COPD Myth 1: A COPD Diagnosis Is a Death Sentence
“People live a long time with COPD,” Dr. Adams says. “Especially now that we have many therapies that improve your chances of living longer with COPD.” COPD never goes away, and it’s a progressive disease; but it’s one that can be managed, she adds. It requires that you do some things that may be really tough, like quitting smoking and getting plenty of exercise. But if you work closely with your healthcare team and follow your treatment plan, you’ll find that COPD is neither a death sentence nor a daily struggle. RELATED: 9 Tips to Help Slow the Progression of COPD You will never be able to undo the damage you’ve done to your lungs; but if you have COPD and smoke, you won’t be able to slow the progression of your disease, and you will find it harder to breathe. If you have COPD and quit smoking, you will feel better almost immediately. According to research published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, sustained quitters had a 42 percent lower total mortality rate than those with COPD who continued to smoke. While smoking is the most common cause of COPD, environmental factors may also contribute, explains John Carl, MD, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic Center for Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine in Ohio. “And the reason some smokers never develop COPD and some never-smokers get the condition is not fully understood, but genetic factors probably play a role in who develops it,” he adds.
Myth 3: COPD Is the Same Thing as Asthma
While both are inflammatory conditions that cause coughing and wheezing, asthma and COPD are very different diseases, Adams says. About 15 percent of people can have both asthma and COPD, she notes. Dr. Carl agrees. “It’s not uncommon for people with COPD to also have some degree of asthma. While asthma can develop at any age, most people get asthma as children or teens. COPD develops slowly over time, and most people are 40 or older when symptoms become noticeable. Asthma can flare if you’re exposed to allergens such as dust, pollen, or pet dander, but you can be symptom-free between episodes. People with COPD experience flares or exacerbations when they get a cold or an upper respiratory infection or are exposed to smoke or other lung irritants. Asthma is treated with long-term medications to reduce airway inflammation and quick-relief or “rescue” bronchodilators, as needed, for symptoms such as wheezing. “COPD patients need to be on long-lasting inhalers as opposed to rescue medications,” Adams says. “Along with bronchodilators to widen the airways, some with COPD patients may benefit from anti-inflammatory drugs, such as steroids or anticholinergic agents to decrease mucus secretion and antibiotics to treat interval infections,” adds Carl. RELATED: Your Breathe-Better Checklist for COPD Flares
Myth 4: People With COPD Shouldn’t Exercise
Many people with COPD are afraid to exercise for fear it is unsafe and will make them short of breath. The fact is that people with COPD need to exercise, explains Kathrin Nicolacakis, MD, a pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “Exercise is important when you have COPD because it decreases your chances of having infections and being admitted to the hospital,” she says. Exercise doesn’t drain your energy. Rather, it energizes you and helps you feel less tired. Talk to your COPD doctor about appropriate exercises and breathing techniques in pulmonary rehabilitation, and maintain that level of exercise going forward, Dr. Nicolacakis says. “Activity and exercise are encouraged in patients with COPD and formal programs, sometimes with the aid of oxygen, may benefit those with severe disease,” notes Dr. Hanania. “Walking in particular is strongly encouraged, but stretching the upper and lower extremities is another type of exercise that can be helpful,” he adds. RELATED: 10 Habits That Can Worsen COPD
Myth 5: If I Have to Go on Oxygen, It Means I’m Dying
People with COPD often fear oxygen therapy, but “many patients can live 10 years or more with oxygen,” Nicolacakis says. COPD patients need oxygen when the oxygen level in their blood is low. Low oxygen can strain your heart, cause blood clots to form, and harm your brain. When you go on oxygen therapy, you will feel less tired and healthier, and you’ll have that out-of-breath feeling less often. If you need oxygen therapy, know that it can help you manage your COPD and live longer. Additional reporting by Jennifer Geddes.
