Living with COPD: Tips for Managing Symptoms and Improving Quality of Life

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition that affects up to 10% of people over age 40 worldwide. Chronic inflammation and damage of the airways leads airflow limitation and can result in breathlessness or cough.

COPD, Emphysema and/or Chronic Bronchitis

COPD is often associated with the related conditions of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is the narrowing of the airways due to chronic inflammation with cigarettes being the leading cause.

Emphysema is when alveoli, the tiny, balloon-shaped air sacs located at the end of the branch-like tubes in the lungs, become damaged and enlarged.

Chronic bronchitis is inflammation in the large airways leading to chronic mucus production and cough.

It is possible to have only one of these issues or a combination of all three.

Symptoms & Causes of COPD

The most common symptoms of COPD are:

• Shortness of breath, especially when performing daily activities or with mild exertion
• Wheezing
• A cough that lasts longer than 3 months

COPD is most commonly diagnosed in people who have a significant smoking history. There is variation in how people are affected by smoking. For instance, not everyone who smokes has COPD or emphysema while other people may develop COPD or emphysema with limited smoking history.

Air pollution or other genetic and environmental factors can also contribute to COPD.

People can have flares or exacerbations of their COPD when they catch a virus, during allergy season or from forest fire smoke among other causes. In this situation, they will have an increase in their shortness of breath, cough and mucus production.

Treatment Options

There are a number of treatment options available to help relieve symptoms. Your provider may suggest any of the following treatments:

• Smoking cessation program: If you smoke, quitting can slow down the progression of COPD. If you have chronic bronchitis, it can help decrease or minimize the mucus production.
• Medications: Inhalers have medications in them that may reduce inflammation and open your airways. Medications can also be given as liquid in a nebulizer, a machine that aerosolizes the medication over about 5 minutes. Steroids such as prednisone are sometimes used when someone is having a flare of their COPD.
• Vaccinations: It is very important to get vaccinations against the flu, Covid, RSV and pneumonia. This helps lessen the damage of those infections to the lungs and lowers the chance of flares and hospitalizations
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: This is an exercise and education program that can strengthen your lungs and help you manage COPD.
• Oxygen therapy: You may need supplemental oxygen to improve your oxygen levels. This is only prescribed when oxygen levels are lower than 88%.

EvergreenHealth Pulmonary Care offers the widest range of pulmonary care physicians on the Eastside, with more than 10 years of experience in their field. We are also honored to be recognized as a national leader in Pulmonary Care, awarded as a Center of Excellence.