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COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a common progressive lung disorder characterised by airway obstruction with little or no reversibility. This irreversibility distinguishes it from asthma, in which airway obstruction is reversible. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 2.7% of all registered deaths in Hong Kong in 2017. Smokers are significantly more likely to develop COPD. Although there is no cure for COPD, it is treatable and preventable. Read more to learn about the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of COPD.
COPD is a group of diseases in which long-term lung damage leads to the obstruction or narrowing of the airways. The most frequent forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema; commonly, people suffer from both conditions at the same time to varying degrees.
Chronic bronchitis is characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the air sacs in your lungs. Mucus builds up due to irritation, making it harder for your lungs to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a result, patients develop a chronic cough trying to clear the mucus from their airways.
In emphysema, on the other hand, the inner walls between air sacs are damaged, creating larger air spaces instead of tiny air sacs. As a result, the shape and elasticity of the air sacs are lost, trapping more air in your lungs when you exhale. Destruction of the air sacs also reduces the surface area available for air exchange, limiting the amount of oxygen entering the lung and bloodstream. Patients with emphysema commonly develop air blisters (blebs) or air cavities (bullae) due to the destruction of the air sacs. If large bullae rupture, pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, can result.
COPD predisposes to lung infections. It also increases the risk of other diseases, such as heart problems, lung cancer, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety. Although COPD worsens over time, early treatment can slow the progression, control signs and symptoms and improve quality of life.
People may be unaware of COPD in the early stages as it usually begins with subtle symptoms. When COPD progresses, signs and symptoms become more severe and may include:
You should seek medical help immediately if you experience the following acute signs and symptoms of COPD:
Smoking is the leading cause of COPD in developed countries. Cigarette smoking produces harmful chemicals that can damage your lungs, making you more susceptible to COPD and respiratory infections. Both first-hand smoking and second-hand smoking cause COPD.
However, non-smokers can also develop COPD due to genetic causes or exposure to other irritants. In developing countries where living environments are poorly ventilated, fumes from burning fuel used for cooking and heating can be a risk factor contributing to COPD. Other irritants include second-hand smoke, air pollution, harmful chemicals, dust, or fumes from the workplace.
A rare genetic disorder called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) reduces the amount of the proteins, called alpha-1-antitrypsins, that protect the lung and the liver. Lung damage results, leading to early COPD.
Apart from the abovementioned causes of COPD, the risk factors below also increase the risk of developing COPD:
People frequently overlook the symptoms of COPD until the disease has progressed significantly. In order to diagnose COPD accurately, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, discuss your medical conditions, smoking history, family history and may look for any possible chronic exposure to lung irritants. Your physician will also auscultate (listen to your lungs) with a stethoscope to determine if there are any abnormal breathing sounds and examine you for other signs of lung disease.
If COPD is suspected, your doctor may need to confirm the diagnosis by arranging some of the following procedures:
To describe the severity of your disease, your doctor may refer to the GOLD guideline of COPD. The objectives of COPD assessment are to determine the severity of airflow limitation, the range of symptoms, and the risk of COPD exacerbation, and hence to guide therapy.
The classification of airflow limitation severity is based on the result of spirometry, which measures FEV1, or the amount of air you can force out from the lungs in the first second of forced expiration. The lower the FEV1, the more severe the condition.
Grade | Severity | FEV1 (% predicted) |
GOLD Grade 1
| Mild COPD | < 80% |
GOLD Grade 2 | Moderate COPD | 50% - 79% |
GOLD Grade 3 | Severe COPD | 30% - 49% |
GOLD Grade 4 | Very severe COPD | < 30% |
The severity of your COPD symptoms is also measured, mainly by CATTM (GOLD Assessment Test) and mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council) questionnaires. CATTM scores range from 0-40 and measure health status impairment in COPD, while mMRC scores have five grades and provide a measure of breathlessness.
Lastly, your doctor will assess your risk of COPD exacerbation. COPD exacerbation is defined as “an acute worsening of respiratory symptoms that needs additional therapy”. The risk is predicted based on the history of exacerbation events.
Combining the measurement of symptoms and risk of COPD exacerbation, your physicians will classify your COPD condition into these four groups:
It is important to prevent and treat COPD in its early stages to avoid any of the following serious complications:
COPD cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Effective treatments can control COPD symptoms, slow down disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of COPD exacerbation and complications.
Quitting smoking can significantly slow down COPD progression, improve symptoms and prevent the development of other diseases and complications. It is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. However, smoking cessation can be difficult. If you are prepared to stop smoking, discuss it with your doctor. There are several regimens and medications that can help you!
Eating a balanced diet and regular exercise can strengthen your body and improve symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight is also essential. If you are underweight, you may lose muscle mass, including the muscles that help you breathe. Excess weight is also harmful, as it increases the work of breathing.
An exacerbation of COPD is a sudden worsening of symptoms that requires prompt treatment. The key feature of COPD exacerbation is increased shortness of breath. Other symptoms include increased sputum purulence, sputum volume, cough and wheeze. Although
COPD exacerbations can be caused by bacterial infections and environmental factors, such as air pollution, the leading cause is respiratory viral infections. COPD exacerbations can range from mild to severe and often last for 7-10 days. It is important to understand exacerbation symptoms and know when to seek healthcare, as an exacerbation can significantly affect one’s health status and cause many complications.
An exacerbation can be managed in either the outpatient or inpatient setting, depending on the severity of the current episode and the severity of the underlying disease. Mild COPD exacerbations may be treated with short-acting bronchodilators only. For moderate COPD exacerbations, additional inhalers, antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids may be needed.
Suppose you experience a sudden worsening of shortness of breath, cyanosis (bluish discolouration of the body or nails), peripheral oedema (swelling), confusion or drowsiness. In that case, you will likely need to be hospitalised because these symptoms may progress to respiratory failure. Supplemental oxygen, additional medications and treatments are usually required.
To prevent further exacerbations, good compliance and adherence to treatment as well as lifestyle modification are essential. It is especially important to quit smoking and avoid lung irritants.
Since the cause of COPD is clear, the following approaches can help prevent COPD:
Smoking is the main cause of COPD, accounting for 85-90% of all cases. Cigarette smoking produces many harmful chemicals that can damage your lungs, making you more susceptible to COPD and respiratory infections.
COPD is not curable, but it is preventable and treatable. Treatment can control symptoms, slow down disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of exacerbations. Interventions include medications, lifestyle modification, oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Most people are at least 40 years old when the symptoms of COPD become noticeable. It is possible to develop COPD at a younger age, for example, if you have a genetic disorder such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Sodium-rich foods (e.g. canned ham, pickled cucumber) can increase fluid retention, which in turn makes breathing harder. It can also be helpful to avoid foods that induce gas or bloating, such as carbonated beverages, dairy products, apples and beans.
Dr. Sarah Borwein is a Canadian trained General Practitioner who co-founded the Central Health Group and has been practicing family medicine in Hong Kong for over 15 years. After obtaining Certification in Family Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, she completed a Master's degree in Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She worked as a staff physician at the Beijing United Family Hospital where she was Director of Infection control during the SARS outbreak in China. A French speaker, Sarah is the advising and referral doctor for the French Consulate in Hong Kong. She is the site director for GeoSentinel (an international disease surveillance network) in Hong Kong and is past President of the Asia Pacific Travel Health Society. In addition, she sits on the Centre for Health Protection's Scientific Committee on Vector-borne Diseases, which advises the Hong Kong Department of Health on this type of illness.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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