Ask The Expert | COPD Foundation Blog

Posts in the Ask the Expert Category

A Holiday Message from the COPD Coach

December 19th, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire (not a great thing for COPD)

Jack Frost nipping at your nose (also not real optimal)

Yule time carols being sung by a fire (see above)

And folks dressed up like Eskimos (if we are properly outfitted)

Living with COPD can present some challenges, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate the holidays in a meaningful and memorable fashion with a little common sense and adequate preparation. Since the thought of celebrating holidays may seem daunting, as our holiday gift to all of our readers, here are some tips to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year in style.

What are your priorities?

from Tumblr.com

In many cases we are deluged with invitations to parties or events this time of year. It is not always possible to accept each and every invitation or attend each event. This is where we have to accept some limitations. There is no shame in explaining to our family and friends that too much activity in a short period of time can be extremely taxing for us. Decide before hand which events would hold the most meaning for you, and plan to attend only those events

Don’t overdo at the events you attend!

You can still be the life of the party, without expending too much energy. If you feel the need to contribute, make sure your contribution can be done comfortably (preferably sitting down). If attending something like a concert or church service, make sure you can park close and have convenient seating. If hosting an event, rely on your healthy family members and friends to do the “heavy lifting.” Pot luck dinners are never a bad idea and allow your friends to opportunity to feel like they are contributing to the party. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready, travel and arrive at the venue early. Rushing will just cause you to get out of breath more quickly, and anxiety will hurt your breathing! Make sure you are not sitting near an area with fumes, strong scents or stale air – or especially near a fireplace!

Limit your shopping to what’s absolutely necessary.

As a person with COPD, it is never advisable to be out among large groups of people, especially during flu season. Thankfully, we are in the age of the internet where we can do much of our shopping from the comfort and safety of our home! Many of the largest retailers have excellent web sites featuring many of the items they carry in their stores that can be easily purchased, usually with free shipping! The sites also offer an easy returns and also gift certificates.

Pull, don’t carry!

If you do decided to venture out to the mall or supercenter, use a cart! It gives you something to lean on and in some cases a place to put your portable oxygen (make sure you clean the handles of the cart with an antibacterial cleaner before using). Make a list before you go so you spend the least amount of time in the store and don’t have to walk more than necessary.

Watch what you eat!

Eating too much can worsen your breathing. Pace yourself! Eat small portions so you don’t feel bloated.

Dress appropriately!

Cold weather and COPD are not usually a good combination, so dress warmly for both the expected outdoor temperatures and the indoor ones. If you use supplemental oxygen make sure that you keep your oxygen hose under a layer of clothing so that the air you breathe will be warmer. Also consider a scarf or facemask to make breathing colder air easier!

Have the tools you need.

If you use supplemental oxygen, make sure that you have an adequate supply and keep monitoring it throughout the evening. If you need to take certain medications, make sure that you have them with you and that you take them at your scheduled time. If you require carrying an emergency inhaler, make sure you keep it in a convenient location.

Know when you have had enough!

If you start to feel overwhelmed or fatigued don’t be afraid to make your excuses and leave. If you allow yourself to overdo, you will weaken your body making it susceptible to illness and might cause you to have to take down time to recover. Don’t feel guilty about calling it a night. The people who know you will be appreciative that you made the effort to attend in the first place!

To many, these suggestions may seem like common sense, but often times our holiday spirit will cause us to toss caution to the wind! Because we have breathing problems does not mean that we can’t experience the joy that comes with sharing the holidays with those we love. The Coaches Corner staff wishes you all a joyous and safe holiday season and a healthy and happy New Year!

–The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

If you would like to submit a question to the Coaches Corner email us atcoachescorner@copdfoundation.org. We would love to hear your questions and comments. You can address your emails to any of the following: COPD Coach, Caregiver Coach, COPD Doctor or COPD RT.

