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COPD

Causes, symptoms & treatment

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, all characterized by breathing difficulties. COPD flare ups or attacks happen when symptoms are exacerbated over a short period of time (<48 hours).

What Causes COPD?

In the vast majority of cases (80-90%), smoking is the primary cause of COPD. There are a few additional risk factors to consider, though.

  • Exposure to dust
  • Second-hand smoke
  • Air pollution
  • History of childhood respiratory infections
  • Genetics
  • Asthma

COPD Symptoms & Complications

Common symptoms of COPD include:

  • Persistent cough
  • Cough with mucus
  • Shortness of breath
  • Colds and/or flu that last longer than normal
  • Wheezing
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss

Symptoms of a COPD flare up include:

  • Unusual increase in shortness of breath
  • Increased cough
  • Increased mucus production
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen ankles
  • Confusion
  • Blue lips or fingers
  • Chest pain

When to See a Doctor

The Canadian Lung Health Test can help smokers and former smokers over 40 determine if they are at significant risk of developing COPD. If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you should make an appointment with your doctor to be assessed for COPD.

  • Do you cough regularly?
  • Do you cough up phlegm regularly?
  • Do even simple chores make you short of breath?
  • Do you wheeze when you exert yourself (exercise, go upstairs?)
  • Do you get many colds and do your colds usually last longer than your friends' colds?

If you have any of the symptoms of a COPD flare up, seek medical attention immediately.

How to Diagnose COPD

Getting a thorough medical and health history is the likely first step your doctor will take. From there, they may recommend one or several tests including spirometry (breathing test), a chest x-ray, or oximetry (to measure oxygen in your blood).

COPD Treatment

There is no cure for COPD, but a combination of early diagnosis, lifestyle changes, and medication can effectively treat the symptoms. Together with your doctor, you may create a COPD action plan that outlines your treatment options. One of the most important elements of COPD treatment is smoking cessation. If you smoke, your doctor can help you quit. In advanced cases, a lung transplant may be considered if the patient does not smoke and meets certain other criteria.

Top Prescribed COPD Medications

There are five main classifications of drugs that are used for the treatment of COPD, each with their own set of pros and cons. Patients should discuss their unique symptoms with their doctor to get appropriate guidance as to which medication (and dosage) is most likely to work for them.

    Bronchodilators

      Beta2-agonists
    • Salbutamol (Airomir)
    • Terbutaline (Bricanyl)
    • Formetarol (Foradil)
    • Indacetarol (Onbrez)
    • Salmeterol (Serevent)
    • Salbutamol (Ventolin)
      Anticholinergics
    • Ipratropium (Atrovent)
    • Umeclidinium (Incruse)
    • Glycopyrronium (Seebri)
    • Tiotropium (Spiriva, Respimat)
    • Aclidinium (Tudorza)
      Combination Inhalers
    • Umeclidinium + Vilanterol (Anoro)
    • Ipratropium + Salbutamol (Combivent, Respimat)
    • Aclidinium + Formoterol (Duaklir)
    • Tiotropium + Olodaterol (Inspiolto, Respimat)
    • Indacaterol + Glycopyrronium (Ultibro)

    Corticosteroids (Medrol, Prednisone)

    Antibiotics

    Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (Roflumilast)

    Supplemental Oxygen