Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of chronic (long-term) lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These lung conditions make it difficult to expel air from the lungs. COPD is progressive. This means it gets worse over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 15.7…
Fewer acute exacerbations, and better lung function were seen with a year of regular use People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may experience fewer acute disease exacerbations if they regularly use noninvasive ventilation at night, a small study in Greece reported. “Good” nighttime use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a…
Those who smoke are much more likely to develop symptoms of COPD, but secondhand smoke can also be the cause. Treatments are available; in some cases, your lung tissue can regenerate. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of diseases that impact the health of your lungs and your ability to breathe….
Many people with COPD have anxiety, for a variety of reasons. When you have trouble breathing, your brain sets off an alarm to warn you that something is wrong. This can cause anxiety or panic to set in. Anxious feelings may also arise when you think about having a progressive lung disease. You may worry about experiencing an…
If you’ve ever tried to quit vaping, then you know how challenging it can be. Although research published in July 2022 in JAMA Network Open found a slight decrease in the overall e-cigarette, or vaping, users, daily e-cigarette use by current users rose from 34.5% in 2017 to 44.4% in 2020. The daily usage is likely linked…
If you’ve been living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for a long time, you may have experienced exacerbations or sudden flare-ups of respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of breathlessness, coughing, and wheezing are indications of COPD exacerbations. Without quick and careful treatment, these symptoms could make it necessary to seek emergency treatment. COPD flares can be frightening and uncomfortable, but their…
The cigarette is the only legal consumer product that—when used as intended—causes the premature death of half of the long-term users. To address this long-standing health threat, in late June 2022, the Biden-Harris administration announced a plan to move forward with a new standard for cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products that would make them minimally or…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of lung diseases that affect your breathing. This includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD typically have blocked airways and experience breathing-related problems. These problems result from reduced functional lung capacity along with lung inflammation and damage. Some people with COPD also experience excessive mucus production, which can make…