If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

OVERVIEW

What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

COPD is a disease that makes it hard for you to breathe. The two main types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis happens when there is an increase of swelling and mucus in your airways. (The airways are the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs.) This swelling causes your airways to narrow, making it harder to push air through them. Emphysema happens when the walls of the air sacs inside your lungs are damaged. This traps air inside your lungs. It can make you feel short of breath.

COPD develops slowly and gets worse over time. When COPD is severe, it can interfere with basic tasks. These include doing light housework, walking, or even washing and dressing.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of COPD?

COPD can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Chronic (long-lasting) cough
• A cough that produces mucus
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
• A tight feeling in the chest
• Not being able to take a deep breath.

COPD symptoms start slowly. They get worse over a period of years if not diagnosed and treated early. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to complications. These could include heart problems (irregular heartbeat and heart failure), high blood pressure, and respiratory infections. Infections can further damage your lungs.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What causes COPD?

COPD is caused by damage to the lungs. This type of damage typically occurs when you regularly breathe in irritants over a long period of time. This includes:

• Air pollution
• Chemical fumes
• Gases
• Vapors
• Mists
• Dust
• Tobacco smoke (including second-hand smoke)

The majority of COPD cases are caused by smoking.

You are at higher risk of developing COPD if you smoke or are around second-hand smoke. Your risk also increases if you have long-term exposure to things that irritate your lungs. This could include certain chemicals, air pollution, or dust. Some people have a genetic condition that can cause COPD, even if they have never been exposed to lung irritants.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

How is COPD diagnosed?

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of COPD. Your healthcare provider will ask you will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may place a stethoscope on your chest and back to listen to you breathe.

An important test to diagnose COPD is called a spirometry test. This simple, non-invasive test measures the amount of air you can blow out of your lungs. It involves breathing into a tube that is connected to a machine. The machine measures how much air you are able to blow out.  You may be asked to repeat the test multiple times in order to get a good reading.

The spirometry test will tell your healthcare provider if you have COPD and how severe it is. It can also be used to determine if something else is causing your symptoms, such as asthma or heart failure. Your spirometry reading will help your healthcare provider decide on the best treatment for you.

PREVENTION

Can COPD be prevented or avoided?

In most cases, COPD is an avoidable disease. The best way to prevent COPD is to not smoke. You should also limit your exposure to things that can irritate your lungs over time. This includes second-hand smoke, air pollution (avoid being outside on days when air pollution is high), chemicals, and dust.

TREATMENT

If you are at risk for COPD, an early diagnosis is key. Death from COPD is preventable with early diagnosis and treatment.  Treatment includes:

Lifestyle changes: Stop smoking if you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or e-cigarettes. Don’t smoke anything.

Medicines: Your healthcare provider may prescribe one or more medicines to make you feel better and help you breathe. These medicines may include:

• Oral antibiotics – to treat infections.
• Bronchodilators- inhaled medicine to relax the muscles around your airway.
• Oral or inhaled steroids – to control the inflammation in your lungs and help you breathe.

Inhaled medicines involve a small, handheld canister that you carry with you. You can use the medicine as needed or as your healthcare provider has advised. Ask your healthcare provider if you should use a spacer. This is a small, hollow device that helps you inhale more of the medication into your lungs where it is needed.

Some inhaled medicine is given through a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a machine that turns liquid medicine into a vapor that you breathe in. It is commonly used to treat people who have more serious COPD. It also helps people who have trouble using handheld inhalers.

Immunizations: Certain immunizations can prevent dangerous respiratory infections, such as the flu and pneumonia. These infections can cause serious problems for people with COPD.

Oxygen therapy: You may have to use oxygen on a regular basis to help you breathe. This involves wearing a mask or nasal prongs and having the oxygen tank with you to use as you need or as your healthcare provider has advised.

Pulmonary rehabilitation: This is a combination of therapies to help you manage your disease and improve your quality of life. A team of health professionals will help you create a plan to help you feel better. Your plan may include a diet and exercise program, breathing strategies, and ways to conserve energy.

Surgery: This is rare. This could involve a lung reduction operation or a lung transplant. This is usually a treatment of last resort.

Everyday Life

COPD is a lifelong condition. But there are things you can do to manage your symptoms.

One thing you should do is work with your healthcare provider to develop a COPD Action Plan. A COPD Action Plan can help you recognize when your symptoms change. It also tells you what actions to take when they do. It is important to follow your plan every day, so make it part of your daily routine.

You play an active role in managing COPD symptoms through lifestyle changes. Managing symptoms can also slow the progression of the disease. If you have COPD, you should:

• Avoid things that irritate your lungs. If you smoke, quit. Also avoid air pollution, chemical fumes, dust, and second-hand smoke.
• Get ongoing medical care. It is important that you see your healthcare provider regularly. Take the medicines that they prescribe. Contact your healthcare provider or make an appointment if you have any questions, new symptoms, or worsening symptoms.
• Manage your disease. Make lifestyle changes to minimize the effects of your symptoms. Do activities slowly. Find simple ways to do daily activities, such as cooking or cleaning. Wear clothes and shoes that are easy to take on and off. Ask for help instead of trying to do everything yourself.
• Prepare for emergencies. Talk to your healthcare provider about what symptoms signal an emergency. That way, you’ll know when to call your healthcare provider or go the emergency room. Keep phone numbers on hand for your doctor, the hospital, and someone who can help you get medical care. Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms are getting worse, if you have signs of an infection such as fever, or if you’re having trouble breathing.
• Get emotional support. Living with COPD can be hard. You may feel anxious, depressed, afraid, or stressed. It can help to talk to someone about your feelings. You may talk to a counselor or join a support group. Family and friends can also help. Don’t be afraid to tell others how you feel.

Remember that early diagnosis can lead to proper treatment, which can help you feel better. The longer you let your COPD go untreated, the worse you will feel. Serious COPD will make it difficult to be physically active. This will affect even the simplest of activities, such as dressing or shopping.

COPD symptoms may make you feel fatigued (overly tired). Having difficulty breathing also interferes with eating. Your healthcare provider may discuss a plan for diet, nutrition, and supplements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Lung Association
Toll Free 1-888-566-5864
https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/lung-disease/copd/treatment

Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/chronic-diseases/chronic-respiratory-diseases/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd.html