While COPD notably occurs in smokers, some people may, in part, develop COPD due to a genetic predisposition. “Genetic COPD means that … a trait was passed on from your parents that contributes to or causes COPD,” says Jeremy Weinberger, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
Intergenerational associations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been well recognized and may result from genetic, gene environment, or exposure to life course factors. Consequently, adult offspring of parents with COPD may be at a greater risk of developing COPD.
COPD does not usually become noticeable until after the age of 35 and most people diagnosed with the condition are over 50 years old. See your GP if you have the following symptoms: increasing breathlessness when exercising or moving around.
COPD Risk Factors
COPD is often referred to as a "smoker's disease" however although smoking is one of the main risk factors for developing COPD, people who never smoke may also develop COPD. Other risk factors may include: A history of childhood respiratory infections. Smoke exposure from coal or wood burning stove.
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD in the United States. Long-term smoking or exposure to breathing in tobacco smoke or pollutants in the air damages the lungs and airways.
The exact length of time you can live with COPD depends on your age, health, and symptoms. Especially if your COPD is diagnosed early, if you have mild stage COPD, and your disease is well managed and controlled, you may be able to live for 10 or even 20 years after diagnosis.
It is usually diagnosed after age 40, but some people have it for years without realizing it. No matter how old you are when you're diagnosed, knowing what to expect from COPD throughout your life can help you manage it. Lifestyle changes and treatments can slow the disease's course and make it easier to live with.
"COPD is a disease with a lot of moving parts," says Albert A. Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. "It's not a death sentence by any means. Many people will live into their 70s, 80s, or 90s with COPD.”
Respiratory Infections, such as a cold, flu or sinus infection, are the most common causes of triggering increased COPD symptoms and may lead to a COPD flare-up or exacerbation. Some ways to protect yourself include washing your hands often and avoiding people who are sick.
COPD can get worse from an infection (such as a cold or pneumonia), from being around someone who is smoking, or from air pollution. Other health problems, such as congestive heart failure or a blood clot in the lungs, can make COPD worse. Sometimes no cause can be found.
This low impact activity (meaning it's easy on joints) can improve the body's ability to use oxygen, build endurance, strengthen muscles, and enhance an overall sense of well-being. A regular walking routine also can make it easier for someone with COPD to be more self-sufficient and better able to tolerate exercise.
You can do a little checking yourself with a stopwatch. Take a full breath; hold if for one second. Then, with your mouth open, blow out as hard and fast as you can. Your lungs should be completely emptied – meaning that you can blow no more air out even though you try– in no more than 4 to 6 seconds.
Stage 1: Mild COPD
"During mild stage COPD, you may feel out of breath during light physical activity, like doing housework or walking up the stairs," says Dr. Hatipoglu. "A hacking cough that produces mucus is also common," he adds.
Which has worse symptoms? Because emphysema is a late stage of COPD, the signs and symptoms are similar. If you have emphysema, you are already experiencing COPD symptoms, though earlier stages of COPD will not have as dramatic an impact as the degree of tissue degeneration is minimal.
Most common early warning symptoms:
shortness of breath. cough that may bring up sputum (also called mucus or phlegm)
Some people can live with mild or moderate COPD for decades. Other people may be diagnosed with more advanced COPD and progress to very severe disease much faster. Some of this boils down to genetics. But some of it is due to how much you smoke or smoked and the level of lung irritants you are exposed to.
Although COPD is terminal, people may not always die of the condition directly, or of oxygen deprivation. Some people with COPD have other medical conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease. In fact, within 5 years of diagnosis, COPD is also an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death.
By improving your lifestyle, you can live a long and full life with COPD. A common misinterpretation is that 'Chronic' means really bad or extreme rather than long term. Individuals who exercise more and maintain a healthy weight can experience less severe symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life.
According to one 2021 study, crackling sounds are common in COPD. There are two distinct types of crackling sounds detectable in the lungs: coarse and fine. Coarse crackles are more typical of COPD and present as prolonged, low pitched sounds. Fine crackles are more high pitched.
One of the most common symptoms associated with COPD is cough, which can severely impact a person's quality of life. A COPD-related cough is often productive, which means the person coughs up sputum or phlegm. However, some people with COPD may have a dry cough. This includes those who have COPD and asthma.
What is emphysema? Emphysema is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time. The other main type of COPD is chronic bronchitis.