Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a catch-all term for a group of lung conditions. It included breathing conditions such as emphysema, which is damage to the air sacs in the lungs, and chronic bronchitis, which is the long-term inflammation of the airways.
It happens when the lungs and airways become damaged and inflamed. The condition causes breathing problems, but it may go undetected in some people because the symptoms occur slowly over time, gradually making everyday activities more difficult.
There are several factors that might give you an increased risk of COPD. But it is usually associated with long-term exposure of the lungs to harmful chemicals. Therefore, the common causes are:
If you have COPD, you may find that symptoms get worse over time during daily routines. Symptoms might get worse quickly and suddenly, known as a ‘flare-up’ or an ‘exacerbation’.
The common signs and symptoms of COPD are:
The less common symptoms of COPD are:
These symptoms can be indications of something more serious, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, anaemia and heart failure, so it's important to seek medical attention, especially if you're a smoker or are over the age of 35. A simple breathing test can help determine if you have COPD.
To make a diagnosis of COPD, your Welbeck specialist will examine your chest and listen to your breathing using a stethoscope. They may ask you about your symptoms, and whether you smoke or used to smoke. They will also calculate your body mass index (BMI) using your weight and height and ask if you have any family history of lung problems.
They may also carry out further diagnostic tests such as:
While there’s currently no cure for COPD, the sooner treatment begins, the better chance you have of reducing your symptoms as well as the risk of any severe lung damage.
If you are diagnosed with COPD and smoke, the most important thing to do is to stop smoking. Other forms of treatment include:
Your doctor may also treat you with pulmonary rehabilitation, which is a specialised programme of exercise and education. In some severe cases, surgery or a lung transplant may be an option. Your Welbeck specialist will discuss the various treatment options with you.
At Welbeck, our respiratory specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Yes, while smoking is the leading cause of COPD in countries with high standards of living, globally, the burning of biomass (organic matter from plants and animals) in poorly ventilated environments is a significant cause. Non-smokers can also develop the condition due to other risk factors, including chronic inhalational exposure to harmful chemicals or a genetic predisposition to injury, such as with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, whereby patients are unable to repair damage to the lungs effectively.
If you have COPD, it’s important to be aware of what you’re breathing in, and although giving up smoking can be difficult, it is critical, and your GP or respiratory doctor can provide you with advice, and in some cases medications to help you achieve this. Avoiding certain things like dusty places, polluted areas, and smoke (cigarette smoke, incense, bonfires, etc.) whenever possible may help to reduce your symptoms and the chances of having a flare-up.
With the right medical treatment, good self-care, vaccinations to minimise the risk of infections, and stopping smoking, it’s possible to live a happy and long life with COPD. Getting fitter by exercising more and completing programmes such as pulmonary rehabilitation is also very important for patients with COPD. Some things may be more difficult, such as specific exercise, and you may get more infections, which can slow you down, but doing what you can to look after your health can help limit the severity of your symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no current cure for COPD, and while damaged airways and lung tissues can’t heal, with the right treatment, your symptoms can be effectively managed. For selected patients, interventional bronchoscopic treatments are suitable, with novel approaches expanding the number of people able to benefit.
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Causes
Smoking, fumes and dusk from work, air pollution...
Symptoms
Breathlessness, persistent cough, wheezing, recu...
Tests
Chest x-ray, blood test, electrocardiogram (ECG)...
Treatments
Pulmonary rehabilitation, inhalers and tablets
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