COPD has four stages, with symptoms ranging from occasional shortness of breath to respiratory failure. Smoking is the main cause, but air pollution and chronic bronchitis can also contribute. There is no cure, but medications and quitting smoking can help manage symptoms. Other health problems may arise, including depression.
There are four stages of COPD, or chronic obstructed lung disease. The first of the stages of COPD is referred to as the mild stage, and many people experience no symptoms at this stage, other than the occasional shortness of breath. Stage two is called the moderate stage of COPD, and people who are in this stage may start to experience shortness of breath, along with coughing, much more frequently. The third stage of COPD is referred to as the severe stage, and during this stage a person’s quality of life can be greatly affected by the chronic cough and shortness of breath they are likely experiencing. Very severe COPD is the fourth and final stage of COPD, and at this stage people usually have trouble breathing at all times of the day and their lives may be at risk due to respiratory failure.
COPD is usually the result of many years of smoking, although there are other things that can cause it, such as air pollution and chronic bronchitis. People who have never smoked but have been exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk of developing COPD. Most people who have COPD often have trouble breathing because the airways are damaged to the point that oxygen and carbon dioxide are not exchanging properly within the lungs because they have lost their elasticity and become blocked. Most people don’t start noticing COPD symptoms until they’re in their 40s or older, but symptoms occasionally show up earlier in life.
In addition to difficulty breathing, people with COPD may begin to notice other health problems that may have been caused or exacerbated by their COPD. Some of these other health issues include high blood pressure, heart problems, and frequent respiratory infections. People with COPD are also often depressed because their breathing difficulty may be preventing them from participating in activities they previously enjoyed. These additional problems could occur at any time during the four stages of COPD but may be more likely during severe and very severe stages.
There is no cure for COPD, but there are some medications that doctors can prescribe that should help manage it more easily. Treatment of COPD in the first of the four stages of COPD is usually the most effective because much less damage has been done to the lungs by that point. Regular oxygen and steroid inhalers are often prescribed for people with COPD, but most doctors agree that quitting smoking may be the most effective form of treatment. The longer a person smokes, the more damage will be done to their lungs. Even though COPD cannot be cured, quitting smoking can greatly improve a person’s COPD symptoms.
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