Do you know anyone with COPD? If you live in America, there’s a good chance you do. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 12 million adults had diagnosed COPD in 2014, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States. However, according to Albany, NY’s Urgent & Primary Care, millions more may have the disease without even realizing it.

To protect yourself from COPD, you need to know the facts. Below, this practice’s skilled family care physicians address the disease’s three most important characteristics: symptoms, risk factors, and prevention.

What Are the Symptoms?

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is not one condition, but rather a group of diseases that obstruct airflow in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The most common types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis and it most often affects adults over 40. 

Emphysema causes the air sacs or alveoli in your lungs to weaken and eventually rupture, reducing both the surface area and the functionality of the entire structure. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, causes your lungs’ bronchial tubes to inflame and fill with thick mucus. Although they affect different structures, both strains of COPD result in similar symptoms including chronic coughing, shortness of breath, respiratory infections, and general fatigue.  

What Are the Risk Factors?

Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and related strains of COPD also share three common causes. The first and most prevalent risk factor is smoking. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxins that, when burned, narrow air passageways and destroy alveoli, thus contributing to the formation of the disease. In fact, according to the American Lung Association, cigarettes cause between 85 to 90 percent of all cases. Women smokers are also more likely to develop COPD than men because estrogen reportedly worsens the disease. 

COPD can also result from contaminants in the environment. For example, if you work in an industrial setting and are often in contact with pollution, secondhand smoke, or toxic fumes, your lungs are at risk.

The final risk factor is also the rarest. Your body typically produces a protein called Alpha-1 that protects your lungs from inflammation. However, some individuals carry a gene that interferes with their ability to create it, often leading to Alpha-1 deficiency-related emphysema.  

What Are the Steps for Prevention?

The first step to lowering your risk of COPD is to avoid cigarettes. If you don’t smoke, you’ve already decreased your chances by a staggering amount. If you are currently struggling with a tobacco addiction, ask your family care physician for tips on how to cut back and eventually quit smoking altogether.

On the other hand, for those who work or live in an environment with significant amounts secondhand smoke or other airborne irritants, Urgent & Primary Care suggests you try to limit your exposure. If that’s not possible, they also recommend investing in a respirator or other forms of protective gear.  

Lastly, if your family has a history of Alpha-1 deficiencies, you should avoid all of the above contaminants. Additionally, you should receive regular lung screenings to ensure your respiratory system is in top condition.

With the right knowledge on hand, you too can lower your risk of developing COPD. To learn more about the disease, call Urgent & Primary Care at (518) 463-8262. To schedule an appointment with one of their primary care doctors, visit them online today.