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Very often patients do not suspect anything of their severe lung disease COPD
Many chronic lung diseases often go undetected. Even the incurable lung disease COPD is often diagnosed late. With early diagnosis, it can usually be slowed down. Especially smokers should therefore go to the doctor if they constantly suffer from cough and shortness of breath.
Smokers will eventually run out of breath
Of course, if you smoke 20 cigarettes every day for years, you run out of steam at some point. This is noticeable among other things when climbing stairs, or in other physical activity. If there are still breathing difficulties, lack of fitness or age is often no longer sufficient explanation. Especially if sufferers often cough and often suffer from respiratory infections, they should consult a doctor. The cause could be chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, also known as smoker's cough).
The incurable lung disease COPD often remains unrecognized for a long time. Smokers and non-smokers can get sick. Early diagnosis can slow the course of the disease. (Image: Kitty / fotolia.com) Up to five million Germans have smoker cough
According to the German Respiratory League, up to five million people in Germany suffer from COPD alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 64 million people worldwide are affected. According to her estimates, COPD will be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. The disease should not be underestimated. As the respiratory league explains on its website, the abbreviation COPD stands for the English term lung disease: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This means that the lungs are chronically ill because the airways are inflamed and permanently constricted (= obstructive) and the lungs are aging faster. The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the German Lung Foundation, Prof. Gerhard W. Sybrecht, said in a message from the news agency dpa: "A cure is not possible, but a rapid progression of the disease can often be prevented."
Non-smokers can also get sick
Especially smokers fall ill, but also non-smokers are often affected. A few years ago, Canadian scientists published a study in the journal "Thorax" which shows which risk factors in COPD play a role alongside tobacco consumption. It is known, for example, that people who are regularly exposed to air pollutants in the workplace belong to the risk groups. COPD can also be genetic in rare cases. The lung disease usually begins slowly. According to health experts, the most important signs are expectoration, coughing and dyspnoea ("AHA" symptoms), the latter often occurring only at the beginning during physical exertion, but later also during rest. Normally, the smoker's cough in the morning is most pronounced, which also makes the so-called sputum relatively easy to cough off, which is usually slightly brownish in COPD. During the course of the disease, a feeling of tightness in the chest or the feeling of an over-blown lung often develops, causing the affected person to feel constantly breathless. Typical are also squeaky or rattling noises when exhaling and an overall reduced performance.
Complaints should be clarified as soon as possible
"A problem is that patients often go to the doctor only when complaints have gotten rough," said the Ulm surgeon for lung and bronchial medicine Michael Barczok in the dpa message. "Then, however, many lung tissue is often irretrievably destroyed," said the doctor, who is also spokesman for the Federal Association of Pulmonologists, Sleep and Respiratory Medicine. Complaints such as constant coughing and shortness of breath should therefore be clarified as early as possible. "Many have COPD and do not know it," said Sybrecht. At the regular health check-up, patients should be careful to have a pulmonary function check. If abnormalities show up, a referral should be made to a pulmonologist (pulmonologist).
Examinations at the specialist
In this case, a diagnosis can be made by examinations such as so-called spirometry, in which the tidal volume is measured. In another method, called body plethysmography, respiratory resistance and lung capacity are determined. Occasionally, other investigations are carried out. "That can be about a stress test," said Sybrecht. The doctor can thus find out, for example, whether an increased lung pressure leads to a load on the right heart. If smokers get the diagnosis of COPD, they should definitely stop inhaling. "This reduces the risk of acute deterioration in lung and respiratory functions," explained Barczok. In addition, sufferers get inhaled medications that relieve breathing difficulties. "On the market, there are a variety of inhalation systems, which differ in the operation of each other," said the Deputy Chairman of the German Airways League, Prof. Heinrich Worth.
Affected persons should not give up sport
Patients can learn how to handle the customized inhalation system during patient education. Worth emphasized: "Participation is very important to avoid possible user errors." Among other things, patients will be taught the basics of respiratory therapy. Self-help measures are also an issue. In addition, you should not do without COPD sports. "Many often avoid physical activity for fear of breathlessness," said Barczok. However, through lack of exercise, muscle mass and muscle strength decrease, which reduces the physical capacity. This ultimately leads to a deterioration of lung function. Wort therefore recommended: "In order to break this vicious circle, those affected should make targeted sports and exercise therapy in lung sports groups." (Ad)