Dallas County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 42

COPD

(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder)
By Joan Weems, RN
Good lungs are something that everyone can benefit from, but maintaining the health of those lungs as
we age requires some care. That is because seniors
are especially vulnerable to respiratory problems, including complications from the flu, dangerous forms
of pneumonia and chronic conditions like chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

CAUSES

WHAT IS

A cough that doesn’t go away, increased sputum
production, shortness of breath, chest tightness and
wheezing are common symptoms of COPD. Symptoms vary depending on whether chronic bronchitis
or emphysema predominates. Other symptoms such
as frequent pneumonia, frequent sinus infections,
and a history of asthma as a child are also common
in those with COPD.

?

COPD

COPD is a broad term describing diseases of the
lungs associated with limited airflow due to the
airways being blocked, making it very difficult to
breathe. It is the most common chronic airway disease among seniors, and is the third leading cause of
death in the U.S. Close to 24 million U.S. adults have
symptoms of impaired lung function, and about 13
million are diagnosed with COPD. Chronic bronchitis
affects 11 million community-dwelling people, and 5
million people are affected by emphysema.
Most cases of COPD are a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. With emphysema, the
walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed,
leading to a few large air sacs instead of many tiny
ones. The result of this is a poor exchange of oxygen
and carbon dioxide, and consequently, shortness of
breath. With chronic bronchitis, the airways become
inflamed and thickened, and there is an increase in
the number and size of the mucous producing cells.
This results in excessive mucous production, which
leads to a cough and difficulty getting air in and out
of the lungs.

Smoking is the primary cause of COPD; however,
any kind of lung irritants such as seco