Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder – A Dangerous Lung Condition

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August 31, 2010

Having a disease of the lungs that limits your ability to breathe is never an easy thing to live 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 breathing illness which results in approximately one hundred thousand deaths in the U.S. each year. It is the 4th leading cause of death. Around the world, about 12 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 conditions, just like with COPD, the air flow through your airways is decreased. This is usually a permanent condition which grows worse as time goes by, making it very difficult for the COPD sufferer to breathe.

What causes COPD and what can you do about it?

The number one cause of COPD in the United States is smoking. Statistics reveal that nearly approximately 15 percent of smokers will develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Smoking does damage to your lungs in several ways. One of the best ways to prevent COPD or to keep it from getting worse is to quit smoking immediately and try to avoid being around smoke since the exact effects of second hand smoke on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not completely clear.

A variety of other pollutants and irritants can cause or contribute to COPD too. Indoor and outdoor air pollution is one of the most common. Stoves used for cooking as well as silica and similar pollutants can also be dangerous.

Another cause of this respiratory disorder is a rare genetic condition called AAT. ATT causes approximately 1 percent of cases annually.

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is important that you learn as much as you can about how you got it and what kind you have. You can do this by working together with your physician and talking about your medical history, family history and symptoms. Your doctor can help you formulate the best plan arresting the progress of your COPD. When left untreated, COPD is likely to grow worse.

Symptoms of this disorder include a cough that produces a lot of mucus. There will probably also be wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and a number of lesser symptoms.

The encouraging news for those who have this condition is that there are therapies available that can help clear the obstruction in the airways, making it easier for you to breathe as you did before.

There are several of helpful medications your doctor can prescribe that can be helpful and provide some relief from your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms. Exercise, as recommended by your doctor, can also provide some improvement.

The sooner you seek treatment for your disorder the better your chances of being 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 diseases and respiratory health.

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

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