Nov 16, 20222 min read

COPD Awareness

Updated: Dec 2, 2022

Every November, the medical community holds the annual world Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) awareness month. Family caregivers, medical professionals, and the community affected by COPD would come together to help raise awareness and share knowledge, to help lessen its burden worldwide. This year's World COPD Day will be observed on the 16th of November, with the theme "Your Lungs for Life."

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that restricts airflow from the lungs. COPD could be diagnosed by the use of spirometry, laboratory testing, and X-rays—though only severe cases can be seen with the last method. People with COPD are also at risk of developing other health problems such as pneumonia, heart disease, lung cancer, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure.

The signs and symptoms of COPD may include the following:

Breathlessness
Chest tightness
Lack of energy
Coughing with phlegm/mucus (sputum)
Wheezing
Sudden weight loss (later stages)
Swelling of the lower limbs
Frequent chest infections
Cyanosis (severe cases)

The most common conditions that contribute to COPD are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. These two conditions typically overlap and can vary in severity among COPD patients. Emphysema is a chronic lung condition that involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, in which the alveoli are destroyed, narrowed, collapsed, stretched, or overinflated. This causes a reduction of the lung surface area, which traps air preventing oxygen from moving through the bloodstream. Chronic Bronchitis on the other hand is the long-term inflammation of the bronchi, which causes the overproduction of mucus and other changes.

These diseases usually affect people over the age of 40 with a history of smoking or who were exposed to chemicals for long periods. Depending on the severity of the condition upon diagnosis, people with COPD have a 5-year life expectancy of 40% to 70%. The leading cause of death among people with COPD is respiratory failure. However, comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer are also major contributing factors to death in mild-to-moderate COPD. According to the World Health Organization, COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, with 3.23 million deaths.

Currently, there are no known cures for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, however early diagnosis and treatments are important to slow down its progression and reduce the risk of developing other health problems. An example of a treatment plan would be undergoing physical therapy to reduce dyspnea and improve respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and quality of life. Individuals with COPD can also undergo occupational therapy as the therapists will be teaching proper breathing techniques while performing daily activities to help with shortness of breath.

Let us do our part during this month-long celebration by raising awareness, stopping the spread of misinformation, and donating to charities and fundraisers that support communities affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Remember the importance of lifelong lung health, "Your Lungs for Life."

Written by: Marielle Aubrey Go, CRS Newsletter

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