Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Treating Emphysema
and Bronchitis
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Coping with the degenerative lung condition
known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is
a difficult challenge. But diagnostic methods
and treatments have advanced to the point where
millions of people are living productive lives
while managing their condition. This Special
Health Report describes the two most common forms
of the disease, emphysema and chronic bronchitis
and provides information on the latest treatments
and coping strategies.
Prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications
in consultation with Steven Weinberger, M.D.
professor of medicine and faculty associate dean
for Medical Education, Harvard Medical School,
executive vice chair, Department of Medicine,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Claudia
R. Levenson, M.S., P.T., C.C.S., senior physical
therapist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
37 pages.
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Table of Contents:
- What is chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease?
- What is chronic
bronchitis?
- What is emphysema?
- How does it develop?
- The biology of
emphysema
- The biology of
chronic bronchitis
- Chronic bronchitis
or asthma?
- What causes it?
- Smoking
- Genetic factors
- Air pollution
- The role of infections
- Diagnosing chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
- Medical history
and physical exam
- Pulmonary function
tests
- Chest x-ray and
CT scan
- Laboratory tests
- Treating your condition
- Bronchodilators
- Corticosteroids
- Immunizations
- Medications for
special situations
- Oxygen therapy
- Surgery
|
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- What to expect
at pulmonary rehab
- Living with lung
disease
- Prevent respiratory
infections
- Exercise regularly
- Do breathing
exercises
- Eat and drink
regularly
- Other things
you can do
- Patient-to-patient
tips
- Advanced lung disease
- Treating advanced
illness
- When to call
the doctor
- Advance care
planning
- On the horizon
|
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Here's
an Excerpt from this COPD Special Health Report
Many people have never heard of it but chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of
the most serious and widespread diseases of our
time. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is
the label that doctors use for the often overlapping
problems of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
If you have either or both of these lung diseases,
you have COPD. It is the fourth leading cause
of death in the United States, after heart disease,
cancer, and stroke. And it is the only one of
these illnesses that is becoming more common.
It's also the only one that's almost entirely
preventable. That's because nearly all cases
are caused by smoking, at least in the United
States and other developed countries. While being
a smoker is by far the main cause, passive smoking
can also contribute to the disease, especially
if you live with a smoker for many years.
About 16 million Americans have chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, and each year roughly 110,000
people die of it. By comparison, each year lung
cancer is diagnosed in 170,000 Americans and
claims about 150,000 lives. Cancer kills faster;
about 85% of people with lung cancer die within
five years of their diagnosis. But people with
COPD often live for many years. Because of this,
the disease's greatest toll is the tremendous
amount of disability it causes. Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease is one of the main reasons
for days lost from work and permanent disability.
In addition to cutting your working years short,
it can also sap you of the strength and stamina
for leisure activities, such as travel, exercise,
and even socializing with friends.
Doctors once assumed that chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease was untreatable. Fortunately
that view has changed. In the last 20 years,
researchers have learned an enormous amount about
the underlying biology of the disease. With this
information, doctors have found medicines and
other therapies that can help control the symptoms
and enable you to remain active and independent
for many years. Just as important as these treatments
are pulmonary rehabilitation techniques, such
as exercise therapy, that can help renew your
strength and energy.
In this report, you'll learn about the most
effective treatments and rehabilitation strategies.
You'll also find patient-tested tips for coping
with the symptoms and limitations of the disease.
And you'll read about promising research on potential
new therapies. There is no cure for chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, but one of the priorities
of research is to reduce its damage. As our understanding
of the disease continues to improve, so do the
prospects for innovative new forms of treatment.
In the meantime, if you are a smoker, the single
most important thing you can do is quit smoking.
Quitting reduces your risk of developing chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. If you already
have COPD, quitting will limit its progress and
enable you to get the most out of your treatment.
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