Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Andrea Autry RRT MPH 500 Dr. Toland October

What is COPD?  Umbrella term used for diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema  3 rd leading cause of death in the United States  Caused by many factors  Behavior  Environment  Genetics

What is COPD?  Progressive disease with NO CURE!  Largely Preventable  Causes inflammation, increased mucus, shortness of breath, inactvity  Deteriorates tiny airways called alveoli

Risk Factors of COPD  Tobacco Smokers including pipes, cigars, and cigarettes  Those exposed to second hand smoke  Alpha 1 Deficiency  Hazardous work environments such as factory and coal mines

Other Risk Factors  Women account for 52% of COPD cases  Caucasians account for 80% of COPD deaths  Those with incomes less than $25,000 have 10% greater chance of getting COPD in comparisson to those with higher incomes

Smoking and COPD  Only 20% of smokers actually develop COPD  People over age 65 have highest rates of COPD  Smoking that began at a younger age increases risk  Damages airways ability to recoil, causes obstruction  Smoking paralyzes mucus clearance mechanisms in the body  Leaves the body at risk for bacterial and viral infections that can damage the lungs

Alpha 1 and COPD  Rarest cause of COPD, only 3% of COPD cases are caused by Alpha 1  Alpha 1 is responsible to help the body combat inflammation  There are currently no cures for COPD caused by Alpha 1 deficiency

How to Avoid COPD  The best way to avoid COPD is to never start smoking  If you do smoke quit NOW  Push for proper protective equipment if working in a hazardous environment

How to Quit  Pick a quit day and stick with it  Avoid smoky areas such as bars and restaurants that allow smoking  Ask family and friends for support  Use nicotine replacements under supervision of a physician  YOU MUST HAVE A DESIRE TO QUIT FIRST