Tags: changing seasons, COPD, healthy tips, holidays, staying healthy | Category: Ask the Expert, Community, Faces of COPD, General, Healthy Living | No Comments » | » Share

Concerned for Her Mother’s Health

December 12th, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear COPD Coach,

My mother was diagnosed with COPD 4 years ago. She is only 63 years old. She is still smoking. I know she will not get better from COPD but I believe the smoking is negating all the oxygen and medications she takes for her symptoms. Over the past couple of months she has more fatigued legs and feet cramping and seems depressed. She stays at home in her comfort zone. She does as much as she can but simple tasks like cooking exhausts her.

She doesn’t share anything on her COPD with me and I am wondering if there are stages of COPD? I fear she may be entering a stage where I may need to become more involved.

Do you have any suggestions?

–Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

Let me begin by telling you how sorry I am that your family and particularly your mother are facing these difficulties. COPD does not only affect the person with the diagnosis, it usually has significant impact on the entire family!

You are very right in your assumption that by continuing smoking your mother is negating, or certainly significantly lessening, the effects of the oxygen and medications. By being more inactive, she is also not helping her prognosis. I have heard many stories of people recently diagnosed who, whether consciously or not, withdraw into their “comfort zone” and most amazingly continue to smoke despite the evidence that says smoking most probably caused their COPD! Those less educated about COPD will often assume the stance that “if this is going to kill me, I might as well continue what I enjoy!”

From your description of the situation at home, I believe that the time to get involved is NOW! Your mother’s continued smoking is not only destroying any benefit from the medications, it is also shortening her life dramatically!

While somewhat obvious, the first thing your mother needs to do is quit smoking. For some advice on helping her quit you may need to enlist the services of her pulmonary doctor. He might be able to provide you with a program that will allow her to quit. People with COPD often feel as if their lives are spinning out of control. Your mother should know that by quitting smoking she is taking control of the course of the progression of her COPD. It’s a known fact that quitting smoking is the number one way to slow the progression of COPD. For some advice on smoking cessation you can call our COPD Information line at 866-316-2673. The Information Line Associates are also individuals living with COPD, and can help you in your role as caregiver!

From caregivers.com

The second thing you need to talk to her doctor about is getting your mother enrolled in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Through exercise, she will train her muscles to work on less oxygen, which will in turn cause her to get less out of breath on exertion. If there isn’t a pulmonary rehabilitation program in your area, talk with your doctor about exercises your mother can do at home (and maybe with you)! An increasing level of inactivity along with low oxygen levels may well be contributing to her problems with her legs and feet, and her inability to carry out everyday tasks.

There are indeed stages of COPD. The stages are now listed as A,B,C and D, with “D” being the most severe. Usually, the need for full time oxygen would place the person at stage 3, possibly 4. How long a person remains at each stage depends on a number of factors. If they are beginning to have exacerbations (times when COPD symptoms get worse), especially ones requiring hospitalization, this can hasten the progression of their COPD. Exposure to smoking (including secondhand smoke), dust, pollution, or chemicals can also greatly hasten the progression. Remaining inactive factors in, as does not following a correct diet and medication schedule.

One of the most important aspects of COPD is education. The more you know about COPD, the better you will be equipped in the role of her caregiver. Knowing what signs to look for to ward off an exacerbation is critical, as is knowing about diet and exercise. A good source of information is our Big Fat Reference Guide.

At some point, your mother is going to have to come to terms with the decision that she can either smoke and continue on a downward spiral, or seize control of her disease and learn to live with the highest quality of life possible and be a part of the lives of her family. I don’t envy the task you or your mother face, but rest assured that we will be here if you need us.

