COPD – Symptoms, Treatments, Clinical Trial Findings and More

Keywords: COPD symptoms, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Quick Links:

• What is COPD?
• Stages of COPD
• Symptoms of COPD
• Causes of COPD
• Treatments for COPD
• Prevention of COPD
• MedBuzz Recent Clinical Trial Findings

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used for a group of progressive lung conditions including emphysema, chronic bronchitis or chronic asthma. Many people with this condition have one or a number of these lung issues. The condition causes a narrowing of the bronchial airways in the lungs and makes it increasingly difficult to breathe. COPD takes a long time to develop, with a number of factors contributing to its development or worsening including smoking, air pollution or exposure to chemical irritants. 

Though there is no cure for COPD, being diagnosed early and getting the right treatment can allow you to manage your condition and enjoy your life. It’s estimated 30 million people in the US have COPD, with as many as half being unaware of their condition.

Stages of COPD

1. Mild

The symptoms of mild COPD are often mistaken for poor fitness, aging or a chest cold. You may experience little or no impact on your life. Some exercises might easily wear you out, and you might feel slightly shorter of breath than usual.

2. Moderate

As the condition worsens, you may notice new symptoms including increased difficulty completing everyday activities. Coughs might start becoming repetitive and worsen, along with an increased amount of phlegm production. Recovering from colds or flues might take longer at this stage

3. Severe

In severe COPD, your symptoms will likely be constant. It might be difficult to do a simple task such as walking across the room without feeling a shortness of breath. Coughing becomes more frequent and phlegm production increases. Most people during this stage struggle with going about their everyday lives.

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Symptoms of COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease makes it progressively harder to breathe. It can block airways, damage the alveoli (the tiny sacks that absorbed oxygen), or cause other complications from chronic asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis. In mild or early cases, symptoms can be intermittent and/or less severe. As the condition progresses, these symptoms become more constant and severe.

Symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath during exercise
• Wheezing
• Tight chest
• Recurrent cough with or without mucus
• Fatigue
• Frequent cold or flu
• Wheezing
• Swelling of the feet, ankles or legs
• Weight loss

Causes of COPD

Causes of this condition revolve around breathing in chemicals or pollutants, and genetics. These include:

• Smoking: In the United States, smoking causes 90% of COPD cases
• Environmental: Breathing in chemicals in the workplace, at home or elsewhere including cooking, industrial, heating or transportation fumes.
• Genetics: About 5% of people with this condition are genetically predisposed to developing the condition. More specifically, they have a deficiency in a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin which can lead to deterioration in the liver and lungs.

Treatments for COPD

Treatment for this condition is focused on reducing symptoms, and preventing complications. It cannot be cured yet, so treatment is essential to slow the disease from spreading and getting worse.

Medical treatment for COPD includes:

• Bronchodilators: Medication used to relax the muscles of the airways to make breathing easier.
• Glucocorticosteroids: A type of steroid usually added to medication to reduce airways.
• Flu vaccinations: Yearly flu vaccinations are often recommended to lower the risk of other respiratory infections for illnesses such as pneumonia. 
• Oxygen therapy: For those with low oxygen levels, you can receive supplemental oxygen via a mask or nasal cannula.
• Bullectomy: One of the major surgeries for COPD is bullectomy were a large part of the lungs are removed due to damages from emphysema. 
• Lung volume reduction surgery: Lung volume reduction surgeries can be performed which removes damaged lung tissue.
• Lung transplant: This can be an option in some rare cases

Other lifestyle changes for the treatment of COPD include:

• Quit or reduce smoking: Additionally, you should try to avoid secondhand smoke from others
• Avoid chemical fumes: In the house, workplace or environment 
• Maintain a healthy diet: To support your body’s immune system and other systems, you should be trying to maintain a healthy diet filled with vitamins and minerals.
• Maintain exercise suitable for your condition: Based on your doctor’s recommendation, maintain your exercise routine.

Prevention of COPD

The majority of COPD cases can be prevented with lifestyle changes, with most cases due to smoking. The best way to prevent COPD from developing is to stop smoking, or never start. There are a number of channels people can go through if they’re looking to stop smoking, and the best place to start to point you in the direction suitable for you is speaking with your GP about your options. 

Additionally, being aware of your environment and the quality of your working conditions is essential for a happy mind and a happy body, especially if your environment exposes you to chemical irritants. If you work in an environment that puts your lungs at risk, and you feel you’re not properly protected, speak to your supervisor or manager about getting the right equipment. 

If you have COPD, you’re wanting to prevent further complications and you’re a smoker, again your best chance at improving your quality of life and time is quitting. You should also be avoiding irritants wherever possible, such as chemical fumes or second-hand smoke. 

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MedBuzz Recent Clinical Trial Findings

We do the research so you can be better informed!

COPD trials involve both medicinal and therapeutic treatment, comparing the effectiveness of certain physical exercises with current methods of treatment, as well as new drugs showing some potential in reducing symptoms of COPD. These clinical trials are surrounding the management of symptoms, and not on curing the disease.

• Exercise: Confirming the suggestion of working in an exercise routine into your treatment based on your doctor’s recommendation, in a clinical trial of 22 patients with severs COPD researchers examined the effect of leg workouts on their ability to walk further without ventilation and the results showed a reduction in ventilator reliance. In another study, researchers examined 15 sessions of upper-body workouts on 50 COPD patients and the results showed reduced fatigue and increased exercise capacity from the participants.
• Targetted nutrition: In a study with 80 COPD patients, researchers studied the effect of nutritional supplements on the symptoms of the patients. Half were given a placebo and half were given a supplement that included leucine, vitamin D, and omega-s. The results found that those who took the supplements increased nutritional status, inspiratory muscle strength and physical activity.  Additionally, a study was completed in a university analysing the promising exercise effects of consuming beetroot juice (high in nitrates) that support on COPD patients.
• Azithromycin: A common antibiotic for pneumonia and strep throat, Azithromycin has been shown in a study to reduce the occurrence of acute exacerbations and improve quality of life when taken as a part of the treatment for COPD patients. 
• Acupuncture: In a study of 68 COPD patients in Japan, researchers have found that acupuncture appears to be associated with an improvement in dyspnea, or labored breathing.

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Sources:
Nhlbi.nih.gov
Lungfoundation.com.au
WebMD.com
MayoClinic.org
WHO.int
Aihw.gov.au