Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

COPD is a term that refers to a group of lung diseases that can interfere with normal breathing. It is estimated that more than 13 million Americans suffer from COPD. It is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

What are the different types of COPD?

The two most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Some physicians agree that asthma should be classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while others do not. A brief description of asthma is included below:

What is chronic bronchitis? Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the bronchi (breathing passages in the lungs), which results in increased production of mucus, as well as other changes.

These changes may result in breathing problems, frequent infections, cough, and disability.

What is pulmonary emphysema? Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which alveoli (air sacs in the lungs) may be:

Destroyed.
Narrowed.
Collapsed.
Stretched.
Over-inflated.

This can cause a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs is irreversible and results in permanent "holes" in the lung tissue.

What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease involving recurrent breathing problems. The characteristics of asthma include the following:

The lining of the airways becomes swollen and inflamed.
The muscles that surround the airways tighten.
The production of mucus is increased, leading to mucus plugs.

What causes COPD?

The causes of COPD are not fully understood. It is generally agreed that the most important cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is cigarette smoking. Other causes such as air pollution and occupational exposures may play a role, especially when combined with cigarette smoking. Heredity may also be a factor.

Rehabilitation for COPD:

The goals of COPD rehabilitation programs include helping the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life - physically, emotionally, and socially. Attaining these goals help people with COPD live more comfortably by improving endurance, providing relief of symptoms, and preventing progression of the disease with minimal side effects.

In order to reach these goals, COPD rehabilitation programs may include the following:

Medication management
Exercises to decrease respiratory symptoms and improve muscle strength and endurance
Respiratory treatments to improve breathing ability
Assistance with obtaining respiratory equipment and portable oxygen
Methods to increase independence with activities of daily living (ADLs)
Exercises for physical conditioning and improved endurance
Stress management, relaxation exercises, and emotional support
Smoking cessation programs
Nutritional counseling
Patient and family education and counseling
Vocational counseling

The COPD rehabilitation team:

COPD rehabilitation programs can be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many skilled professionals are part of the pulmonary rehabilitation team, including any/all of the following: