The most significant symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath that could be detected while making some exercise or walking up stairs. Capacity of exercise would be key factor for self suspicion as you may easily notice that your exercise time started to decrease while time passes. Until getting the late stages of the emphysema, symptoms of emphysema would not detected simply without making exercise and acute shortness of breath is unlikely to seen without particular exercise. But when the case reached to late stages, shortness of breath could be seen while you’re asleep and daily activities might be affected.

In some of the cases emphysema could be seen with cyanosis which can be simplified as blue skin. Cyanosis is a medical condition that can be seen with deficient oxygen. For instance after the exercise, lips or fingernails of some emphysema patient turn to blue that could be easily detected by patients. As cyanosis is seen with lack of oxygen, it may be seen temporary and it’s not a severe health condition.

In the emphysema patients, air would be held in obstructed airways which lead to larger chest and called as barrel chest. This phenomenon could be basically seen when patients hold their breath to see if their chest is abnormally huge.

Most of the emphysema patient shows a great effort while they are trying to exhale entirely. This is seen because their lungs hold some of the air after breathing. In order to increase the pressure on their obstructed airways, they squeeze their lips with only little opening. After that, exhalation would be performed more efficiently and easily. This kind of exhalation symptoms are seen with emphysema which is key component and different from other lung diseases.

In some cases, mucus production could be seen which may lead to cough or wheezing. Especially periods of cough might be one of  symptoms of emphysema, but there are other conditions that involve this symptom. Therefore, you should see a doctor for testing weather it is emphysema or other conditions such as bronchitis.

You can check your fingers weather it is clubbing. This phenomenon maybe result of chronic respiratory conditions. The main reason is the assembling liquids around the fingers and should be examined and tested by doctors.

Even the emphysema symptoms may gradually increase; you might notice and check this medical condition at early stages with seeing a doctor. Especially if you have shortness of breath for months and go from bad to worse when you do exercise. Also daily activities might be interrupted such as having hard time while speaking because of the lack of breath or your heartbeat is excessively increased that make you suspicious. If you have other significant emphysema symptoms, such as blue lips or fingernails, periods of cough, or finger clubbing; you should see your doctor to prevent any possible disease.

COPD > Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease > Emphysema">COPD

COPD stages are described due to disease’s severity by Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). COPD stages are classified by using a test called spirometry and are separated into four stages; mild, moderate, severe and very severe.

Spirometry is a machine (also known as Pulminary Function Test-PFT) and used to measure forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) test result. If you have a test result FEV1 of 100%, it means your lungs are healthy.

COPD STAGES in FOUR HEADINGS

COPD Stages I: Mild COPD

COPD Stage I is mild COPD. In this stage, your forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) test may be 80% or higher than 80%. This test result indicates mild airflow limitation. Generally, patients have a constant cough and mucus from the lungs. These are common symptoms of mild COPD. In the mild COPD, patient may not be aware that airflow is limited.

COPD Stages II: Moderate COPD

In COPD Stage II, the symptom is also constant cough with a lot of sputum. Patients have shortness of breath (especially with exercise). Moderate COPD symptoms are worse than mild COPD. Lung function FEV1 test result is between 50% and 79% of normal values.

COPD Stages III: Severe COPD

COPD Stage III typically involves severe restraint of respiration, tininess of breath and frequently COPD exacerbations. Lung function FEV1 levels would be restricted in 30% to 50% interval. Moreover, there would a significantly decrease in physical activity associated with tiredness character. If the patient is severe COPD, they may probably undergo with recurring and occasionally COPD inflammations. One of the common symptoms could be the continuously cough associated with high amount of mucus.

COPD Stages IV: Very Severe COPD

COPD Stage IV become very severe and risky, and, thus decreases the life quality with vital COPD exacerbations. Lung function FEV1 levels might lower that than 30%. If chronic respiratory failure is seen which is frequently seen in these patients, FEV1 level might lower than 50% and associated with severe heart problems such as pulmonary heart disease. One of the frequent symptom might be the continuously cough associated with high amount of mucus. Generally, at this stage, advanced COPD symptoms become the critical issue as used for discrimination factor for COPD stages. By the time, stage IV is reached, weight loss, blue skin color, oedema in the feet and legs, and severe tininess of breath would be detected. In addition, COPD inflammations become life-threatening at this stage of COPD.

Spirometric Categorization (with Spirometry)

Normally, lung capacity decreases for every 10 years about 5 percent after the age of thirty five. Therefore optimum values of FVC and FEV is dependent of several factors such as age, height, sex and race. It has seen that Caucasians, men or taller people would get higher lung function values. In addition, it is accepted that higher that 80% is normal for lung functions.

If you are at one of these COPD stages, you must go to a doctor and get Pulmonary Function Test – PFT.

COPD > Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease > Emphysema">COPD

COPD treatment is changeable due to patient’s general medical situation and treatment options are generally a combination of the treatments mentioned below.

COPD Treatment Guidelines

Stopping Smoking

There is a correlation between smoking and lung damage in COPD so the most important step to treat COPD is stopping smoking. It helps to slow down your COPD symptoms. If you do not quit smoking and breathe dirty air, COPD may become more progressive. In the other hand, not just stopping smoking, you should also stay away from second-hand smoke.

Stopping smoking is enough alone for treatment of COPD in early stages. If COPD gets worse, patients need additional treatment. Doctors may help for treatments of stable COPD, end-stage COPD treatment, and COPD exacerbation treatment.

If you quit smoking, you can try these useful options:

•  Nicotine Replacement Therapy: These are nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine sprays, nicotine sublingual tablets, and nicotine lozenges, nicotine inhalers. Nicotine patches and nicotine gum are common used as a nicotine replacement therapy.

•  Antidepressant Therapy: Using drugs such as bupropion or nortriptyline may help smoking cessation.

•  Clonidine (Catapres): It has not been approved by FDA to stop smoking. Clonidine is normally used to treat high blood pressure in medicine. It decreases the desire of smoking.

Medication

The COPD guidelines recommend listed medications below for treatment for COPD.

• Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers: It is used to open airways. Inhalers prevent to be breathless. The guideline recommends someone with COPD should use bronchodilators.

Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers contain two main groups:

- Beta-agonist inhalers: Such as salbutamol (Asmasal, Salamol, Airomir, Salbulin, Pulvinal Salbutamol and Ventolin) and terbutaline (Bricanyl). Their colors are generally blue.

- Antimuscarinic inhalers: Such as ipratropium (Atrovent).

• Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers: These are similar to short-acting inhalers.

Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers types are:

- Beta-agonist inhalers: Such as formoterol (Foradil, Atimos, and Oxis) and salmeterol (Serevent-colored green. It is possible to use short-acting bronchodilator inhalers with these long-acting bronchodilator inhalers.

- Antimuscarinic inhalers: Tiotropium (Spiriva) is colored green. Patients should not use this medication with ipratropium (Atrovent).

- Inhaled corticosteroids: The guideline also recommends using inhaled steroids for COPD patients have poor lung functions or have exacerbations. Using inhaled steroids decreases inflammation of lungs.

Examples of steroid inhalers are:

Ciclesonide: Alvesco.

Beclometasone: Clenil Modulite Beclazone, Becodisks, Asmabec, Pulvinal Beclometasone. Their colors are generally Brown and rarely red.

Fluticasone: Flixotide. Its color is yellow or orange.

Budesonide: Novolizer Budesonide, Easyhaler Budesonide, and Pulmicort.

Mometasone: Asmanex Twisthaler.

Antibiotics: Antibiotic usage is for chest infections.

Expectorants: It is used for mucus.

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy may be needed especially for cases that enough amount of oxygen is not taken in their standard day and for severe COPD cases. Several tests could be taken to account when deciding the therapy. First of all, the amount of oxygen in patient’s blood is measured, and swelling in limbs is checked and if elevated blood pressure is seen in patient’s lungs oxygen therapy could be a long term and in some cases short term option. Approximately 16-17 hours of oxygen treatment is needed for efficient therapy. In hospital, oxygen could be taken with the mask or nasal tubes that places around patient’s nostrils.

