COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructs the airways and decreases airflow in and out of the lungs. The disease’s primary cause is smoking, but it can also be caused by pollution, genetic conditions, and other diseases. Symptoms of COPD COPD has a wide variety of symptoms, but the most common include: Coughing Chest pain …
Understanding the stages of COPD is one of the first steps you can take in becoming more proactive in your healthcare. As your COPD progresses, continue working with your doctor to modify your treatment plan as needed. Take note of any changes you notice in your symptoms, what triggers your symptoms to worsen and how …
COPD flare-ups happen when a patient’s symptoms suddenly get much worse and cannot be relieved with their regular medications. The most common cause of COPD flare-ups is a respiratory infection. Patients and their healthcare providers can put together an action plan for how to deal with flare-ups. Sometimes, they can be treated at home. In …
A person is considered to have stable COPD when their symptoms stay more or less the same on a day-to-day basis. Some days may be better or worse than others, but their disease is under control for the most part. Those who are having a COPD flare-up do not have stable disease, but they may …
Pulmonary hypertension, or PH, is a disorder that causes the blood vessels in the lungs to get narrow and stiff. It overworks the right side of the heart as it pumps blood through the lungs, eventually causing heart muscles to weaken and potentially fail. There are many types of PH, with symptoms ranging from mild …
It is estimated that more than 16 million people are living with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the United States. Unfortunately, approximately 40,000 out of every 100,000 deaths in the United States are associated with COPD, making the disease the fourth leading cause of death in the country; it is also the fourth-most prevalent cause of …
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is actually a group of different diseases rather than a single disease itself. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two of the most common diseases involved in COPD. There are roughly 251 million cases of COPD worldwide, meaning it benefits everyone to know about this condition. What Causes …