Mild to Moderate COPD May Go Undiagnosed

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is seeing much media attention lately but what is it exactly?  COPD is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema and according the the Canadian Lung Association, is primarily caused by smoking.  Occupational dusts and chemicals, genetic reasons, second hand smoke, frequent lung infections in youth and the burning of wood, dung or crop residues for cooking are some of the other, much less frequent causes.

COPD is most often diagnosed over the age of 40 and develops over time.  Symptoms include shortness of breath which may make it difficult to participate in daily activities;  even climbing the stairs may be a challenge.  Swollen airways, mucus or damaged air sacs may contribute to difficulty breathing.

The finding of a recent Statistics Canada Health Measure Survey revealed that 13 per cent of Canadians had a lung function score that indicated COPD while only 4 per cent of those aged 35 to 79 self-reported a COPD diagnosis.  As a result of this data, it is believed that mild to moderate COPD has a high rate of under diagnosis.

The 2011 Survey of Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada reports that approximately 4 per cent of Canadians reported being diagnosed with COPD but that number may be much higher based on the number of suspected undiagnosed cases.  In the United States, COPD is the third leading cause of death and approximately 12 million Americans have COPD while another 12 million may have it but remain undiagnosed.

Diagnosis usually involves a simple breathing test called spirometry.  The test measures the speed and amount of air you can blow out of your lungs.  If simple tasks leave you breathless, ask your health care provider about having a test scheduled.

Those diagnosed with COPD are often treated with medication including bronchodilators (to quickly relieve shortness of breath), corticosteroids (to reduce swelling in airways) and oxygen therapy (to improve low blood oxygen).  Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infections which can cause a flare-up in symptoms.  It is recommended that those with the disease receive an annual influenza vaccination to reduce illness.   By following a healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking and taking prescribed medication, patients can better control their symptoms.

For more information about COPD and to take the Canadian Lung Health Test, visit the Lung Association website at:  http://www.lung.ca/lung-health/lung-disease/copd/symptoms .