Patients should not try to smoke when they are taking oxygen with their masks, nasal tubes or portable oxygen. There is a risk of fire or explosion of oxygen, it should be gently treated.

If patient will use oxygen therapy at home, oxygen concentrator (for long term therapy) would be a good option as it increases the oxygen rate in home air as removing other gases from air. Oxygen concentrator is a large machine and work with simple electricity, and emergency conditions are supported with oxygen tanks that would supply the oxygen needed even the electricity is gone. Also other alternative is portable oxygen (for short term therapy) especially when patients are not in their home, but short term usage is suggested or especially after the vital breath problems. Long term usage could be problematic for COPD patients.

Pulmonary rehabilitation

As chronic lung problems become chronic, pulmonary rehabilitation is generally decided. According to each patient, physical exercise program is constructed and breath regimens are revised with professionals. The programs can increase the capacity of exercise duration; reduce the time that wasted in hospital and increase the general quality of life. In this way, self-confidence for everyday life and independent living without such medical supports could be achieved.

COPD Exacerbation Treatment

In exacerbation times, breathing is difficult for patients with COPD and need help. The COPD guideline helps patients to manage the exacerbation times and gives information about decreasing the number of exacerbation, how to be treated and how to prevent. You can also talk with your doctor how to manage the exacerbation times. Doctor may prescribe steroid tablets.

Most patients with COPD exacerbation may be managed at home. A home-care nurse may help for managing an exacerbation. Home-care nurses have experience in exacerbation of COPD and they involve healthcare.

When patient’s exacerbation can not be managed at home, patient must go to hospital.

Doctor or nurse uses these options to manage COPD exacerbation:

• Oxygen therapy
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Respiratory stimulants
• Ventilations
• Antibiotics (fighting bacterial infection)
• Bronchodilator inhalers

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)

Non-invasive ventilation is important in the management of exacerbations of COPD. Using non-invasive ventilation helps to improve survival rate. It is also provide to reduce complications. When emergency happens, NIV becomes as a treatment option. It may be used as part of standard therapy for patients with respiratory acidosis after standard medical therapy. Non-invasive ventilation and oxygen therapy are different from each other. NIV also provide oxygen to patient’s blood. NIV contain a mask and a machine that gives oxygen to patient.

The COPD guideline recommends that NIV should be used for exacerbations, if other treatment options can not help.

New COPD Treatments

According to a study “triple therapy” may be a new chance for COPD patients. Triple therapy contains three different medications. These are a long-acting beta-agonist, an inhaled corticosteroid, and the anticholinergic Spiriva (tiotropium bromide).

Other research is about resveratrol. It is a chemical found in red wine. Resveratrol can decrease lung inflammation of COPD.

You have many options for COPD treatment and most appropriate COPD treatment will be determined according to situation of your disease.

COPD > Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease > Emphysema">COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contains a group of lung diseases that block airflow and makes difficult to breathe. Two main conditions make up COPD and these conditions are emphysema and chronic asthmatic bronchitis.

In all cases, damage to patients’ airways finally interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in lungs.

COPD is a leading cause of death and illness in the world, and disability in the U.S.

Long-term smoking causes COPD and COPD damages lungs because of smoking and after damaging lungs can not be reversed. Patients with COPD are often classified by the symptoms due to patient’s exacerbation of disease. If the patient has shortness of breath, patient can be referred to as emphysema patients. If the patient has cough and mucus, it is associated with chronic bronchitis.

COPD symptoms are variable; it can be around mild and severe, it depends on how advanced the disease.

