From the Editor
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is a progressive disease that makes breathing hard. Progressive means the disease gets worse overtime. Our cover story is on COPD this week Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can cause coughing that produce large amount of mucous (a slimy substance), wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other symptoms like fatigue etc.
When symptoms first occur most people ignore them as they think that they are related to smoking i.e. its just smokers cough. It may be said that cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD used to smoke. Long term exposure to other irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes or dust also may contribute to COPD.
The symptoms can worsen to the point that people are motivated to stop smoking in order to control the symptoms. Others let the symptoms control them. These signs and symptoms of COPD (breathlessness, tiredness, cough and sputum production) are indication that the lungs are not normal, even though the lungs are actually responding normally to the irritation.
COPD is a major cause of disability and its the fourth leading cause of death in the US. Most of the time COPD is diagnosed in the middle aged or older people. The disease isnt passed from person to person- you cant catch it from someone else. COPD has no cure yet, and doctors dont know how to reverse the damage to the airways and lungs.
However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active and slow the progress of the disease.
