Answers on copd

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi im a 40 year old woman diagnoced with copd when i was 37 I am nonsmoker however my family an friends all smoke so I got it from second hand smoke also i have enphasyma waht are some sypmtoms when its getting bad

Dear Jannell:

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two main conditions that make up COPD which causes damage to your airways eventually interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your lungs.

Symptoms of COPD don't appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time. People with COPD caused by emphysema would present shortness of breath, chest pressure type pain and wheezing.

The most common complications are respiratory infections, hypertension, depression, increased risk of heart attack and lung cancer.  I would suggest you to consult your physician about Annual Flu shot; this is recommended as well as Pneumococcal vaccine to avoid lung complications. As the disease progresses, more medication and possibly surgical treatment might be needed, the last resource would be to have a lung transplant. I hope I cleared your doubt.