Best regards,

The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

Tags: COPD education, pulmonary rehabilitation, smoking, Smoking Cessation | Category: Ask the Expert, Faces of COPD, General, Personal Stories | No Comments » | » Share

COPD and GERD

December 5th, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear COPD Coach,

I have just been diagnosed with COPD. I have suffered with GERD for 25 years and had Nissen wrap surgery (surgery for GERD when other treatments fail) 20 years ago. Surgery helped for awhile, but I still struggled with GERD while experiencing new COPD coughing symptoms with difficulty in breathing. I instinctively laid down on the floor with my head elevated. It seemed to slow the coughing and the sense of mucus dripping in my chest. Is there any validity to this or I’m just hoping?

Thank you,

–COPD and GERD

Dear COPD,

COPD and GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder) often occur together. Research shows that people with COPD are at far greater risk of developing GERD, and almost half of those with severe COPD also have GERD.

GERD is a digestive disorder in which the valve that keeps stomach contents inside the stomach allows stomach acids to get up into the esophagus. The disease can easily complicate your COPD symptoms. These acids are very irritating to the linings of your lungs. It is thought that GERD develops in people with COPD because they have trapped air in their chest cavities, which may then increase pressure on the abdomen, which leads to gastric reflux. It is also thought that some of the medications used to treat COPD may impair the lower esophageal sphincter which is the valve that keeps acid and food in the stomach.

From themeanings.com

According to Dr. David Mannino, one sign that the acid reflux of GERD could be affecting your lungs is if you wake up in the middle of the night gagging, especially with a sour taste in your mouth. Heartburn, coughing more frequently, coughing up mucus, and having even more trouble catching your breath all indicate that GERD is likely making your COPD symptoms worse.

While there is no cure for GERD, there are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms which include avoiding spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. Do not eat right before you go to bed, and keeping the head of your bed slightly elevated. Discuss with your doctor if there are any medications that can also help.

If you are instinctively lying down and keeping your head elevated, you are definitely improving the GERD symptoms, which will also improve your breathing. GERD mostly occurs at night while sleeping, so consider elevating your bed by putting 2X4s under the legs that support the head end of your bed. You can also purchase a inclined pillow (wedge) that will raise the upper part of your body.

The important thing to remember is that there are a number of co-morbidities related to COPD, and GERD is one of them. If your symptoms for GERD get worse, consult with your doctor because it could, in turn, affect your COPD.

Good Luck!

–The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

Tags: acid reflux, comorbidities, COPD, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder, GERD, mucus | Category: Ask the Expert, Faces of COPD, General, Healthy Living, Management | No Comments » | » Share

Questions about the Stages of COPD

November 28th, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear COPD Coach,

After having a spirometry test in October, I visited my doctor a week ago for the results. I am a smoker–but I have cut back from one pack a day to two cigarettes a day. The results of the test were that I have mild to moderate COPD. The doctor prescribed medication and gave me a peak flow meter with instructions to take a reading twice a day.

My doctor told me that there is no cure for COPD, but that I should have no further progression if I do not smoke. I went home and since, have smoked another cigarette. What would be my prognosis for getting to Stage Three? Why would you label the disease as a stage if it can be managed?

Thank you,

–Wanting Answers

Dear Wanting,

First of all, congratulations on being able to quit smoking! That’s a huge first step and often the hardest! Not smoking will not only be better for your breathing, but will also offer a lifetime of benefits to your overall health!

You doctor is right in saying that there is no cure for COPD, but that COPD can be managed. Your ability to slow the progression of your symptoms will depend on several factors. Managing COPD will involve working closely with a pulmonary professional–taking your medications as prescribed and very importantly, learning to recognize the signs of an exacerbation (times when your symptoms get worse) and getting prompt treatment before small symptoms escalate into a full-blown episode or illness (COPD exacerbation).

The importance of exercise in a person with COPD cannot be over emphasized. You should involve yourself in a regular exercise program, preferably designed by a pulmonary rehabilitation expert. By exercising you will train your muscles to work with less oxygen and as a result you will not get out of breath as easily and will dramatically improve your overall health!

