COPD is a long-standing disease that restricts the flow of air out of the lungs. The main cause is inflammation and damage to cells and lung structures due to cigarette smoking. Read on to learn about the symptoms and other risk factors of COPD.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms
Step 1. Monitor the development of a cough
Coughing and phlegm production generally last for months or years before a checkup is done. Smoking and other COPD-causing diseases alter lung cells and structures that increase mucus production. Sputum phlegm decreases because some structures of the body become paralyzed. Chronic cough is a reaction of the body that is trying to clear the airways of phlegm and harmful chemicals.
Step 2. Be aware of increased phlegm production
When COPD develops, the body begins to produce extra phlegm and mucus to fight the disease. The mucus may be light in color, but it can change its characteristics when a secondary infection develops. Saliva mixes with the mucus which makes it very sticky and thick.
Step 3. Pay attention if you have difficulty breathing
With COPD, wheezing occurs especially when you are under exertion; this happens because COPD creates an obstruction in the airways. Difficulty breathing is often described as an inability to breathe, air hunger, or wheezing.
When the disease worsens, you begin to have difficulty breathing even when you are at rest and without the use of any energy
Step 4. Note if a 'barrel chest' develops
When air is trapped in the lungs, they are forced to expand to facilitate the exhalation of excess air. The ribs must expand to accommodate the dilation of the lungs and the chest begins to take the shape of a barrel.
Step 5. Monitor any weight loss
In the advanced stages of COPD, you may notice severe weight loss due to the constant release of inflammatory chemicals and your poor nutrition.
Step 6. Know the symptoms of centrilobular emphysema
This is one of the main symptoms of COPD. Although the other diseases recognized in COPD, such as chronic bronchitis and panlobular emphysema, have the symptoms listed above, centrilobular emphysema has its own unique symptoms. These include:
- Chronic hypoxemia (decreased oxygen levels in the body).
- Hypercapnia (excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the body).
- Polycythemia (high red blood cell count due to low oxygen levels in the body).
- Episodes of heart failure on the right side, such as peripheral edema (abnormal accumulation of fluid in the ankles, feet and legs).
Part 2 of 2: Knowing the Risk Factors
Step 1. Keep in mind that smoking is the number one cause of COPD
An astonishing 90% of COPD cases are caused by this habit. This statistic alone should be reason enough to quit smoking. The state of health and peak capacity of the lungs in adolescence gradually declines with adulthood. Times of exposure to smoke are very important in COPD. People who started smoking in adolescence are more prone to developing this disease due to the fact that they have not allowed the full development of the lungs and their capacity.
Step 2. Know that the environment is also an important factor
Prolonged and intense occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, internal and external pollution can aggravate the condition when these agents are inhaled, as they are irritating and toxic to the respiratory system.
Step 3. Check your family history
People deficient in an enzyme called alpha 1 - antitrypsin are at great risk of getting COPD. This is inherited, especially if the family has a history of COPD. Alpha 1-antitrypsin is a protein produced by the liver that protects the lungs. The primary purpose of this enzyme is to balance the neutrophil protease enzyme in the lungs that is released when there is an infection or when smoking.
Step 4. Monitor your lung health when you reach 30 years of age
Since COPD is a chronic disease, it usually appears in individuals during mature age. Symptoms begin to show between 30 and 50 years of age.
Advice
- Eliminate any irritants in your home to avoid worsening the condition.
- Always keep in mind the importance of being physically active with regular physical activity. This can increase tolerance and strengthen the lungs and lung capacity.
