Early COPD Symptoms
Could you have COPD?
More than 11 million Americans have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the American Lung Association. Another 12–24 million may have the condition without realizing it. Could you be one of them? It’s not always easy to tell. Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to those of other conditions. When symptoms first occur, some people ignore them, thinking they’re related to something less serious. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of COPD don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred.
Current or former smokers or people who’ve had frequent exposure to other irritants are at risk for developing COPD. These irritants can include:
- secondhand smoke
- air pollution
- workplace fumes
- sawdust or other aerosolized particles
Your doctor will give you a physical exam and order tests to determine if you have COPD.
The tests include lung function tests to measure your breathing.
The tests can also help rule out other conditions. Only a doctor can diagnose COPD, but there are some symptoms of early COPD to watch for.
Most people with COPD develop symptoms that cause them to make appointments to see their doctors. The severity of your symptoms depends on the amount of lung damage you have. However, it’s possible to have lung damage without having any symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms.
One of the first signs of COPD is usually a long-term or chronic cough. Coughing helps to protect the airways from inhaled irritants such as cigarette smoke.
It also helps to remove phlegm (mucus) from the breathing passages. Although the lungs are responding normally to irritation, a chronic cough is an indication that the lungs aren’t functioning normally.
In COPD, coughing usually goes hand-in-hand with a second early-stage symptom: the production of a large amount of mucus or phlegm. Your lungs produce mucus to help trap or keep inhaled irritants out. Tobacco smoke and other irritants can lead to the production of up to three times the normal amount of mucus.
Shortness of breath or a feeling of breathlessness is when your lungs take more effort than usual to move air in and out. Initially, breathlessness may occur only with increased physical activity, such as playing sports or walking uphill.
Fatigue, or tiredness, is another common symptom in people with COPD. You may find that you get tired more easily than you did in the past.
A loss of energy or stamina may also occur. If you feel more tired than usual, talk to your doctor to determine if it’s a result of COPD.
There is no cure for COPD, but for many people, it can be treated effectively. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial to helping control symptoms. If you have these symptoms, especially if you are a former or current smoker, don’t delay: see your doctor
COPD Associated with Increased Risk for Mild Cognitive Impairment
Researchers identify risk factors for MCI, the earliest phase of Alzheimer’s disease.
Older adults diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be at a higher risk for mild cognitive impairment, which can eventually lead to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology.
“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while progressive, is a potentially treatable and preventive disease characterized by chronic airflow limitation,” study author Michelle M. Mielke told Healthline. “Chronic airflow limitation can cause hypoxemia and hypercapnia. These conditions could increase the risk of cognitive impairment. However, few longitudinal studies examining the relationship between COPD and the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have been conducted.”
There has also been limited research as to whether the relationship between COPD and MCI is specific to the type of MCI patients develop.
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Two types of MCI exist, each classified by the thinking skills affected.
The first is known as amnestic MCI, which affects memory and may cause a person to forget information easily recalled in the past, like recent events or conversations. The second is non-amnestic MCI, which affects thinking skills other than memory, including the ability to make level-headed decisions, judge the time, or conceptualize the steps needed to complete a certain task, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We found that COPD was primarily a risk factor for non-amnestic MCI,” Mielke said. “We also found a dose-response relationship indicating that the longer a person had COPD, the greater their risk of developing MCI.”
According to study authors, older adults who had COPD for more than five years had the greatest risk of developing MCI.
“These findings highlight the importance of COPD as a risk factor for MCI and may provide a substrate for early intervention to prevent or delay the onset and progression of MCI, particularly non-amnestic type,” the study authors wrote.
In order to determine the association between COPD and MCI, researchers examined 1,425 people, ages 70 to 89, from Olmsted County, Minn., with normal cognition in 2004. At baseline, 171 patients had been diagnosed with COPD. Out of all the participants, a total of 370 developed MCI: 230 had amnestic MCI and 97 had non-amnestic MCI. Twenty-seven patients had MCI of an unknown type and 16 developed dementia.
