COPD (chronic lung disease)
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a long-term lung disease in which the airways are narrowed and the lungs are damaged, so breathing slowly becomes harder. It mostly affects adults over 40 who have smoked, or who breathed smoke from cooking fires and heaters for many years. It cannot be cured, but treatment and avoiding smoke can slow it down and ease breathing.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath, first with activity and later even at rest
- A cough that does not go away
- Phlegm most days
- Wheezing and chest tightness
- Frequent chest infections, especially in winter
- Tiredness and weight loss in later stages
Causes
- Smoking cigarettes or water pipe (chilam)
- Smoke from burning wood, dung or coal indoors for cooking and heating
- Dust, fumes and chemicals at work
- Repeated lung infections or past tuberculosis
- Air pollution in cities
Prevention
- Do not smoke; if you smoke, stopping at any age helps
- Cook outdoors or use a stove with a chimney, and keep rooms ventilated
- Wear a mask in dusty work
- Get flu and pneumonia vaccines where available
- Treat chest infections early
Treatment
- Stopping smoking and avoiding smoke — the most important step
- Inhalers that open the airways, prescribed by a doctor
- Breathing exercises and staying as active as possible
- Oxygen at home for people with severe disease
- Antibiotics or steroid tablets for flare-ups, only as prescribed
- Do not start antibiotics or other prescription medicines without a doctor
Common questions
Is it too late to stop smoking if I already have COPD?
No. Stopping smoking at any stage slows the damage to your lungs and reduces flare-ups. Ask your doctor for help to quit.
Can smoke from a sandali or cooking fire cause lung disease?
Yes. Breathing smoke from wood, dung or coal fires indoors for many years can damage the lungs in the same way as smoking. Good ventilation and a chimney reduce the risk.