Not smoking is a big step, but it will also entail staying away from second hand smoke, chemicals fumes, pollution and dust. All of these can aggravate your breathing and can lead to an exacerbation.

Education plays an important role, and can help you to take control of your life, your symptoms and your health. The more you learn about COPD, the better you will be able to recognize warning signs and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

Diet is also extremely important in managing COPD. Most people with COPD burn many calories just to breathe, so it is important to get the correct nourishment you require. A good source of information is our Big Fat Reference Guide. This guide contains all the information you will need including how to take medications, understanding test results, diet, exercise, and so much more! Another good source of information is the COPD Digest Magazine. For a free subscription, call our COPD Information Line at 866-316-COPD (2673).

Now to answer your last questions: As with any chronic disease, effects and progression of that disease vary greatly from one person to another. Many factors, such as overall health, co-morbid conditions (other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, etc.), adherence to prescribed treatment plan, and yes, even mental attitude, come into play.

Having said that, although manageable, COPD will still progress with age. The stages of COPD used to be numbered 1,2,3,4 mild to very severe, and were based on airflow limitation (how much air you can blow out in the first second of a long exhalation, found on a lung function test) alone. The COPD stages have now been updated to better reflect the wide range of limitations in individuals with COPD. These new stages are A,B,C,D and are based on three major factors: Airflow limitation, (how much air you can blow out in the first second of a long exhalation, history of exacerbation (how often you have bad episodes or illness due to COPD), and how you perceive your own limitations in activity and your level of breathlessness.

Again, it is important to understand that the COPD grading system is only meant to be used as a guideline for care, not a life expectancy! There is no time frame as to when you might progress to a different stage or how long you can stay at each stage. Remember you can be in control of COPD by taking extraordinarily good care of your health and managing symptoms as they arise, and in doing so you can greatly influence any progression.

You have begun taking the necessary steps to control and manage your COPD by no longer smoking. This is the beginning of your new journey. Rest assured we will be with you through each step until there is a cure!

Thanks for writing,

The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

Tags: COPD, COPD Digest, COPD stages, diet, exacerbations, exercise, nutrition, pulmonary rehab, Smoking Cessation | Category: Ask the Expert, General | 6 Comments » | » Share

Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7

November 26th, 2012 | Author: Katelyn Turner

This is an important time of year for individuals with COPD because it is your only chance to add new coverage or change plans with your health insurance. But, rest assured, there are tools and support resources to guide you through the process. Even if you are happy with your current coverage, you should take the time to ensure that your current plan isn’t making any big changes next year that could disrupt your health care plan of action.

If you need help, please see if you may qualify for assistance programs at www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If you think of electing a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure to check with them to see if the providers you like are accessible in the new plan, and how your co-pays for your COPD, visits and medication would be impacted.

Every question, no matter how minor, is worth asking so take advantage of the resources that have been set up by Medicare, and never hesitate to call 1-800-MEDICARE if you don’t find your answer online!

This message is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Medicare is stronger than ever with more benefits, better choices, and lower costs to beneficiaries. Expanded Medicare benefits under the health care law (the Affordable Care Act) continue to be available –including certain free preventive benefits, cancer screenings and an annual wellness visit. Whether you choose Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan – take advantage of Open Enrollment to review cost, coverage, or both for next year (2013).

More Benefits: Certain preventive benefits – including cancer screenings – are available with no cost to patients when furnished by qualified and participating health professionals. The annual wellness visit allows people to sit down and discuss with their doctor their health care needs and the best ways to stay healthy.
Better Choices: Medicare will notify beneficiaries about plan performance and use its online Plan Finder to encourage enrollment in quality plans.
Lower Costs: Average premiums for 2013 for prescription drug coverage and Medicare health plans will remain stable. People who are in the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit will enjoy approximately 53 percent discounts on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs.

