COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema is in common terms called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Obstructive means that there is “something” blocking the airflow in the bronchial tubes, preventing us from freely breathing in and out.

Chronic Bronchitis means that you have had coughing with phlegm for more than three months during the last two years. The main cause of COPD is smoking, but other air pollutions can also cause the disease.

The condition is caused by chronic infection in the airways, with expanded glans and increased production of mucus (also called sputum). After a while scar tissue is developed in the bronchial tubes as well.

Emphysema means that the internal structure in the alveolus's are damaged. Many patients with Emphysema has Chronic Bronchitis as well.

Signs and symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD. Chronic coughing with phlegm. Wheezing in the chest. Exertion leads to heavy respiration, which will worsen over time. Breathing more rapidly than before Reduced PEF (Peak Expiratory Flow) A sudden change (for the worse) of symptoms is usually connected with an acute infection with virus or bacterias.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD Treatment

General advise Stop smoking. This is the single most important thing you can do to your self if you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Both the coughing, sputum and difficulties with breathing will improve if you stop smoking.

Drink lots of water. The fluid will help dissolving the mucus and makes it easier to get rid of. Get rid of the sputum. Try to “cough it out” regularly, preferably several times a day. To treat symptoms of thick mucus, a mukolytic (or mucus thinner) such as guaifenesin can be used. Guaifenesin will thin the mucus and may decrease cough. Antibiotic. With an acute deterioration of the symptoms, an infection of the bronchial tubes, caused by virus or bacteria, can be treated with antibiotic.

COPD Medication

Mild COPD For persons with Mild COPD (or First Stage COPD), treatment should first of all start with the identification and avoidance of the various risk factors. When needed, if you have an attack or are short of breath, short acting inhaled beta-agonists such as albuterol can be used if the symptoms cannot be controlled by eliminating the risk factors. The medicine will “expand” the bronchial tubes, makes it easier to breath and will work for 2 – 4 hours. Vaccinations against flu (influenza) and pneumonia (pneumococcus) should be administered.

If this is not enough it is common to try Atrovent (Ipratropbromid). Especially among older persons this drug has proven good results.

Moderate COPD Persons with Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also called Second Stage COPD, will in addition to receiving the therapy described for Mild COPD, typically also be treated with 1 or several long-acting bronchodilators (such as salmeterol or formoterol), inhaled anticholinergics such as ipratropium (Atrovent), or theophylline. An inhaled combination product containing both anticholinergics (ipratropium) and beta-agonists (albuterol), Combivent, may also be used.

Severe COPD Persons with a Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Third Stage COPD) will in addition to treatment described in Mild COPD and Moderate COPD, be treated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids. Inhalation - steroids can be necessary for persons which have to use short acting medications more than 3 times pr. week. These medications will reduce the inflammation and infection in the glands and bronchial tubes and makes it easier to breathe. The medication does not have an immediate effect, but needs to be take regularly, usually 2 times pr. day. It starts to have effect after 1 – 4 weeks of treatment. To avoid side effects like hoarseness and fungus in the mouth, it is important to rinse the mouth after every inhalation. For acute treatment, the procedure and medication is as with Mild COPD.

Very severe/ Late Stage COPD Patients with Very Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Late Stage COPD will in addition to the treatment as Mild, Moderate and Severe COPD, need oxygen treatment or surgery.

Oxygen treatment can be administered at home if the oxygen absorption is severely reduced causing respiratory failure.

Surgery will be needed if the patient develops severe respiratory failure.

The major surgical procedures include: Bullectomy - removing a part of the lung which is damaged. Lung Volume Reduction Surgery - parts of the lung are removed to stop the lung from overly increasing in size. This procedure has limited effectiveness and is not widely used. Lung Transplantation - replacing a damaged lung or lungs with healthy donor lungs.

This has been an introduction to COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease


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