More than 16 million people in the US live with COPD. Millions of people likely have the disease but don't know it. Symptoms may be mild at first and worsen over time.
"Some people with COPD have a lot of difficulty breathing when they try to walk or do any type of physical activity," says Dr. Janet Larson, who studies COPD at the University of Michigan. "Some people are bothered by a persistent cough." "But many people don't recognize the symptoms or don't know that they may be due to a disease," says Dr. Prescott Woodruff, a lung specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
COPD includes two main conditions. In one, called emphysema, the tissue inside the lungs breaks down. In the other, called chronic bronchitis, the airways become irritated and show signs of inflammation. Pulmonary rehabilitation can also be used to treat the condition. These programs help you learn new breathing strategies, improve your body's endurance and strength, and move in ways that preserve your energy. They may also include mental health care and nutritional counseling.
"People with COPD tend to be some of the least physically active people," Larson says. Many feel embarrassed about not being able to keep up with other people, she explains. This may lead them to avoid activities they previously enjoyed.
More than 16 million people in the US live with COPD. Millions of people likely have the disease but don't know it. Symptoms may be mild at first and worsen over time.
"Some people with COPD have a lot of difficulty breathing when they try to walk or do any type of physical activity," says Dr. Janet Larson, who studies COPD at the University of Michigan. "Some people are bothered by a persistent cough." "But many people don't recognize the symptoms or don't know that they may be due to a disease," says Dr. Prescott Woodruff, a lung specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
COPD includes two main conditions. In one, called emphysema, the tissue inside the lungs breaks down. In the other, called chronic bronchitis, the airways become irritated and show signs of inflammation. Pulmonary rehabilitation can also be used to treat the condition. These programs help you learn new breathing strategies, improve your body's endurance and strength, and move in ways that preserve your energy. They may also include mental health care and nutritional counseling.
"People with COPD tend to be some of the least physically active people," Larson says. Many feel embarrassed about not being able to keep up with other people, she explains. This may lead them to avoid activities they previously enjoyed.
Many people with COPD have both. In the links:
BREATHE BETTER WITH COPD
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/pdfs/fact_sheet-breathing_better_with_a_copd_diagnosis.pdf .---
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2020/11/breathe-better-copd .---