<![CDATA[COPD - Health.com]]> en daily 1 <![CDATA[Frequently Asked Questions About COPD]]>

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million Americans have COPD, but just as many may have the lung disease and don't realize it. Find out more about how to prevent and treat COPD.

For more details on COPD, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> <![CDATA[I'm a Nonsmoker, But I Have Emphysema Due to a Rare Genetic Condition]]>

Unfortunately, I inhaled an awful lot of secondhand smoke as a kid. My father and my uncles would get together to play cards and smoke the entire time. Although my mother discouraged them from smoking around me as much as possible due to my asthma, I still ended up with a significant exposure to secondhand smoke.

My asthma seemed to improve as I reached adulthood, but I was still struggling with pneumonia almost once a year. I also had a lot of chest colds. I had to treat my chest as if it were made of glass, protecting it from infections at all costs.

Sometime between the ages of 25 and 30, one of the many pulmonary specialists I saw throughout my life told me I had emphysema, which is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a serious progressive disorder that makes it very difficult to breathe.

COPD is a rare diagnosis for people in their 20s, particularly for nonsmokers. I’d never smoked in my life.

An allergist diagnosed me
Despite frequent bouts of pneumonia, the COPD didn’t come up again until I went to see an allergist at age 55. The allergist found it strange that my X-ray showed signs of emphysema even though I’d never smoked. He wanted to screen me for a rare genetic condition. The blood test showed I have alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. That was undoubtedly the explanation for my severe COPD. Curiously, even after all the doctors I’d seen since my 20s, he was the first to mention a genetic cause, and he was an allergist!

I was amused by the irony of being diagnosed with this rare condition at a time when I felt healthier than ever. At that point in my life, it was very rare for me to have the severe asthma attacks that sent me to the hospital when I was younger. I was frequently sick, but the life-threatening emergencies had gone away.

The diagnosis was also a relief. I finally had answers to many of my questions, like “Why would a guy who’s never smoked have so much lung damage?” I learned that the secondhand smoke I inhaled was more than likely a major cause of my COPD. Although anybody can be damaged by secondhand smoke, the AAT deficiency made me extremely vulnerable.


Next Page: Both my children are carriers
Both my children are carriers
To be an alpha like I am, you need to have a defective gene from each of your parents. My diagnosis is SZ, meaning I have a more severe Z gene (from my mother almost certainly), and an S gene, which is not as severe (from my father). None of my relatives have been officially diagnosed with AAT deficiency, but I suspect some have had it. My mother’s family in Canada was filled with people who were severely asthmatic and did not have access to very good medical care. I had an aunt who died at 37 due to what was diagnosed as “severe asthma” at the time.

I passed the Z gene to my children, so both my kids are carriers. Luckily, both of them are healthy because they also have the normal gene from my wife. They could still pass the defective gene to their own children, though.

Today I’m more open about my condition than I was growing up. People often overreact, in the sense that they’ll try to help me do things I’m perfectly capable of doing on my own. For example, they’ll move a heavy chair for me, thinking I shouldn’t exert myself. I can’t jog anymore, but I’ve been a regular walker for a very long time. I love to visit art shows, and I can walk for miles with ease among the displays. I also can’t play sports anymore, but a lot of guys my age can’t play sports!

To treat my COPD, I take Advair and another drug, Spiriva. In addition, I’ve been treating my AAT deficiency with augmentation therapy since 2000. These are weekly infusions of the AAT protein that is collected from healthy donors. It's expensive, but it replaces the AAT that my body doesn’t make on its own.

I’m still highly susceptible to lung infections and have to be extra careful. After a bad cold, the average person may be back to normal in a week; I’ll be drained for a month. Exacerbations of my COPD, which can be life-threatening emergencies that require a trip to the hospital, are never as bad as they used to be. I haven’t needed a hospital visit since before I was diagnosed with the AAT deficiency in 2000.


