1. COPD
• COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disorder, is a lung disease that makes it hard
to breathe. The first symptoms can be so mild
that people mistakenly chalk them up to
"getting old." People with COPD may develop
chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.
COPD tends to get worse over time, but
catching it early, along with good care, can
help many people stay active and may slow
the disease

2. SYMSymptoms of COPD
PTOMS
• Inside the lungs, COPD can clog the airways and damage
the tiny, balloon-like sacs (alveoli) that absorb oxygen.
These changes can cause the following symptoms:
• Shortness of breath in everyday activities
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Constant coughing
• Producing a lot of mucus (sputum)
• Feeling tired
• Frequent colds or flu

3. Advanced Symptoms of COPD
• Severe COPD can make it difficult to walk, cook, clean
house, or even bathe.
• Coughing up excess mucus and feeling short of breath
may worsen. Advanced illness can also cause:
• Swollen legs or feet from fluid buildup
• Weight loss
• Less muscle strength and endurance
• A headache in the morning
• Blue or grey lips or fingernails (due to low oxygen
levels)

4. COPD: Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic Bronchitis
• This condition is the main problem for some
people with COPD. Its calling card is a nagging
cough with plenty of mucus (phlegm). Inside
the lungs, the small airways have swollen
walls, constant oozing of mucus, and scarring.
Trapped mucus can block airflow and become
a breeding ground for germs. A "smoker's
cough" is typically a sign of chronic bronchitis.
The cough is often worse in the morning and
in damp, cold weather.

5. emphysema : Emphysema
• Emphysema damages the tiny air sacs in the
lungs, which inflate when we take in a breath
and move oxygen into the blood. They also
push out carbon dioxide, a waste gas, when
we breathe out. When you have emphysema,
these delicate air sacs can't expand and
contract properly. In time, the damage
destroys the air sacs, leaving large holes in
the lungs, which trap stale air. People with
emphysema can have great trouble exhaling.

6. Diagnosis: Physical Exam
• First, your doctor will listen to your chest as
you breathe, then will ask about your smoking
history and whether you have a family history
of COPD. The amount of oxygen in your blood
may be measured with a blood test or a pulse
oximeter, a painless device that clips to a
finger.

7. Diagnosis: Spirometry Breath Test
• Spirometry is the main test for COPD. It
measures how much air you can move in and
out of your lungs, and how quickly you do it.
You take a deep breath and blow as hard as
you can into a tube. You might repeat the test
after inhaling a puff of a bronchodilator
medicine, which opens your airways.
Spirometry can find problems even before you
have symptoms of COPD. It also helps
determine the stage of COPD.

8. Diagnosis: Chest X-Ray
• A chest X-ray isn't used to diagnose COPD, but
it may help rule out conditions that cause
similar symptoms, such as pneumonia. In
advanced COPD, a chest X-ray might show
lungs that appear much larger than normal.

9. TREATMENT
• Bronchodilators are medications that relax the
muscles of the airways to help keep them open
and make it easier to breathe. Anticholinergics,
a type of bronchodilator, are often used by
people with COPD. Short-acting bronchodilators
last about four to six hours and are used on an
as-needed basis. Longer-acting bronchodilators
can be used every day for people with more
persistent symptoms. People with COPD may
use both types of bronchodilators.

10. Treatment: Corticosteroids
• If bronchodilators don't provide enough relief,
people with COPD may take corticosteroids.
These are usually taken by inhaler. They may
reduce inflammation in the airways. Steroids
may also be given by pill or injection to treat
flare-ups of COPD.

11. Treatment: Lung Training
• Pulmonary rehabilitation classes teach people
ways to keep up with their daily activities
without as much shortness of breath. Specific
exercises help to build muscle strength,
including the muscles used in breathing. You
also will learn to manage stress and control
your breathing.

12. Breathing Better With COPD
• Pursed-lip breathing can reduce the work of breathing.
Breathe in normally through your nose. Then slowly
blow the air out through your mouth with your lips in a
whistle or kissing position. Your exhale should be
longer than the inhale. To strengthen your diaphragm,
you can lie on your back on a bed with one hand on
your abdomen and one on your chest. Keep your chest
as still as possible but let your stomach rise and fall as
you breathe.
•

13. Treatment: Oxygen Therapy
• Severe COPD lowers the oxygen in your blood,
so extra oxygen may be needed for your body.
It can help you stay active without feeling as
tired or out of breath and help protect your
brain, heart, and other organs. If you have
COPD and need supplemental oxygen, you will
typically get the oxygen through tubing from
an oxygen tank to the nostrils. Smoking,
candles, and other flames are off-limits near
oxygen tanks.

14. Treatment: Antibiotics
• People with COPD are at greater risk for lung
infections than healthy people. If your cough
and shortness of breath get worse or you
develop fever, talk to your doctor. These are
signs that a lung infection may be taking hold,
and your doctor may prescribe medications to
help knock it out as quickly as possible. You
may also need adjustments to your COPD
regimen.

15. Treatment: Surgery
• A small number of people with COPD may
benefit from surgery. Bullectomy and lung
volume reduction surgery remove the
diseased parts of the lung, allowing the
healthy tissue to perform better and making
breathing easier. A lung transplant may help
some people with the most severe COPD who
have lung failure, but it can have serious
complications.

16. COPD and Exercise
• Walking is one of the best things you can do if
you have COPD. Start with just five or 10
minutes at a time, three to five days a week. If
you can walk without stopping to rest, add
another minute or two. Even if you have
severe COPD, you may be able to reach 30
minutes of walking at a time. Use your oxygen
while exercising if you are on oxygen therapy.
Discuss your exercise plans with your doctor.

17. What Causes COPD?
• About 90% of people with COPD are current
or former smokers -- and their disease usually
appears after age 40. Secondhand smoke and
exposure to environmental irritants and
pollution also can increase your risk of COPD.
In rare cases, the DNA passed down through a
family can lead to COPD, even in "never
smokers." One of these genetic conditions is
called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency.

18. How Quitting Smoking Helps
• Smokers with COPD will lose lung function
more quickly. Tobacco smoke destroys the tiny
hair-like cilia that normally repair and clean
the airways -- and harms the lungs in other
ways, too. Quitting will slow or stop the
damage, and is simply the most important
step you can take for COPD. You'll also get the
other benefits of quitting: foods taste better,
and your blood pressure and heart rate lower
to healthier levels.

19. COPD and Cancer
• Many people with COPD also develop lung
cancer -- likely due to a history of smoking
cigarettes. Researchers are studying whether
specific genes make some people more
vulnerable to COPD or cancer, or both
illnesses. Chronic inflammation, caused by
smoking or other lung irritants, could play a
role in COPD and cancer, as well

20. Living With COPD
• It’s important to stay active, even if you feel short
of breath. You may need to pace yourself or use
oxygen therapy, but staying active will make you
stronger. Avoid secondhand smoke, chemical
fumes, and other lung irritants. Be sure to get
vaccinated against the flu and pneumococcal
disease. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid
hacking, sniffling people during cold and flu
season. An online community may provide
support and practical tips from others with COPD
to get the most out of every day.