Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Article submitted by Carol S. Vazquez, RN,RRT, of Respacare of Jefferson, LLC and Tommy Lotz, RRT, of the American Lung Association.
For more information Ms Vasquez can be reached at 504-465-5332.

New standards for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) were released in 2003 and updated this year by the Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). The most important risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. Passive inhalation of smoke also contributes to respiratory symptoms and COPD. Smoking cessation would lead to a major decline in COPD in the world.

A definition of COPD is a slow but progressive airway disease that produces a decline in lung function that is not fully reversible. Symptoms include increased sputum production, shortness of breath, and cough.

The first recommendation of these standards is smoking cessation and prevention of the disease through education to individuals as well as groups. Pulmonary rehabilitation is mentioned as being recommended earlier in the disease process for preventing disease progression, improving exercise tolerance, and preventing or treating complications. Medications are also recommended as well as oxygen and aerosolized medication.

To get more information, contact the American Lung Association at 1 800-LUNG-USA, or your physician or health care provider. To increase awareness of a preference towards a clean smoke-free environment, support only those businesses that are smoke-free. This will help prevent further damage to your lungs. Sites are posted on the Internet at smokefreeworld.com as well as with the American Lung Association, or you can call the business establishment you intend to patronize ahead of time to find out if they are smoke-free. If they are not, let them know why you called. Your pro-action might cause them to make accommodations for future clientele.