Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is an umbrella term for lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.

While it is difficult to characterize the burden of COPD in the state of Colorado, national data estimates the number of Coloradans with a diagnosis of COPD around 200,000. Given that the prevalence of COPD measured by lung function testing is roughly 2.4 times higher than the number based on self-report, we expect the disease affects between 330,000 and 450,000 people in the state. This number may even be low.
The most common cause of COPD is long-term smoking. Unfortunately, many current and former smokers do not notice or acknowledge their symptoms for years. They may notice that they get short of breath after climbing a flight of stairs, but they write it off to aging and take the elevator. By the time they see a physician, their lungs have already suffered irreversible damage. That's why detecting COPD early is vital.

Emphysema
Signs and symptoms

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic, mild cough that may produce lower airway mucus
• Weight loss

On average, the lungs contain 300 million elastic air sacs, called alveoli, in which ocygen is added to the blood and carbon dioxide is removed from it. Emphysema occurs when there is permanent damage to the alveoli and they lose their natural elasticity, become overstretched and ruptured, preventing the lungs from properly functioning. This results in the bloodstream not receiving the required amounts of oxygen.

What causes emphysema?
The normal lung has a unique balance between two chemicals with opposing actions. The elastic fibers allow the lung to expand and contract. When the chemical balance is altered the lungs lose the ability to protect themselves against the destruction of these elastic fibers. Smoking is responsible for the majoirty (80%-90%) of emphysema cases. Individulas born with a protein deficiency known as alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) may develop to an inherited form of emphysema.

Chronic bronchitis
Signs and symptoms

• Chronic cough that produces mucus
• Shortness of breath

This disorder consists of chronic inflammation and thickening of the lining of the bronchial tubes. Pushing the air through narrowed airways becomes harder and harder. In addition, the inflammation causes the glands of the bronchial tubes to produce excessive amounts of mucus, increasing congestion in the lungs and further inhibiting the ability to breathe. Air flow is hindered and the lungs are endangered.

The primary symptom of chronic bronchitis (as distinct from emphysema) is a chronic cough that produces large amounts of mucus and has persisted for at least 3 months of the year for more than 2 consecutive years. Once the bronchial tubes have been irritated over a long period of time, excessive mucus is produced constantly.

What causes chronic bronchitis?
In addition to smoking, higher rates of chronic bronchitis are found among coal miners, grain handlers, metal molders, and other workers exposed to dust.

To learn more about COPD please visit the Colorado COPD Coalition. If you or a loved one has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you may be interested in participating in a clinical research study. Click here to find out more information about one such study.

COPD Foundation Re-Launches COPD Digest Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2011 - The COPD Foundation, dedicated to developing and supporting programs that improve quality of life for individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), announced today the re-launch of www.copddigest.org, featuring the first free, internationally-distributed magazine devoted to COPD.

"The COPD Digest's purpose is to disseminate up-to-date information on research, the latest therapies, legislative issues, research, and health and safety for individuals with COPD worldwide," says John Walsh, president and co-founder of the COPD Foundation. "In its new online format, the Digest will continue to fill a knowledge gap about COPD management that exists in both the patient and physician population. We're pleased to know that the magazine's circulation has tripled since the first issue to 175,000, spreading awareness to more and more individuals with each issue."

New features on the website include a link for people to subscribe to the magazine, as well as the ability to comment on all of the articles posted. This interactivity will spur COPD community engagement and allow them to be a more integrated part of the conversation.

Published quarterly, the COPD Digest features articles written by prominent researchers in the field, such as Dr. James Kiley, National Institutes of Health, and the late Dr. Pete "Mr. Oxygen" Wilson. Contributors have included prominent COPD advocates Grace Ann Dorney Koppel, wife of former news anchor Ted Koppel and spokesperson for the NHLBI "Learn More Breathe Better Campaign," and Vlady Rozenbaum of COPD-Alert.

Featured sections include:

  a.. Faces of COPD - profiling courageous individuals with COPD who have found innovative ways to successfully manage their disease and overcome the many everyday obstacles caused by the disease.
  b.. Advocacy - providing updates on COPD patients and groups who are taking an active stand in spreading awareness of COPD.
  c.. View from the Hill - spotlighting individuals who have influence over policy, rules, and the making of laws.
  d.. Consumer Savvy - presenting news on products, technology, and treatments developing in COPD research.
  e.. Community Chronicles - supplying resources and information that enables COPDers to better collaborate with medical service providers, allowing them to take control over their treatments.
  f.. Research News - featuring the latest on clinical research trials and therapeutic developments related to the search for earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and a cure.

"The Foundation is excited to bring the COPD Digest to a wider audience with the launch of this new website, which we have designed to be highly interactive and engaging," Walsh adds. "We are committed to covering a range of topics that are vital to improving qualityof life for individuals with COPD and their families, as well as for furthering the work of caregivers and members of the medical community."