Next Page: AAT deficiency is not a death sentence
AAT deficiency is not a death sentence
I’m not the typical alpha. Most people are frightened, shocked, or depressed by the diagnosis; I was amused. I always knew my lungs were in bad shape—at least now I can do something about it.

However, the diagnosis can feel like a death sentence because there isn’t a cure. Doctors too often make disgraceful statements based on little information and a lot of ignorance. Many alphas have told me about doctors saying frightening things like, “I really don’t know a lot about this genetic condition, but I can tell you that it’s usually fatal and you probably have about five years to live.”

There is no research supporting the five-years number. Twenty-year-old research suggests that half of people with severe AAT deficiency won’t live longer than 54. But I know a lot of people diagnosed in their 40s and 50s who are older than 54.

Genetic COPD is enormously underdiagnosed because people don’t know the facts. Even the most obvious cases—people like me who have severe COPD but never smoked—often aren’t tested. If they don’t get tested, they can’t be properly treated.

There may not be a typical alpha. If I’m atypical, it’s not because it took me a long time to get diagnosed; it’s because I’m healthier than most. I’m remarkably healthy for a 64-year-old who has had problems all his life. I had the great fortune of doing quite well by the time I got diagnosed. I am very, very fortunate.]]> (BOB CAMPBELL) <![CDATA[What Is COPD?]]>

COPD is a serious, long-term illness. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million Americans have COPD and it is thought that at least as many other people have COPD and don't realize it.

For more details on COPD, check out the following information from our A-Z Health Library.

]]> <![CDATA[Changes You Can Make To Stay Healthy With COPD]]>
stop smoking.

COPD is treated with medications, oxygen therapy, and lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise. If you have COPD, you also need to make an extra effort to prevent lung infections, steer clear of lung irritants (including pollution, both indoors and out), and eat a healthy diet. Losing too much weight is particularly risky to your health; if you have COPD, you may need to make an extra effort to eat healthy food and avoid shedding too many pounds.

To find out more about living with COPD, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> (ISTOCKPHOTO) <![CDATA[Why COPD Can Cause Weight Loss]]>

Whatever the cause, you may need to make an extra effort to eat enough nutritious food to maintain a healthy weight.

To find out more about how to prevent COPD-related weight loss, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> <![CDATA[19 COPD Healthy Eating Tips]]>

One tip: Try to eat while sitting up straight; this eases pressure on your lungs and makes meals more enjoyable.

For more healthy eating tips, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> (ISTOCKPHOTO) <![CDATA[A Guide to COPD in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, and Beyond]]>

While smoking is a major risk factor, more than 15% of people who develop COPD have never smoked. Specialists like Neil Schachter, MD, a professor of pulmonary medicine and the medical director of the respiratory care department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, point to pollution, dust, poor air quality, and secondhand smoke as other significant risk factors. Knowing both the risks and symptoms to watch, experts say, can help prevent the disease and slow its progression.

COPD kills more than 100,000 Americans each year, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

If you're in your 20s or 30s
A diagnosis of COPD is rare at this age. “Although we don’t see COPD in children, we do realize now that children who have asthma may be at risk of COPD later in life because of the [lung changes] that result from asthma,” explains Dr. Schachter. Whether you think you're at risk or not, people under 40 can reduce their risk of COPD by avoiding cigarette smoke, dust, and pollution.

At this age, there is one especially vulnerable group—those with a rare genetic disorder called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Only about 100,000 people in the United States have it, but it makes the lungs (and liver) incredibly sensitive to damage and can result in an under-30 diagnosis of COPD (even in otherwise healthy nonsmokers).

The problem is that many people don't know they have the gene until COPD has been diagnosed. However, if you have family members with COPD, you are at greater risk of being a gene carrier.

Bartolome Celli, MD, a professor of medicine in the pulmonary division of the Tufts University School of Medicine, in Boston, recommends that parents with COPD get tested first to check for deficiency; if they have it, their children should get checked. If you have the deficiency, says Dr. Celli, you can help prevent lung problems by avoiding dusty and smoky environments, eating a healthy diet, and getting vaccinations.