Your health needs change from year to year. And, your health plan may change the benefits and costs each year too. That’s why it’s important to evaluate your Medicare choices regularly. Open Enrollment is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage. It’s worth it to take the time to review and compare, but you don’t have to do it alone. Medicare is available to help.

Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Review the Medicare & You 2013 handbook. It is mailed to people with Medicare in September.
If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get Extra Help paying your prescription drug coverage costs. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.
Get one-on-one help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit www.medicare.gov/contacts or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get the phone number.

Tags: health coverage, health insurance, medicare, open enrollment | Category: Ask the Expert, Community, Faces of COPD, Healthy Living, Management, News | No Comments » | » Share

What We’re Thankful For

November 21st, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear Coaches Corner Readers,

We are going to depart from our usual format this week and instead of answering your letters, we instead wrote a letter to you. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and in honor of the holiday, we wish to take a moment and offer our thanks to all of you. Through your encouragement and your concerns you keep us focused toward finding better ways of promoting awareness, and give us a renewed drive to identify those yet to be diagnosed, encouraging new treatments, but most importantly, someday finding a cure.

People impacted by COPD have many things to be thankful for this year. A recently completed COPDGene® Study is now in the evaluation stage. It is our hope and belief that this study will offer new and exciting insights as to the mechanisms that cause COPD which will in turn offer new and exciting treatments–and hopefully one day a cure! The COPDGene® Study will offer a wealth of information to researchers to steer their research in new directions.

We have made great gains in establishing a COPD Qualification Biomarkers Consortium that will allow for new and better treatments, enabling new drugs to be developed and available much sooner. Now that COPD has been established as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., our advocacy efforts continue to increase exponentially with more people with COPD becoming individually involved encouraging our leaders to fund more research, provide better access, and pass laws the enhance our rights to quality medical care.

From indiedesign.com

New educational materials have been developed for our COPD constituents and their professionals. Our new version of the Big Fat Reference Guide has been translated into more languages, and will soon become a worldwide tool in COPD education. In the last month we inaugurated the Pulmonary Education Program (PEP), which will allow individual pulmonary rehabilitation programs to partner with the COPD Foundation in encouraging participation and improving outcomes.

As a result over concerns of readmission following severe exacerbations, we are working with the healthcare community to develop new tools to reduce readmission. By offering new information on how to spot early signs of exacerbations people with COPD and their caregivers will have the tools they need to safeguard their health.

We are excited and thankful for the many manufacturers who are now developing new technology that not only improves our quality of life in general, but also helps improve our disease management, and dramatically addresses our mobility.

We are thankful for the many researchers who have dedicated their lives so that we and future generations will never have to experience a life of COPD. The advances and discoveries they make daily are as extraordinary as they are encouraging, and offer us true hope for the future.

The DRIVE4COPD campaign continues to spread COPD awareness across the country. The designation of COPD as the official health initiative of NASCAR™ will further increase early detection and produce better outcomes for those diagnosed.

To date, over 2.5 million individuals have been screened for COPD through the DRIVE4COPD campaign. We are pleased to announce that we have launched the 5 question COPD Risk Screener on WebMD. The COPD Risk Screener asks consumers a series of questions related to breathing in order to help individuals identify if they are at risk for COPD.

The launch of our new website will soon provide our community with an easily navigated knowledge base that will not only address what COPD is, but goes much further by providing quality information on daily management. Our COPD Digest magazine and Lung Health Professional magazine have expanded their subscription bases to keep our community up-to-date on the latest news and concerns impacting our health. Our recent acquisition of the Journal Of COPD will disseminate information to professionals and researchers to enable them to focus their efforts through shared discoveries.

Our biggest thanks should probably be for our caregivers who put their lives on hold to help us make our dreams possible.

This past year has been one of many gains, but with each gain, we are reminding of just how far we have to go. But is the past year has been anything, it has been one of possibility. Each year takes us closer to a cure and a hope that someday soon, a foundation such as ours will no longer need to exist!