After about five years, researchers followed up and determined that COPD increased the risk for non-amnestic MCI by about 83 percent. The patients who had COPD for more than five years had the greatest risk for MCI.
“This research further suggests that COPD is associated with risk of MCI,” Mielke said. “A next step is to understand the exact mechanisms by which COPD increases the risk of MCI.”
COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the
MCI is also prevalent in the U.S., affecting about 10 to 20 percent of those aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It can also lead to Alzheimer’s disease, which affects more than 5 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Identifying risk factors for MCI, the earliest symptomatic phase of Alzheimer’s disease, may help to identify ways to delay or prevent the onset of dementia, especially in the absence of a curative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease,” Mielke said.
While there is currently no cure for COPD, certain lifestyle changes and treatments can help prevent and slow progression of the disease.
“It is important to aggressively treat COPD early, in an effort to prevent or delay the onset of MCI,” Mielke said. “It is also important to regularly assess cognitive function among people who have COPD.”
Cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of COPD. But long-term exposure to lung irritants like pollution, chemical fumes, or dust can also lead to COPD.
Symptoms of COPD vary for each individual, but some of the most common signs, according to the NHLBI, include: an ongoing cough, or a cough that produces a lot of mucus, shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, chest tightness and wheezing.
“Lifestyle is important and may help to prevent or delay both COPD or MCI,” Mielke said. “This includes regular exercise, eating right and maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking.”
For those who have been diagnosed with MCI, the Alzheimer’s Associations suggests regular exercise, controlling cardiovascular risk factors, and participating in mentally stimulating and socially engaging activities to help slow the progression of mental decline.
The Great American Smokeout and National COPD Awareness Month Help Smokers Quit
National COPD Awareness month and the Great American Smokeout provide smokers in the U.S. with support to help them kick the habit this November.
If you are one of the nearly 44 million Americans who have yet to kick their smoking habit, November might be the perfect time to put the cigarettes out for good.
On Thursday, November 21, the American Cancer Society (ACS) will hold the 37th annual Great American Smokeout. In 1976, the California Division of the ACS encouraged nearly 1 million smokers to give up cigarettes for the day. The success of the first Great American Smokeout prompted the ACS to expand the program to the rest of the U.S. the following year, turning the third Thursday of November into a day when Americans can support one another in the fight to quit smoking.
According to the
The ACS reports that smoking is not only responsible for nearly a third of all cancer deaths but also for about a fifth of deaths from all causes. Changes in attitude toward tobacco usage have helped the percentage of American smokers over the age of 18 drop from more than 42 percent to close to 18 percent. Though many states now have laws that restrict smoking in public areas, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 U.S. adults still smoke.
The ACS believes that even quitting for a day is a step in the right direction toward a healthier lifestyle.Starting a Dialogue About COPD
November is also
The University of Maryland Medical Center estimates that cigarette smoking accounts for around 80 percent of all COPD cases. With more than 120,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone, COPD
In an effort to educate patients and health care providers of COPD, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has launched the
James Kiley, director of the NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases, hopes that increased awareness of the disease will encourage more patients and health care providers to discuss symptoms and treatments for COPD in the doctor’s office.
“It’s no secret that early diagnosis and treatment can improve daily living for those who have COPD, but you can’t get there without an open line of dialogue in the exam room,” Kiley said
Although there is no cure for COPD, lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, exercise, and a healthy diet can lessen the symptoms of the disease. You should also speak with your doctor about medications that can also help.Additional Tips to Keep You Smoke-Free
While the task of giving up cigarettes might seem daunting to many current smokers, the ACS offers these tips to help you stick to your goal after the clock strikes 12 during this year’s Great American Smokeout:
- Seek out support in the form of smoking cessation hotlines or stop-smoking groups in your city or online.
- Look into counseling to give you an additional, professional support system.
- Ask your doctor about prescription medications, including Bupropion or Chantix.
- If counseling or medication aren’t possible, there are many books out there that can help.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist about nicotine replacement products, like patches or gum.
- Talk about quitting with friends and family. Don’t underestimate the power of positive reinforcement and encouragement from loved ones.
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