The main cause of COPD… is tobacco smoking.
You Need To BreatheNovember is COPD Awareness Month
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in America nowadays. Despite it being so popular, half of the estimated 24 million who have it don’t even know it. COPD permanently damages the airways and air sacs in the lungs.
COPD is a general term that describes progressive respiratory diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. This disease manifests as progressively decreasing airflow and inflammation of airway tissues.
Asthma is usually considered a separate respiratory disease, but the symptoms are sometimes mistaken as COPD. The two have overlapping pulmonology manifestations, including chronic coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
The main cause of COPD in developed countries is tobacco smoking. COPD comes on gradually and worsens over the years. People get so used to living with COPD, they are not always aware of their symptoms and how the disease limits their quality of life and ability to do things. You can help by looking and listening for these telltale signs:
- Constant coughing, sometimes called “smoker’s cough”
- Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities
- Excess sputum
- Feeling unable to breathe
- Unable to take a deep breath
- Wheezing
- Red lunula
- Barrel chest
As soon as you notice the signs and symptoms, make an appointment with a pulmonology health care provider. If you notice such symptoms in a loved one, remind them that the sooner COPD is diagnosed, the better they will be able to breathe and live. To lessen anxiety, offer to go along to the doctor’s visit.
Most of this Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease information is provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Visit COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov for information, tools and other informative resources.
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To support the writing of useful articles about this topic, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about this topic. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about this topic by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.
