Quick Facts About COPD
What's the difference between COPD and asthma?
Is there a cure for COPD?
What else can I do to help myself?
Is COPD an inherited disease?
Will COPD affect my quality of life?
What's the difference between COPD and asthma?
Like COPD, asthma is a chronic lung disorder characterized by a tightening of the airways and airway inflammation.1 However, asthma is different than COPD in that the symptoms are generally reversible.1 The obstruction in COPD is generally progressive and is usually only partially reversible.1 Also, unlike asthma, COPD includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.2 Brovana is for treatment of COPD, not asthma.3
Is there a cure for COPD?
Currently, there is no cure for COPD. However, there are a number of effective treatments that can improve symptoms and help you or a loved one manage the disease.1 Click here to learn about these treatment options.
If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the best ways you can help yourself.1 Be sure to ask your healthcare professional to recommend stop-smoking programs to help you quit. In addition, it may help your symptoms to avoid other air-pollution risks, such as secondhand smoke, car exhaust, mold, and dust.1
What else can I do to help myself?
You should start by seeing your doctor and talking about your COPD. It's also important to learn all you can about different treatment options and discuss these options with your doctor. Click here to get information about some of these options. If your doctor prescribes medication (such as a nebulizer or inhaler), be sure to learn how to use it correctly. In addition, you should also get proper vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal) to prevent respiratory infections.1
Is COPD an inherited disease?
For the majority of people, the answer is no. However, a small percentage of people who lack a particular blood protein—alpha-1 antitrypsin—may pass on a gene for this disease.1 According to the American Lung Association, the absence of alpha-1 antitrypsin makes emphysema almost inevitable.4 Those with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency who smoke can expect worsening of the disease.4
For most patients, however, COPD is mainly the result of environmental causes such as smoking and exposure to certain chemicals from pollution.1 Smokers can also affect the next generation by exposing their children to secondhand smoke.1
For more information on the alpha-1 antitrypsin form of COPD, visit LungUSA.org and www.alpha1.org.
Will COPD affect my quality of life?
Yes. Because COPD impacts your ability to breathe, there is no doubt that COPD will have some effect on your lifestyle.1,4 After all, every cell in the body requires oxygen to remain healthy. That's why exercise can be a beneficial part of your treatment. Your doctor can help you create an effective exercise program to suit your lifestyle and condition. Too much or too little activity may be unhealthy.1,5
If possible, exercise your upper and lower limbs by doing things like walking. Cycling and treadmill walking are useful alternatives. Patients with severe COPD might just engage in breathing exercises with a therapist. Whatever your particular condition, every day should include some physical conditioning.1,5
References:
1. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. November 2006. Available at: www.goldcopd.org. Accessed May 20, 2008.
2. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Data Fact Sheet. Bethesda, MD: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2003. NIH publication 03-5229.
3.Brovana Medication Guide. Marlborough, MA: Sepracor Inc.; 2006.
4. American Lung Association. Diseases A-Z: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fact sheet (chronic bronchitis and emphysema). July 2005. Available at: www.lungusa.org. Accessed May 20, 2008.
5. Bateman ED, Feldman C, O'Brien J, Plit M, Joubert JR. Guideline for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): 2004 revision. S Afr Med J. 2004;94:559-575.
