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Post by David on Mar 1, 2017 23:41:58 GMT -5
COPD Causes: How Does COPD Happen and Why?
COPD causes can be difficult to determine. We’re here to help make sense of it all.
Receiving a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be devastating. In particular, what can often be most troubling is the process of figuring out what caused the disease to develop in the first place. To start, only about 20-30% of cigarette smokers will develop COPD, meaning that a great majority of those diagnosed with the disease can find themselves in a state of shock as other smokers continue smoking unaffected. When this happens, many of those diagnosed with COPD question the cause, wondering what makes them so different to be affected by the disease specifically. In truth, there are a variety of causes for COPD, but without question, the predominant cause of COPD is tobacco smoking. However, as with any respiratory condition, the lungs can be further influenced by a variety of differing factors.
With your health in mind, the Lung Institute is here to give you the information you need on COPD Causes: How Does COPD Happen and Why?
COPD Causes: A Brief Overview
When it comes to COPD causes, the largest influencer for those who develop the disease is cigarette smoking. After that, the top influencers are typically second hand smoke, air pollution, poor working conditions (for instance working in a coal mine, or construction) and your genetics. To start, even for those who do not smoke but live with others that do, an atmosphere of second-hand smoke can create a hazardous respiratory environment, leading to damage within the lungs.
For those that live in busy and polluted cities (look at Beijing, China), pollution in the air can further exacerbate the lungs and promote the development of respiratory illnesses, such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). In similarity to pollution outside, poor air conditions indoors, such as construction work conditions, can be a leading contributor to COPD development as well. Finally, although this is rare (affecting only 100,000 people in the US), the genetic condition of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can be a contributing cause to the development of the disease.
How Does COPD Happen?
COPD is actually the term for a combination of respiratory conditions. These conditions are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In the former, emphysema often causes the feeling of breathlessness in those with COPD. As the walls within the lungs are destroyed, the small airways within them collapse on exhalation hampering airflow.
In the case of the latter, chronic bronchitis is the condition of frequent and uncontrollable fits of coughing. This occurs when the bronchial tubes (tubes within the lungs) become inflamed, swell, narrow the lungs’ passageways and produce more mucus, which ultimately contributes to further lung blockage. In combination, these two conditions form the basis and pathophysiology of COPD.
Okay, So I Understand the COPD Causes: What Can I Do About It?
As we’ve mentioned before, and we’ll say again, the most influential thing you can do to stop the progression of your disease is to quit smoking immediately. At the Lung Institute, we cannot stress that enough. Each cigarette you smoke is taking roughly 7 to 11 minutes off your life, and if you’ve got COPD or another lung disease and are still smoking, it will only contribute to the worsening of your quality of life.
Assuming that you’ve already quit or are in the process of quitting, the next area to tackle is your diet and how often you’re exercising. Both of these fields are critical to a healthy life and are that much more important if COPD causes you frequent fatigue and breathlessness.
Eating healthy is the easy part. Many of us know how to do it but just don’t want to. However, if you need some help, start here.
As far as exercise, the hardest effort is really just summoning the will to get up and do it. Start slow, and give yourself a day in between to relax. Pick a schedule like Tuesdays and Thursdays, or Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and set a goal. A goal can mean walking to the mailbox or around the block. Doing 20 squats in your living room while the news is on. The key is to start small and build up from there.
Moving Forward
COPD causes can be hard to determine sometimes, but having a better understanding of your disease is crucial to treating it. As a core condition of chronic lung disease, frequent shortness of breath can have a devastating effect on your quality of life. However, by changing your diet, consistently exercising and quitting smoking, it’s possible to greatly affect the pronouncement of symptoms within those with COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. When lifestyle changes fail to improve your quality of life in the way that you may expect, it may be time to consider stem cell therapy. Rather than simply addressing the symptoms of lung disease, stem cell therapy may directly affect disease progression and may improve quality of life.