Whether you have a genetic predisposition or not, experts agree that the best way to prevent COPD is to avoid smoking, which can set the stage for a COPD diagnosis in your 40s and 50s. Smoking is responsible for about 75% of COPD deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Next Page: If you're in your 40s or 50s
If you're in your 40s or 50s
At this age, patients often begin showing COPD symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing, and excess phlegm. Symptoms sometimes mimic or overlap with asthma, and it’s important to get a correct diagnosis for the best treatment. “About 25% of people diagnosed with COPD are asthmatics who have experienced lung damage,” says Dr. Schachter.

The first thing you should do? Quit smoking. Research shows that the progression of COPD can be slowed in patients who quit the habit. If you do have COPD, Dr. Schachter recommends revamping your home to be as dust- and pollutant-free as possible: Use HEPA air filters; ditch dust-collecting wall-to-wall carpeting, space heaters, and dust ruffles; stop using your fireplace; fix areas with water damage that can breed mold; and limit contact with pets. “All of these things add up, and since people are exposed for many years, they can cause significant disease,” says Dr. Schachter. Of course, staying healthy with proper nutrition and a diet rich in antioxidants can also play a role in delaying the condition’s progression, he adds.

According to Dr. Celli, other treatment options at this stage include pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes exercise training and breathing education. Medication can help too; a recent study showed that certain COPD therapies may slow down the decline in lung function.

If you're in your 60s and beyond
This is the age when COPD can hit the hardest and cause the most disability. If you're in your 60s or older, COPD symptoms can increase in frequency and severity: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and weight loss are some of the common complaints. In some severe cases, you might also experience headaches, bloating, swelling in the legs, and confusion.

At this stage, it’s important to protect yourself against colds and other respiratory tract infections. Infections such as pneumonia can cause a sudden worsening of symptoms, known as a COPD exacerbation, which can be life-threatening. (In addition to the standard COPD symptoms, exacerbations also may be accompanied by fever and fatigue.)

Dr. Schachter recommends getting an annual flu shot and vaccinations that can protect against certain kinds of pneumonia. He also suggests less than 30 minutes of daily exercise to boost your immune system so you are less likely to develop colds and infections.

In addition to a healthy lifestyle and specific COPD medications, oxygen therapy and even lung surgery are sometimes recommended for more serious cases.

But Dr. Celli says that the best medicine is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not smoke. “If you catch [COPD] early enough, you can prevent or delay it from progression.” ]]> (ISTOCKPHOTO/HEALTH) <![CDATA[3 Types of Lung Surgery for COPD]]>

Most cases of COPD are caused by cigarette smoking, and in those instances the most important step in treating COPD is to stop smoking. COPD is also treated with medications, oxygen therapy, and lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise. If surgery is necessary, there are generally three types of surgery that can be performed, including a lung transplant.

To find out more about lung transplants and other surgeries to treat COPD, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> (ISTOCKPHOTO) <![CDATA[Drugs Used to Treat COPD]]>

In recent years, in fact, the drugs Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) and Advair (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol), which were initially designed to treat asthma, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of COPD.

There is no cure for COPD, and the lung damage that results in COPD cannot be reversed. Medications can, however, slow down the disease and provide relief from COPD symptoms.

To find out more about COPD medications, and how to take them correctly, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

]]> <![CDATA[How Quitting Smoking Can Slow Down COPD]]>

There is no cure for COPD, and the lung damage that results in COPD cannot be reversed. But the lung damage can be prevented. The best way to do this is to stop—or not start—smoking. The earlier you quit smoking the better, in terms of lung function. But it's never too late to quit. Although most people think that smoking's greatest danger is lung cancer, COPD is a close second. COPD is responsible for more than 130,000 deaths in the United States each year. (Lung cancer kills 160,000 people each year.)

To find out more about how quitting smoking now can help save your lungs, check out the following information from our A–Z Health Library.

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