What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that causes air flow limitation (less air in and out of the airways) and breathing-related symptoms. There is no cure, but there are ways to manage and treat COPD.

Key Points

• COPD is chronic. In other words, you live with it every day.
• It is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time.
• COPD is diagnosed by reviewing your medical history, a physical examination and examining your spirometry test results.
• Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common types of COPD. You can be diagnosed with both of these, and this is also called COPD.

How COPD Affects Your Body

Not everyone with COPD has the same symptoms. At first, you may have no symptoms or mild symptoms. As your COPD gets worse, you may have more symptoms like a cough that may bring up sputum (mucus or phlegm) or shortness of breath.

With COPD, less air flows in and out of your airways for one or more reasons:

• Airways in your lungs become narrowed due to being swollen (inflamed) and thickened
• Walls between your air sacs are destroyed
• Airways and tiny air sacs lose their ability to stretch and shrink back
• Airways make more mucus, which can clog them and block air flow

When less air flows into your lungs, less oxygen gets into your body tissues. Oxygen, one of the gases found in the air we breathe, is vital for our lungs and organs to work properly. Oxygen is exchanged for waste product or carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is removed from the blood stream when you exhale. When it becomes harder to get air in and out of your airways, you may have more breathing-related symptoms.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Elk Grove, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today at (916) 897-4752

James Ozsvath

Aging Assistant is a locally owned and operated in-home senior care provider, we are dedicated to helping our clients to remain in the home they love for as long as they can. Our caregiving staff are all warm and compassionate professionals, experienced in taking care of seniors in various stages of health. We handle a wide range of services, such as help with shopping, housekeeping, attending doctor’s appointments, and preparing meals. We also provide our clients with limited mobility or more intensive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia with the higher level of personal care that they require. Call our team now if you need help with a loved one's care.

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