Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. The main symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. COPD is a progressive disease, meaning it typically worsens over time. In the United States, COPD affects about 16 million adults. While it’s most common in people over age 40, younger people can also get the condition. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. People who smoke are at greater risk for developing COPD than those who don’t smoke. Other causes include exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and certain chemicals or dusts. There’s no cure for COPD, but treatments can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Cigarette smoking is responsible for most cases of COPD. Cigarette smoking damages your lungs in two ways:
* Irritates and inflames the airways
* Damages the air sacs (alveoli)
Smoking cigarettes causes tar to build up in your lungs. Tar is sticky and black and made up of many harmful chemicals including carbon monoxide, cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene, arsenic von Hippel–Lindau protein etc.. Over time, this tar buildup makes it hard for oxygen to move from your lungs into your blood stream causing difficulty breathing specially when you exercise or do any physical activity . This increased effort to breathe results in fatigue and may cause you to stop participating in activities you once enjoyed because they make you too tired now . Shortness of breath caused by cigarette smoking can be so severe that it interferes with daily activities such as dressing , bathing , cooking dinner or playing with grandchildren .
COPD doesn’t just go away – It gets worse over time making it difficult to breathe even while resting . Because breathing takes more energy when you have COPD , simple daily tasks leave you feeling exhausted . As COPD progresses , many people find they cannot work full time or do other things they enjoy like taking walks , gardening or going out with friends and family members Some eventually need supplemental oxygen all day long every day just to make it through their day to – day lives In very advanced stages , some people with COPD may need a mechanical ventilator (breathing machine) at night just to sleep comfortably without waking up gasping for air People with COP