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May 2009 Do You Know About COPD? The fourth-leading cause of death in the United States is COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) – a serious lung disease affecting an estimated 24 million Americans. More than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD, and another 12 million may have COPD but remain undiagnosed despite recognizable symptoms. COPD typically affects people over age 45, especially those who smoke or have smoked, and those with risk factors associated with genetics or environmental exposures. Symptoms include chronic cough, sometimes called “smoker’s cough,” shortness of breath, wheezing, not being able to take a deep breath, and excess mucus produced by the lungs. According to a recent survey, few Americans have a thorough understanding of the disease. For example, most survey respondents (66%) did not recognize smoking as a risk factor. This was especially true among the current smokers surveyed. Just 22% recognized that their smoking puts them at greater risk for COPD. Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases COPD risk. COPD can be diagnosed with a simple breathing test called spirometry. Spirometry is not invasive and can be conducted in the doctor’s office. It involves breathing out as hard and fast as possible into a tube connected to a machine that measures lung function. If you have been diagnosed with COPD, you’ll find many treatments are available to reduce symptoms, improve breathing, and help you get back to doing activities you used to do. For more
information on
COPD, visit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. © 2009 Wellsource, Inc., Clackamas, Oregon. |
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