What is COPD?
Dr. Bandana Mishra who is the Head of Department & Senior Consultant of Pulmonology at Sanar International Hospitals said that the GOLD 2023 report defines COPD as “a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, expectoration, exacerbations) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema) that cause persistent, often progressive, airflow obstruction.”
The obstruction maybe caused by damage to the Bronchioles or get clogged by sputum. The damage to the lungs caused by COPD is irreversible.
Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are two of the most common infections that make up COPD and it needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional.
How Does It Affect Children And Adults?
Dr. Akshay Budhraja, who is a Senior Consultant- Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, at Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka, New Delhi. said, "COPD encompasses a group of lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Individuals with COPD may have varying degrees of severity for these two illnesses, which typically coexist. Despite being a progressive illness that worsens with time, COPD is curable. Most COPD patients can obtain good symptom control, a high quality of life, and a lower chance of developing other related disorders with appropriate care."
Talking about the condition in adults, he said that it is commonly diagnosed in individuals over the age of 40, with a history of smoking or exposure to environmental toxins that irritate the lungs.
"Symptoms of COPD usually don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred and worsen over time, especially if exposure to smoking continues. Common symptoms may include shortness of breath, especially during physical activities, chest tightness, wheezing, recurrent respiratory infections, chronic cough that may produce mucus, fatigue, weight loss and swelling in ankles, feet or legs. People with COPD are also likely to experience worsening of symptoms called exacerbations that can persist for several days," he said.
Coming to children, he said that although the condition is less common, childhood COPD is often the result of factors such as premature birth, respiratory infections and exposure to second-hand smoke.
"Chronic lung diseases are more common in premature infants as a result of underdeveloped lungs, a condition known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Children exposed to second hand smoke at home are more likely to develop childhood COPD as their lungs are developing and the toxins from tobacco can damage their lungs. In addition, recurrent respiratory infections in childhood can damage their lungs and, in some cases, lead to the development of COPD," he said.
"Paediatric COPD has symptoms similar to those in adults and can include chronic cough, wheezing, recurrent lung infections and shortness of breath. Furthermore, childhood COPD may affect lung growth and function which in turn can affect overall development in children. Diagnosis and management of childhood COPD involves careful assessment of symptoms, lung function tests and identifying underlying causes. treatment typically includes staying away from irritants like passive smoking, adequate management of respiratory infections and in some cases, using medications or inhalers to control symptoms," he added.
Risk Factors Of COPD:
- Smoking: This stands as the primary risk factor for COPD. The majority of individuals afflicted with COPD either currently smoke or have a history of smoking. Those with a familial predisposition to COPD face an elevated risk if they engage in smoking.
- Exposure to other lung irritants: Prolonged exposure to air pollution, chemical emissions, environmental or occupational dust, unventilated smoke from home cooking specially biomass exposure like chullah or heating fuels, and secondhand smoke from others' smoking can contribute to COPD risk.
- Infections: Conditions such as HIV and tuberculosis can elevate the risk of developing COPD.
- Age: Age can be a factor in COPD risk, especially when coupled with other risk elements, such as smoking. Typically, COPD symptoms begin to manifest in individuals aged 40 and older.
- Genetic predisposition: Certain genetic dispositions may make you more susceptible to COPD Coexistence of asthma: Approximately 20% of individuals with COPD also contend with asthma, a lung condition characterized by airway inflammation and constriction.
What Causes COPD?
- Long term Smoking – Both active and passive smoking has proven to be dangerous for the lungs. Be it cigarettes, vape, hookah or bidi. Tobacco smoking can lead to disorders all over the body but they severely affect your lungs.
- Pollution - The most dangerous and fatal pollutant in the air is PM2.5. The increased levels of PM2.5 in the environment make the air unfit to breathe in. Consequently, the Air Quality Index (AQI) also gets worse. Loaded with pollutants like PM2.5 and smoke, this air becomes extremely toxic and hazardous for children and senior citizens.
- Exposure to Dust & chemicals - Dust from construction, smoke from the factories and vehicles and stubble burning also contribute to the risk factors of COPD.
- Asthma – People who were diagnosed with Asthma and continue to be on medication tend to undergo aggravated symptoms of Asthma and may be at a risk for developing COPD.
Symptoms Of COPD:
Dr. Bandana Mishra went on to list down the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath during physical activities.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Wheezing in the lungs because of the obstruction.
- Chest pain or tightness.
- Persistent cough with sputum that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish.
- Recurrent respiratory infections.
- Fatigue
Diagnosis Of COPD:
There are some investigations that the healthcare professional advises to diagnose COPD as mentioned by Dr. Bandana Mishra:
- Chest X-ray – presence of secretions or blockages in the lung cavities can be easily seen on a chest radiograph.
- Sputum Culture & Sensitivity – presence of bacteria and or blood in the sputum can be detected with this test.
- Blood tests - Some irregularities always reflect in the blood work up if there is presence of any infections.
- Spirometry - It is a type of lung function test that measures how much air you breathe out. It also measures how fast you can blow the air out.
- Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) – This test is done to assess the lung volumes and capacities as they get affected due to the blockages in the bronchioles.
Prevention OF COPD:
Dr. Bandana Mishra mentioned the follwoing preventive measures for COPD:
- Consultation with a Healthcare Professional - It is advised to consult a healthcare professional or a Pulmonologist at the earliest if there is cough with sputum production or if there is any difficulty in breathing.
- Health check-ups – It is advised to have regular health check-ups as part of the primary prevention of the disease.
- Say NO to Smoking – As it is the leading cause of COPD, Smoking can cause irreversible damage to the lungs. If you quit smoking there are strong chances that your lungs can be healthy again.
- Wearing N95 face masks - Whenever you step outside in pollution, you can wear a N95 face mask to prevent any harmful toxins from reaching your lungs.
- Avoid stepping out - During peak traffic hours, the pollutant levels in the air is also very high.
[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]