Myths and Facts

Some ex-smokers opt for cosmetic procedures to improve their damaged skin. Laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels can remove outer skin layers where damage is most obvious. Some doctors recommend that patients treat themselves to this type of procedure after quitting, suggesting that it provides strong motivation to stay tobacco-free.

Living with COPD can be very difficult, but there are ways that can help you diminish symptoms and slow the progression of COPD. Although several have been described in the preceding slides, here is a list of ways to improve your daily life:

A healthy diet can help lessen symptoms of COPD. Obesity can make breathing and daily chores more difficult, while being too thin may cause weakness. Your doctor or a nutritionist can give you some guidance about a healthy diet for you. The following are some general dietary suggestions:

All people with COPD are usually advised to exercise, even those on supplemental oxygen. Walking is considered by most clinicians as the best form of exercise to begin with and to develop endurance. Patients can start slowly and gradually increase their endurance.

Typically, a bullectomy is meant for patients with COPD related to emphysema. When the air sac walls are destroyed, larger air spaces (bullae) will form. A bullectomy will remove the bullae and allow some lung expansion.

COPD lowers oxygen in the blood. As COPD progresses, many people have oxygen levels so low that they get short of breath doing simple, everyday tasks like walking a few steps or just standing up for a few minutes. These people with COPD usually get some relief with supplemental oxygen administered through nasal tubing. Using oxygen at home for more than 15 hours a day can increase quality of life and help COPD patients live longer. Care must be taken when near someone using supplemental oxygen because it is flammable. Smoking, lit candles, or other open flames or sparking items (such as sparklers or gas cooking flames) should not be near someone using supplemental oxygen.

This exercise involves breathing in through the nose (as if smelling something) for about two seconds. Then, purse the lips (like you are whistling or kissing) for two to three times longer than when you inhaled. Repeat as needed. This exercise makes exhaling easier for the person, and they also are able to extend exhalation, which provides improved oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange.

It is possible to significantly slow COPD progression and to improve breathing with pulmonary rehabilitation classes. Part of this rehabilitation includes stress management and breathing control techniques. Pulmonary rehabilitation classes are taught by specialists who help improve one's physical condition as well as how to manage COPD after completing the course. Pulmonary rehabilitation will educate clients on breathing techniques, medications, nutrition, relaxation, oxygen, travel, and how to stay healthy and avoid COPD exacerbations.

There are many different inhalers available that may contain one or more medications to reduce or relieve COPD symptoms (bronchodilators, corticosteroids or combinations of both medications). For example, Spiriva contains tiotropium while Stiolto Respimat contains tiotropium bromide and olodaterol and is a once-daily inhaler available to COPD patients. This treatment relaxes muscles in the airways to improve breathing, but it should not be used to treat asthma. Stiolto Respimat is proven to be more effective than Spiriva or olodaterol alone.

Spirometry is a test that measures how much air you can move in and out of your lungs over a short period of time, and is used to test for COPD. Spirometry involves breathing into a large hose connected to a machine, called a spirometer. The test can identify early COPD, and even help determine the stage of COPD in the patient. The test also shows how well certain medicines improve a person's COPD symptoms.

An important part of the diagnosis of COPD is the physical exam, the patient's breathing history, smoking history, and family history of COPD. The first simple, non-invasive test performed is usually with a pulse oximeter (shown in the picture on this slide). Oximetry measures the amount (% saturation) of oxygen in your blood. It is a way to test how much oxygen is being sent to parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as the arms and legs. The pulse oximeter is placed on a body part (finger, ear lobe) and uses light to measure the oxygen levels.

Many patients with COPD also develop chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs every day and causes inflammation of the airways, mucus overproduction, and frequent viral or bacterial infections. Since smoking is often the cause of chronic bronchitis, the "smoker's cough" is a likely sign of COPD and chronic bronchitis. Treatment for chronic bronchitis can include bronchodilators, steroids, and oxygen therapy. Quitting smoking and avoiding air-borne bronchial irritants is also suggested.

Smoking and secondhand smoke plays a significant role in causing COPD. About 85% to 90% of all COPD deaths are related to smoking. The other causes are related to environmental irritants (pollution), and a rare few are genetically passed through family members (for example, people with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency [AAT] are more likely to develop COPD symptoms).

Fact: To***co is by far the biggest threat, but air pollution is a risk factor, too. People who live in areas with a lot of it are more likely to get lung cancer than those who live where the air is cleaner. Many U.S. cities have cut down on air pollution in recent years, but there are still dangerous levels in other parts of the world.