Read more: lunginstitute.com/blog/copd-causes-how-does-copd-happen-and-why/
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Post by higgs on Mar 2, 2017 23:16:35 GMT -5
I admit smoking plays a large part in the cause of a lot of COPD but I personally believe that genetics plays an equal role. My Mother had 6 sisters all raised in the 30's and 40's when smoking was cool, and "hip" ladies took up smoking. Four of the sisters smoked, all 7 of the sisters developed lung and breathing problems. After WW2 22 children were raised 6 girls and boys. Of the boys 10 have COPD including 4 who never smoked. (3 of the remaining 6 who are clean at this point did smoke ??) Of the girls only one I know of has COPD. My old doubles partner in tennis still smokes off & on and he hasn't developed anything as yet and he will be 80 this year. The luck of the draw and genetics ? But in the end I know mine was caused by all the stuff I smoked over the years. Glad I quit when I did 30 years ago. Just my 2 bits. ;-)
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Post by David on Mar 3, 2017 0:33:50 GMT -5
I agree with you Higgs, there is more to it than cigarettes. I got my disease in the oilfield. It was work related.
I believe genetics plays a role also.
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Post by ozboy on Mar 3, 2017 5:47:28 GMT -5
I have no family history of any Respiratory Disease, although my Father's side most of the men smoked....Mine is almost 100% caused by 3 things.....Working with Toxic Chemicals in the Sign Industry, the years from 1970 - 2000 before the Health & Safety workplace law was seriously enforced...My 6 years in the smog, pollution and general apathy towards healthcare in the Philippines and Smoking...... Even with all that...the much ignored fact that every day we breathe in known poisons via car exhaust fumes, general household contact with aerosols, mould, un-serviced air conditioners and heaters....to name a few... Attachment Deleted |
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Post by higgs on Mar 4, 2017 15:46:45 GMT -5
I can agree with both of those comments. The air we inhale especially if you live in or near a large city doesn't do us any good. The chemicals I used when I first started work might have worked better than their replacements but they were pure poison for the lungs,and other parts of the body. "Live and Learn" We didn't have the technology or the knowledge to know better back then. Many of the household cleaners we used to use either have been changed chemically to keep their names or are off the market.
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Post by judi on Mar 5, 2017 0:46:35 GMT -5
My brother and I were the only ones who didn't quit smoking before age 40, an aunt did quit but lived with a heavy smoker. We all got lung cancer, no one else did. I am the only one who survived.
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Post by jarca on Mar 7, 2017 1:14:53 GMT -5
I will never say that smoking is "good", but I do think that articles that put such an emphasis on smoking being the cause of COPD gives those that don't smoke the impression that they are 'safe" from this disease.
I think it also can cause some people that get COPD that have smoked in their lives to blame themselves or make them feel like they deserved it.
I grew up in a small town that was supposedly "safe from pollution" in the city.
My family didn't smoke, although i was a heavy smoker. I was also tested for the "Alpha 1 antitrypsin" gene & I so not have that.
In the History of both sides of my family, no blood relative ever had Lung Cancer or COPD. Until my non smoker (mormon) sister was diagnosed with COPD (emphysema & pulmonary hypertension) in 2009.
Then i was diagnosed in 2010 with copd (emphysema).
I'm sure there was some "commonality" that we don't know of though.
The part of the information that bothers me more than the above "causes" of copd is the answer to it at the bottom;
As much as I feel that someday stem cell therapy will be the answer to many diseases, including copd, it hasn't been proven to help yet. The Lung Institute is known for misleading advertisements and information concerning stem cell treatment for the lungs. (in fact it seems there is a law suit pending against them at this time)
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Post by David on Mar 7, 2017 20:11:29 GMT -5
Yes, we have to be careful when we read an article. Lots of truth was in that article but on the other hand the Lung Institute promotes stem cell treatment.
Like my Pulmonary doctors. They have lots of good articles on COPD but in the end they promote lung transplants. Which are not easy and probably not any better than stem cell treatment.
Doctor told me a lung transplant might add 5 years to my life but most transplants do not take. Most don't make it the first year. You may not find a match or you just may not be a candidate. I think the only people who benefit from a transplant is young people. A lot of them have to have double transplants.
So I have chosen not to pursue either one. I still read article's and use common sense when I do read them.
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