MAIN COPD SYMPTOMS

Most COPD patients have more than one of signs and symptoms at the same time:

* Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)

It is the most significant symptom of COPD. Dyspnea mainly depends on a lack of oxygen in the blood and is associated to disorders in the lungs such as with COPD. Breathlessness occurs if the lung has some changes in working and does not work as normal. If the lung has a feeling as it takes more effort to move air in the lungs, breathlessness can sense. This sense may be very uncomfortable for a patient with COPD.

Dyspnea generally starts when patients are in their 60s and 70s and slowly can be more important. It is strongly related to lung function decline and is not all the time related with low level of oxygen in the blood.

Patients often ask why dyspnea begins long time after beginning to smoke. Symptoms can be shown themselves several years after patient has quit smoking. Initially, dyspnea can decrease with doing fewer activities but sooner or later activities leads to dyspnea again. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are helpful for people to learn how to reduce this sense of breathlessness during activities.

* Wheezing

Wheezing is the musical sound of air because of breathing through narrowed and obstructed airways. Wheezing is usually associated with asthma but wheezing may also occur in patients with COPD.

It can occur during an acute exacerbation or chronically. It is possible to hear wheezing only at night. Bronchodilators may reduce wheezing rapidly. When people smokes cigarette long-term, airways are blocked by mucus and it occurs wheezing in COPD patients. Chronic inflammation can also damage the airways.

* Chest tightness

It is more particularly related to emphysema. High amount of mucus results in narrowing of the airways in the lung. COPD makes patient’s chest feel tight. In that situation, it is difficult to take a deep breath for patient. Chest tightness may a symptom of chronic bronchitis (bronchiectasis, lung infection).

* Chronic cough

Chronic cough is long term and does not leave. The cough moves away mucus from the lungs and one of the most common symptoms of COPD. It characteristically starts in mornings and slowly increases in a day. Mucus may decrease when patient quits smoking cigarette.

* Increased sputum production

Sputum (mucus) production is also called phlegm. Lungs can make sputum. A large amount of mucus may be associated with inflammation or infection of the respiratory tract. It may be a clue of COPD. Usually, color of mucus and the amount of mucus is a warning that there is some abnormality in lungs. The color and amount of sputum may be associated to the type of COPD that patient has.

* Fatigue (Tiredness)

It is a common symptom of COPD but fatigue is usually poorly understood.

* Hemoptysis (Coughing up blood)

Hemoptysis can be a symptom of lung problems and heart problems. The blood may be with sputum. It typically happens during an exacerbation.

Symptoms of Emphysema

Emphysema is a subtype of COPD. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) for several months is the major symptom of emphysema and it increases after physical activity. Dyspnea can also occur when patient is at rest.

The symptoms of emphysema are associated with other major lung diseases.

Emphysema symptoms are:

• Shortness of breathing (dyspnea)

• Coughing (with or without mucus)

• Wheezing

• Increased sputum production

• Blue tint to the skin (cyanosis)

• Tiredness (fatigue)

Learn more about Emphysema Symptoms

Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms

The inflammation of the bronchi is called chronic bronchitis. Chronic cough and mucus production are the most common symptoms of chronic bronchitis. The mucus is generally clear. If COPD patient is a smoker, it is possible to develop chronic bronchitis. After this first symptom, emphysema may occur.

Chronic bronchitis symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Chronic cough
• Sputum producing
• Shortness of breath (Dyspnea)
• Cough that starts in the winter and finishes in the summer

Advanced COPD Symptoms

1. Cyanosis: Patients may have cyanosis in advanced COPD. Cyanosis is a bluish or purplish coloration of the skin and mucous membranes. It occurs due to a lack of oxygen in blood.

2. Morning headaches: Patients with advanced COPD can develop morning headaches. It is because of a lack of ability to move carbon dioxide from the blood.

3. Weight loss: Weight loss can be symptom of advanced COPD but some patients have this symptom.

4. Hemoptysis (cough up blood): In patients with advanced COPD, hemoptysis occurs due to damage of the respiratory tract and vessels. It is very important because it can be symptom of lung cancer.

If you have any COPD symptoms that is described in this article, you can be on danger of COPD.

COPD > Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease > Emphysema">COPD