratory Illnesses: 13 Types of Lung Infections
Is your cough caused by a cold, flu, pneumonia or something else? Learn causes of respiratory infection like bronchitis, pneumonia, SARS, Coronavirus COVID-19 bird flu, and more.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung condition caused by smoking tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke, and/or air pollutants. Conditions that accompany COPD include chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, and emphysema.Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic cough. Treatment of COPD includes GOLD guidelines, smoking cessation, medications, and surgery. The life expectancy of a person with COPD depends on the stage of the disease.
COPD Quiz
COPD is a combination of three conditions? Take this quiz to learn the three conditions that make up the pulmonary disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD Lung Symptoms
COPD is a pulmonary disorder caused by obstructions in the airways of the lungs leading to breathing problems. Learn about COPD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
COPD vs. Asthma (Differences and Similarities)
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma both have common symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. COPD is caused by tobacco smoking, while asthma is caused by your inherited genetic makeup and their interactions with the environment. Risk factors for asthma are obesity, exposure to cigarette smoke (even secondhand smoke), and personal history of hay fever. There is no cure for either disease, but symptoms can be managed with medication. A person with asthma has a better prognosis and life expectancy than someone with COPD.
COPD vs. Emphysema
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is the term doctors and other healthcare professionals use to describe a group of serious, progressive (worsens over time), chronic lung diseases that include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and sometimes asthma. The number one cause of COPD or emphysema, is smoking, and smoking is the third leading cause of death in the US.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) that often occurs with other obstructive pulmonary problems and chronic bronchitis. Causes of emphysema include chronic cigarette smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and in the underdeveloped parts of the world. Symptoms of emphysema include chronic cough, chest discomfort, breathlessness, and wheezing. Treatments include medication and lifestyle changes.
Exercises for COPD
The more you exercise, the better you'll feel with COPD. Breathe easier with these 10 exercises from WebMD.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Eight out of 10 lung cancers are due to tobacco smoke. Lung cancers are classified as either small-cell or non-small-cell lung cancers.
Lung Cancer Slideshow
Learn about lung cancer early warning signs, symptoms and treatments. What causes stage IV lung cancer? Get more information on small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and the diagnosis of lung cancer stages.
Know Your Lung Cancer Facts Quiz
Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. and worldwide. Get the facts about lung cancer with this quiz.
What Are Lung Segmentectomy and Limited Pulmonary Resection?
A lung segmentectomy is a procedure to remove the diseased lung without removing excess normal lung. Lung segmentectomy and limited pulmonary resection are performed due to bonchiectasis, early-stage lung cancer, lung nodules, tuberculosis, and suppurative lesions. Complications include air leakage, bleeding, residual airspace, infection of the pleural space, respiratory failure, and cardiac complications.
Lung Anatomy Diagram
The lungs are primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. Eliminating carbon dioxide from the blood is important, because as it builds up in the blood, headaches, drowsiness, coma, and eventually death may occur. The air we breathe in (inhalation) is warmed, humidified, and cleaned by the nose and the lungs.
Lungs Picture
The lungs are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the chest (thorax). See a picture of the Lungs and learn more about the health topic.
Pleural Effusion (Fluid in the Pleural Space)
Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the chest or the lungs. There are two types of pleural effusion, transudate, and exudate. Causes of transudate pleural effusion include congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and cirrhosis. Exudate pleural effusion can be caused by malignancy (cancer) or a lung infection. Typically, transudate pleural effusion is more easily treatable. Symptoms of pleural effusion include chest pain, pain when breathing, difficulty breathing, and cough. Treatment depends on the source or cause of the pleural effusion.
Popcorn Lung (Bronchiolitis Obliterans)
Popcorn lung is a term for the lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans. Popcorn lung is caused by diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, chemicals used when manufacturing flavorings for food and certain products like popcorn, and coffee. E-cigarettes also may cause popcorn lung. Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione damage lung tissue in that is irreversible.Symptoms of popcorn lung develop gradually over time. The main symptoms are chronic cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include night sweats, weight loss, and fever. Symptoms of severe exposure to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione include inflammation of the skin, eyes, nose, and/or throat.
Popcorn lung often resembles tobacco-related COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) so it often is difficult to diagnose. Lung biopsy and surgery may be necessary.
There is no cure for popcorn lung. Life expectancy for a person with (bronchiolitis obliterans) depends upon how early the disease was diagnosed and the level of exposure to diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione.
Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot in the Lung)
A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a piece of a blood clot from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) breaks off and travels to an artery in the lung where it blocks the artery and damages the lung. The most common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate. Causes of pulmonary embolism include prolonged immobilization, certain medications, smoking, cancer, pregnancy, and surgery. Pulmonary embolism can cause death if not treated promptly.