Self Health Loops

Having a respiratory and lung disease or respiratory disorder never an easy thing to cope with. This is especially true for those who suffer from respiratory and lung disease known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is a serious and potentially fatal lung and respiratory condition which is responsible for more than one hundred thousand deaths in the U.S. each year. It is the 4th leading cause of death. Worldwide, about twelve million cases have been diagnosed, and many people may have it with being aware.

COPD is also a major cause of disability. More than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD. Many more people may have the disease and not even know it.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is actually a combination of two other respiratory disorders – emphysema and bronchitis. With these diseases, just like with COPD, the air flow through your airways is decreased. This is in most instances, a permanent condition which worsens with the passage of time, making it very difficult for the COPD sufferer to breathe.

What causes this troubling lung disorder ongoing lung problem and what can you and your doctor do about it?

The most frequent cause of COPD around the world is smoking. Research now tells us that nearly one of every six smokers will develop COPD.

Cigarette smoke causes damage to your lungs in many different ways. One of the best ways to prevent COPD or to keep it from growing worse is to quit smoking immediately and try to avoid being around smoke since the exact effects of second hand smoke on COPD are not completely known yet.

There are other factors that can trigger COPD as well. Indoor and outdoor air pollution is one of the most frequent. Stoves used for cooking as well as silica and similar pollutants are dangerous.

Another cause of this respiratory disease is a rare genetic condition called AAT. ATT is responsible for about one case in a hundred each year.

If you have COPD, it is important that you learn as much as you can about why you got it and what kind you have. You can do this by working together with your doctor and discussing your medical history, family history and symptoms. Your doctor can help you formulate the best plan of treatment for your COPD. When left untreated, COPD will most certainly always worsen.

COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus. You can also expect wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and a variety of other symptoms.

The best news for those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder is that there are treatments that can help clear the obstruction in the airways, making it easier for you to breathe as you did before.

There are a variety of medications your doctor can recommend that can assist and give you some relief from your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms. Exercise, as recommended by your doctor, can also be beneficial.

The earlier you seek treatment for your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the more likely you’ll be able to breathe more normally again.

Regrettably, there is no permanent cure for COPD and the lung damage that results from it. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot be reversed, but it can, more often than not be prevented.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic and related subjects, click on lung and respiratory illnesses. You’ll find dozens of easy-to-read and easy to understand articles and helpful resources about lung disease and the respiratory system.

The author, Neal Kennedy, is a former TV journalist and radio talk show host with a special interest in health, fitness and medical topics.