Listening to Our Lungs: Preventing and Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

4/20/2023

TUCSON, AZ – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is an umbrella term for a group of diseases involving airflow blockage in the lungs, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

COPD affects more than 16 million American adults (including 5.4% of Arizona’s total population) and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States – but often develops so slowly that many people don’t know they have it.

“In someone with COPD, the structures carrying air in and out of the lungs are partially blocked, making it harder to breathe,” said Felix Reyes, M.D., a pulmonologist with Northwest Healthcare. “It is a leading – and growing – cause of disability.”

COPD is typically a progressive condition (meaning, it gets worse over time) as lung function gradually decreases. A patient might experience some, or all, of the following symptoms:

• Chronic or constant coughing or “smoker’s cough.”
• Chest tightness.
• Shortness of breath during ordinary activities.
• Excess sputum/mucus production.
• Wheezing sound when breathing.
• Inability to take deep breaths.
• Barrel chest deformity.

COPD is not curable, but patients who stay generally healthy and active – and who receive treatments such as oxygen therapy; pulmonary rehabilitation, medications; and/or surgery – tend to experience relief of some symptoms and slower disease progression.

Most cases, however, are preventable in the first place. The leading cause of COPD, by far, is smoking – which includes both primary and secondhand smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

“Smoking causes toxins to be inhaled directly into the lungs, resulting in lung irritation in the short term and lung tissue damage in the long term,” said Dr. Reyes. “Exposure to air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust can also present a risk.”

If you are concerned about COPD, it’s important to work with your primary care physician and/or a pulmonologist to evaluate the condition and function of your lungs. The most common diagnostic tools include chest X-rays, chest CT scans, and a spirometry test (which may detect COPD even before the onset of symptoms).

If you would like to learn more about how Northwest Healthcare can care for your lungs – and entire pulmonary system – please click here.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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