| Winter and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | | | | * Chronic, persistent cough |
| (COPD) | | | | * Increased mucus |
| As winter draws near, people with respiratory | | | | * Shortness of breath, especially during physical |
| problems are waiting with bated breath. The winter | | | | activity, but can occur at rest |
| months often cause an exacerbation or acute | | | | * Wheezing |
| worsening of COPD symptoms, often leading to other | | | | * A tight feeling in the chest |
| illnesses and even hospitalizations. I have seen first | | | | While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated. |
| hand that a large percentage of hospital admissions | | | | The most important thing to do is to stop smoking. |
| this time of year are COPD patients. Even my mother | | | | There are several medicines that make breathing |
| suffers from COPD. | | | | easier, including steroids or inhalers. Many people with |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the | | | | COPD will eventually need to use supplemental |
| fourth leading cause of death in the United States. | | | | oxygen. |
| It’s believed that by 2010, COPD will move up to | | | | It is important to diagnose COPD as early as possible. |
| third place. | | | | Sometimes the subtle symptoms can be dismissed as |
| COPD refers to a group of lung diseases such as | | | | signs of aging, leaving it undiagnosed until quality of life |
| chronic bronchitis and emphysema that interfere with | | | | has rapidly deteriorated and more than 50 percent of |
| breathing. These diseases cause lung damage and | | | | lung function has been lost. Unfortunately, many people |
| decrease the lung’s ability to take in oxygen and | | | | don’t know they’re at risk, further delaying |
| remove carbon dioxide, resulting in severe breathing | | | | diagnosis and treatment. |
| difficulties. COPD is progressive, meaning that it grows | | | | If you or anyone you know is at risk for COPD, see |
| worse over time. It’s nearly always caused by | | | | your doctor and learn more about about symptoms |
| smoking. | | | | and treatment options at the American Lung |
| COPD can cause a variety of symptoms, including: | | | | Association. |