Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or what people call “smoker’s lung) is a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult. The difficulty can lead to shortness of breath and easily get tired. COPD can be described a person with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or a combination of these. Also, COPD is the third-ranked cause of death in the United States.

How do I know?

Many signs and symptoms of COPD and be mild at first and become more severe over time.  These are the symptoms you will have to look out for:

• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Coughing up mucus/phlegm
• Difficult breathing during physical activity or while resting
• Wheezing
• Higher frequency of pneumonia and  lung infections

These signs and a history of smoking will usually indicate the need for a test called spirometry,  a common office test used to assess how well your lung work by measuring how much air you inhale,  exhale and how quickly you exhale.

Keep in mind that these symptoms are not something you will get it suddenly but it develops over time according to your lifestyle. The lung is resilient and can sustain an amount of damage before it starts producing any symptoms. By the time you’re diagnosed with this disease, you are already losing some of your lung functions.

When you are diagnosed with COPD there are many way to help improve your lifestyle. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one. It is a program used to treat people who are diagnosed with COPD. Pulmonary rehab includes COPD education, exercise training, and support to keep you healthy. It can be a helpful way to try to minimize the impact of COPD on you.

Pulmonary rehab can involve a team approach with a doctor, nurse, dietitian, fitness expert, and other specialists. It may seem like a lot but the right team of people working together can be a huge help.

The programs include breathing exercises, walking, low-impact aerobics, lifting light weights, and gentle stretches. Exercise will strengthen your lungs and body so you can breathe better and have more energy.

It is best to discuss with your doctor if you think pulmonary rehabilitation is right for you. You cannot undo what is already happened to your lungs, but pulmonary rehabilitation can help you keep it from getting worse.

Resources: http://www.copd.com/, http://www.thoracic.org/clinical/copd-guidelines/for-patients/what-is-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd.php,  www.aerztezeitung.de