.png)
COPD is best known for it's respiratory symptoms, like coughing and difficulty breathing, but people with COPD have to deal with a plethora of other symptoms as well. One of these is chronic pain, which stems from a variety of COPD-related symptoms and complications.
If you have COPD, then you know that your lungs are particularly sensitive to the environment and the quality of the air you breathe. Even minor irritants like dust, smog, or cold air can worsen your symptoms and make it even more difficult to breathe.
In both developed and undeveloped countries around the world, it is estimated that 9-10% of people are affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Experts have made a prediction that by 2020, it will be the third leading cause of death in the world as the population ages and people continue to smoke. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed with COPD in the United States alone and it is the third leading cause of death claiming more than 120,000 American lives each year.
Living with a serious disease like COPD can be scary, stressful, and sometimes even overwhelming. Just the feeling of shortness of breath, the main symptom of COPD, can be a very frightening sensation.
| Image Courtesy of Melissa on Flickr |
If you or someone you love has COPD, you might be concerned about diet and nutrition. What kinds of foods should you eat to stay healthy, and what should you avoid?
If you have COPD, then you know that getting sick can wreak havoc on your daily life. Even common illnesses like the cold or flu can significantly increase your COPD symptoms and, in serious cases, even land you in the hospital.
Getting enough sleep is a daily challenge for many people with COPD. Between coughing, breathing troubles, and shortness of breath, it's no wonder that the disease makes it difficult to relax and sleep soundly at night.
If you have COPD, you're probably no stranger to feeling drained, tired, and lethargic. Fatigue is a common problem for COPD patients, and a serious one at that. Fatigue is a common culprit behind exercise avoidance and sedentary living, which causes many patients to experience a quicker physical decline.
If you have COPD, then you know that it can be dangerous when your symptoms suddenly get worse. That's why preventing flare-ups and exacerbations is one of the main goals of treatment for people with COPD.
Many people with COPD also struggle with anxiety. It's an understandable reaction to the daily worries and hardships of living with a chronic disease. However, for patients who don't find ways to treat their anxiety and manage it in healthy ways, that anxiety can grow to the point that it causes serious problems and affects many aspects of their lives.
