Nov 8, 2023

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD Awareness

You may recall that last week I mentioned that the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is observing November to make us more aware of Diabetes, COPD, and Antibiotic Safety. This morning, we will review pointers related to COPD and outline a few critical issues to raise our consciousness.

COPD is the abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to healthcentral.com, COPD is a serious health condition that makes it extremely hard to breathe, feeling like the pathway to our lungs is continually blocked. It’s NOT the congestion or wheezing experienced when suffering with allergies. COPD is so alarming that one may be forced to sit down after a few steps—just to regain control of one’s breathing.

The 2 major conditions related to COPD are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. Emphysema is when the tiny air sacs of the lungs break down. “Instead of having a bunch of little air sacs, one sac leaches into the next, and you end up with fewer, larger, air sacs.” Now, there is less space for the oxygen to reach the blood flow. The airways throughout the lungs can lose their flexibility which can trap air inside. This explains why people experience shortness of breath.

In Chronic Bronchitis, the bronchial tubes become inflamed or irritated which can lead to coughing and shortness of breath. When coughing continues six to eight weeks or produces mucus for “at least three months,” in a row, the person is likely diagnosed with chronic bronchitis which “is treatable, but not [yet] fully reversible.”

Cigarette smoking is the primary cause for most Americans. However, 25 percent of this illness is attributed to air pollution. There’s great news for asthma sufferers. Fortunately, “treatment can usually reverse the inflammation that causes narrowing in the lung’s airways for the asthma sufferers [diagnosed with COPD.]”

To determine if you need to see a specialist/pulmonologist/doctor who treats diseases of the respiratory system, look out for these common things:

Chest tightness
Chronic coughing—sometimes producing mucus, sometimes not
Fatigue
Frequent respiratory infections
Increased shortness of breath
Wheezing

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you are advised to see your doctor sooner than later. Delaying treatment may cause the condition to advance.
It’s important to know our family history. In both diagnosis and treatment, you may be asked to blow air through a mouthpiece into a machine that determines the amount of air exhaled and the rate it is expelled. Also a chest x-ray or CT scan can detect emphysema and an arterial blood gas test can measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Things we can all do to manage our health:
It goes without saying - No smoking!
And do we hear this enough? Eat more healthy! - Foods highly recommended are fruits, vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil and nuts, whole grains, beans, and wild seafood which is less fatty than the farm raised seafood. Only a few times weekly should eggs, dairy, and poultry be consumed. Red meats, sweets, and processed foods should be eaten infrequently or better yet only on special occasions.

When we are experiencing respiratory problems, the last thing we want to do is exercise. “The less [we] do, the better [we] feel, because [we] don’t have to breathe as hard. However, living a sedentary lifestyle can [ONLY cause] more physical repercussions in the long run - making COPD even worse…Exercise builds muscle, and the fitter [we] are, the less exertion [we’ll] need for everyday tasks.”

Of course, we know prayer is always our first course of action! We MUST allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us - all the way! The Pulmonologist may prescribe a treatment plan that consists of medications expected to open up the breathing airways and decrease inflammation. God works through medical professionals to help us tackle the health obstacles in life. Sometimes, it can take a bit of trial and error to figure out the BEST approach. Don’t give up!

Living with COPD isn’t so different from dealing with any other chronic condition: There are good days and days not-so-great. However, with God on our side, we can make it!

Healthcentral.com
US Department of Health and Human Services

Leatha Foreman 11/8/23