Through our Coaches Corner letters, we have always stressed the importance of attitude and outlook. People with COPD strive to maintain a strong quality of life. Having COPD allows us a new appreciation of our lives and the ability to treasure those who share in our journey. That is a gift beyond measure. The COPD Foundation is truly blessed and thankful to be a part of this community. Your thoughts needs and concerns are the fuel that keeps us going.

For this Thanksgiving, we ask you to take a moment and use our forum by posting a comment of what you are thankful for this year. Please feel free to use this opportunity to thank someone who has impacted or who has brought or continues to bring meaning to your life.

With sincere wishes for a happy Thanksgiving!

The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

If you would like to submit a question to the Coaches Corner email us atcoachescorner@copdfoundation.org. We would love to hear your questions and comments. You can address your emails to any of the following: COPD Coach, Caregiver Coach, COPD Doctor or COPD RT.

Tags: advocacy, COPD, COPD Advocacy, COPD awareness, encouragement, thankful, Thanksgiving | Category: Ask the Expert, Community | 2 Comments » | » Share

Questions About COPD

November 7th, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear COPD Coach,

My wife has Stage-4 emphysema. What is the life expectancy of someone with Stage-4 Emphysema? What are the symptoms of it, i.e blood oxygen level, lung oxygen level. Which oxygen source is best, compressed or liquid? I have seen small oxygen generators advertised. Which brand is better? What is the maximum output of the small oxygen generators?

–Concerned Husband

Dear Concerned Husband,

You letter presents a number of important questions, covering a wide range of material. I will try and do my best.

Stage-4 emphysema means simply that the person has an expected lung volume of less than 30% of the predicted amount based on a healthy person of the same height, gender and ethnicity. During Stage-4, activity becomes limited and the person gets out of breath with even low-level activity. Also at Stage-4, exacerbations (times when your COPD flares up) become more common. As for life expectancy, there is no real number. People can, and do, live for many years at stage four with an acceptable quality of life. In order to accomplish this, however, they must take extraordinarily good care of their health by eating right, getting as much exercise as they can tolerate (a good comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program can really be a big help), taking medications as prescribed and seeing their doctor on a regular basis. It is also important to avoid tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, dust, pollen and pollution.

from www.copdbfrg.org

The biggest factor in keeping healthy with severe COPD is learning to spot an exacerbation early and getting the appropriate medical help! Each time a patient experiences a severe exacerbation, lung damage can occur. By catching it early you can minimize the damage.

Regarding oxygen levels, these can be variable as to time of day, weather and humidity. With that said, at rest oxygen levels should be maintained in the 90% range (the higher in the range the better). Here is where an investment in a pulse oximeter can be really helpful. One of the signs of an impending exacerbation is that often you will read a declining blood oxygen level accompanied by a higher than normal heart rate. If your wife’s O2 saturation is not staying in the low to middle nineties while at rest, you need to notify her pulmonary professional. If her oxygen level during activity is lower than usual, you should also notify her doctor. A possible solution her doctor might try would be to increase her oxygen liter flow.

As for what oxygen source would be best, that is variable according to the specific needs of each individual. If I have learned one thing since being diagnosed with COPD, it is that patients are very passionate when it comes to the type of oxygen delivery system they use. We just did a letter on this very topic that might be of interest.

For more information on COPD, diet, exercise, and how to spot an exacerbation check out our Big Fat Reference Guide. The more you learn, the better you will be prepared to spot warning signs and react appropriately!

One last source of help is our COPD Information Line. The line is staffed by caregivers and patients who have lived with COPD for a number of years. They will have a great deal of insight, and will be able to offer sound advice when needed. The information line can be reached by dialing 866-316-COPD (2673) and is open Monday through Friday 9am to 9pm EST.

Good luck and please feel free to contact us if you need any help.

The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.

