COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a long term lung disease that refers to both chronic emphysema and bronchitis. COPD is the third leading cause of death. In 2014, almost 15.7 million Americans reported that they had been diagnosed with COPD
Causes of COPD: Smoking is a main cause of COPD. Air pollutants in the workplace and at home, genetic factors, and respiratory infections are also a cause for COPD. Unhealthy eating also makes it easier to cause COPD.
Signs/Symptoms of COPD: Shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, having to clear your throat first thing in the morning due to mucus in your lungs, coughing mucus, blueness in lips, frequent respiratory infections, lack of energy, swelling in ankles, feet, or legs, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
Things to prevent COPD: Avoiding smoking, vaccines, antibiotics, eating well, oxygen therapy, lung surgery when needed, pulmonary rehabilitation.
Things to treat COPD: Stopping smoking, medications such as bronchodilators and theophylline, lung therapies, and surgery all can stop COPD.