Who gets COPD?
The disease is most common in people over 40 years of age. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD with occupational dust exposure being a secondary cause. Exposure to certain dusts and chemicals, or pollution for a prolonged period can increase your risks of getting COPD. There is also a group of people who have a rare hereditary disorder that makes them more susceptible to COPD. These people do not produce the enzyme alpha-1 antitrypsin, which helps break down mucus in the airways.
If you are a current smoker or an ex-smoker, you should not ignore the symptoms of COPD. The sooner you start treatment, the better the results of this treatment may be. The questions presented below will help you find out whether you may have COPD.
1. Do you cough several times most days?
2. Do you bring up phlegm or mucus most days?
3. Are you out of breath more easily than other people your age?
4. Are you older than 40 years?
5. Are you a current smoker or an ex-smoker?
If you have answered YES to 3 or more of these questions, ask your doctor if you might have COPD and should have a simple breathing test called spirometry. For more information about this test, please go to the section: "How COPD is diagnosed?"
How is COPD different from asthma?
COPD is similar to asthma, but it is not the same disease. Medicines can usually reverse the affects of asthma, but COPD is a progressive and irreversible disease.
The only way to be sure you have COPD rather than asthma is to have a spirometry test. Ask your doctor about this test and how it can be performed for you.
Does COPD change over time?
COPD is a progressive disease, and so it tends to get worse over time. As breathing becomes less efficient, it is increasingly difficult for people to do their daily activities. Women appear to deteriorate faster than men. If you stop smoking, you can reduce this rate of decline.
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