Q&A: What's COPD?

Your nose is filled with mucus, and you may have trouble catching your breath. And it can be especially hard to breathe when it’s too cold outside and even drier indoors. If doctors rule out asthma, you may suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a common lung condition that makes it hard to breathe. Lori Sutterer is a registered respiratory therapist at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Mo. We asked Sutterer to give some insight about this disease.

What is COPD?

It’s an umbrella term that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. With emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs lose their elasticity. This causes air trapping, which leads to low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels then cause shortness of breath. When you have chronic bronchitis, your lung’s airways become inflamed and fill with mucus. The mucus blocks the airways, which leads to chronic coughing.

How is COPD diagnosed?

We can get results from a chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, or lung function test. The PFT measures the amount of air a person can move in and out of their lungs, and at what rate. Lung function testing includes an FEV1, which is generally low with emphysema patients. FEV1 stands for Forced Expired Volume, which times how much air someone can move in the first second of exhalation. A lung function test may also include a diffusing capacity test, which measures how well the lungs exchange gases. If someone has a low value on that test, they may have emphysema. Symptoms and PFT results help distinguish bronchitis and emphysema.

What are symptoms?

• A cough that produces a lot of mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

If you have COPD, you also may have colds or the flu often.

How are these diseases treated?

To keep the lungs working, people can get inhalers or nebulizers, which help intake medications through a mist. Oral medications and oxygen are also sometimes necessary.

How can people with COPD help themselves?

Quitting smoking will prevent it from getting worse. Pulmonary rehab is a great resource for not only exercise, but pulmonary education, as well. Get a flu shot yearly to prevent further inflammation. Practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs and catching a cold. Education is key with the disease’s management, and the American Lung Association is also a valuable resource.