Tags: COPD, COPD exacerbation, emphysema, exacerbation, oxygen, portable oxygen concentrator, pulmonary rehab, pulmonary rehabilitation, Stage 4 COPD | Category: Ask the Expert | No Comments » | » Share

Newly Diagnosed with COPD

October 31st, 2012 | Author: COPD Coach

Dear COPD Coach,

I was just diagnosed with COPD. Upon reading about it, my mother has had asthma, bronchitis often and very early emphysema. She is 94- I am 67. I never had any lung issues, although both of my parents smoked 24-7 in our home and car until I left home at 18. I never directly smoked. But I was thinking–I am a craft artist and have working with epoxy glue that I need to mix for the past 15 yrs. There is an odor, though I don’t really notice it anymore. Could this exposure have caused COPD? Should I stop? I would HATE to!

Thank you,

–New to COPD

Dear New,

While smoking and secondhand smoke is the number one preventable cause for COPD, other factors can indeed lead to development of COPD. However, long term exposure to lung irritants can damage your lungs and airways. Irritants include chemical fumes, air pollution and dust to name a few. We have heard of several people developing COPD after working in garment factories, coal mines and paint shops. Many workers at the aftermath of 911 are now experiencing COPD symptoms.

There is also the question whether COPD is genetic. We know of one genetic form called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. This condition occurs as a result of a defective gene passed on from both parents (one parent passing on this gene could result in the child becoming a carrier of the condition). Alpha-1 is characterized by having low levels of antitrypsin (ATT) which is made in the liver. Having low levels of the ATT protein can lead to lung damage and COPD. Most generally speaking, when you have a history of lung and liver disease in your family, it is encouraged to test for Alpha-1. To get more information on Alpha-1 testing call the C.O.P.D. Information Line at 866-316-COPD.

Researchers suspect that there are several more genetic links which have yet to be discovered. We do know that the susceptibility of developing COPD occurs in families. Even if you do not have Alpha-1, there may be some other genetic trait that leads to development of COPD. Because of your family history, it is extremely important to protect your lungs. Furhermore, you should have these discussions with other members of your family. If anyone smokes, you should encourage them to quit as they may be more susceptible to the effects of tobacco smoking.

From google.com

Although it is not usually the case, some people who have asthma can develop COPD. The main difference between asthma and COPD is that asthma is reversible (not curable, but temporarily reversible) with medication while COPD is not.

With all that said, there really is not apparent answer to what caused your COPD. It may well have been the cumulative result of many different factors. Certainly your early exposure to secondhand smoke could well have contributed, and certainly chemicals used in your craft work could also be a contributor. With your mother experiencing bronchitis (chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD) and early emphysema, Alpha-1 should also be considered!

Maybe the question should not be what caused your COPD, but instead be “what do I do now?” The first thing I would suggest is the test for Alpha-1. It is a simple test that can be done at home. There is a treatment for Alpha-1 that can in many cases slow down the process of the disease.

The next thing is to begin taking extraordinary good care of your health. Seek the services of a pulmonary professional (if you haven’t already), eat a balanced diet, take your medications as prescribed, watch for signs of an exacerbation (times when your COPD gets worse) and get treated early. Pulmonary rehabilitation can be very beneficial and allow you to have greater mobility without getting out of breath as quickly. Lastly, Get educated. The more you know, the better you will be able to understand your condition, determine when there might be a problem and help you adjust your lifestyle. A good source of information is our Big Fat Reference Guide.

As far as your craft work, if the fumes are indeed strong, and you are experiencing breathing difficulties after using the materials you mention, it might be better to seek alternative materials that might be less toxic. At the very least, I would certainly recommend using a special respirator or mask as most masks only filter out particles. They do not protect you against gases, fumes, chemicals or vapors. Certainly, you should only use the materials outside the home in a well venerated area. Please refer to the BFRG Section A3-12 and Appendix AA-19.

Hope this information helps!

–The COPD Coach

Ask the Expert is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice.