But educating yourself about the warning symptoms of COPD – as well as preventive measures and treatment options – could save your life or that of a loved one, Dr. Mueller says.
The best news: If COPD is diagnosed early enough, you can slow down – even stop – lung damage, he says.
Here, Dr. Mueller explains symptoms of the disease, risk factors and the latest treatments for COPD.
What is COPD?
COPD describes a number of progressive chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which slowly kill healthy lung tissue.
Emphysema causes the air sacs in the lungs to lose their flexibility, which prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream, making it hard to breathe.
Chronic bronchitis, or "smoker's cough," is a chronic lung disease caused by inflammation that leads to bronchial tube scarring.
This produces excessive mucus that causes frequent coughing and respiratory infections.
When these conditions prevent air from flowing freely throughout the lung, parts become damaged or die. Air trapped in the dead or dying areas keeps the lungs from operating on full power, and the COPD patient has a hard time breathing.
Until we discover a way to grow or build new lung tissue, there's no cure for the disease.
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