COPD: 2022, Thief of Breath, is an ambitious title for a blog article of this length. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a scary diagnosis for patients. In this blog, FLASS will disclose some of the conditions of this mysterious breath-stealing Disease.
Breathing is a Treasure. Recognize Your Risk From the Thief of Breath (COPD).
We call it the thief of breath because “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) makes breathing increasingly more difficult.” It sneaks up on patients slowly, like a robber intent to steal quality from the days of your life.
You see, this disease is stealthy. “It develops slowly over many years, and you may not be aware you have it at first.”
Thus, by the time, “most people realize they have COPD, they are in their late 40’s or 50’s…Then they still might not have noticeable symptoms.
Thus, let’s list some symptoms or clues of COPD, so you or a loved one can recognize this thief if you see it in yourself or a loved one.
Main symptoms from the COPD 2022: Thief of Breath
Many books and online resources will tell you the common symptoms of COPD. Let’s take a quick review.
- Breathlessness: You will find yourself increasingly dealing with breathlessness. For example, at first, it might come on when you are exercising. Then, you will notice you “sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless.”
- Persistent COPD Cough: This type of cough is persistent. It is also a “chesty cough with phlegm that does not go away…”
Look at your medical records. If you see consistent, frequent chest infections, the repetitive infections could mean you have COPD.
A More Intense Symptom: Beware of The Thief with a Wheeze
If You Have COPD, Breathing In or Out Can Become Painful and Difficult. To Fight the Thief, Get Treatment as Early as Possible.
Wheezing or whistling in your chest is also a symptom you have COPD. But it can mean other respiratory conditions as well. So do not self-diagnose. Check out this symptom with your doctor
- These symptoms have one thing in common: They will gradually but deceptively worsen over time. These Symptoms will “make daily activities increasingly difficult, although treatment can help slow the progression.”
Introducing Your COPD 22 Companion: Exacerbation
The long word “exacerbation” simply means that there are going to be times when your symptoms get worse. They flare up, and your doctor will call these periods “exacerbations.”
Actually, after a certain point, you can expect them to be called flare-ups. You will find it “common to have a few flare-ups a year, particularly during the winter.
Rules for your COPD 2022 Exacerbations
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The Mayo Clinic states that you should stay home and refrain from normal activities. Most difficult, perhaps is that you should “avoid other people during an exacerbation.”
They also explain, “It’s typically caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke.”
Likewise, we want you to understand that “People with COPD are at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer, and a variety of other conditions.”
Education is good Medicine: Know Your Enemy if it is COPD 2022
Here at FLASS, we don’t tell you these symptoms to create anxiety. We only want to warn you of the dangers of COPD, the Thief of Breath. If you have COPD, we caution you to take extraordinarily good care of yourself.
COPD 2022: The Thief of Breath and More Symptoms
Not every symptom is about breathing. This disease can likewise bring you unique symptoms you might not notice.
- You might have unintentional and sudden weight loss.
- Fatigue and extreme tiredness can overwhelm you.
- Your ankles become swollen “from a build-up of fluid (edema).”
Mayo Clinic sums up the most advanced state of COPD like this: In the advanced stages, patients experience chest pain.
They often cough up blood in stage 4 COPD. When the thief of breath strikes, he often brings “friends,” like repeated chest infections, and even lung cancers.
Keep in mind these additional dread symptoms only tend to happen when COPD reaches an advanced stage. That’s why we implore patients to take action at the very beginning of their symptoms.
Reach for Help: You Can’t Fight the COPD: Thief of Breath Alone
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You can’t fight COPD by yourself. “See your doctor if you have persistent symptoms of COPD, particularly if you’re over 35 and smoke or used to smoke.”
Be aware there are several conditions that cause similar symptoms. You could have asthma, bronchiectasis, anemia, or heart problems.
A simple breathing test and a discussion with your doctor can help determine if you have COPD. But you will never know unless you see a doctor.
- You see, there is currently no cure for COPD.
- However, “the sooner treatment begins, the less chance there is of severe lung damage.”
FLASS wants you to know research and patient care work hand-in-glove. And this means a longer, higher quality life for you.
Every day, research is bringing us better treatments and medications to help victims of the thief of breath, COPD 2022.
In the next blog, you will be hearing more about the treatments and medicines we use to fight the thief of breath. We’re here to help you live a longer, larger, life in spite of COPD 2022.