Symptoms of COPD in Seniors
September 16, 2021
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease which causes obstructed airflow from the lungs to the bloodstreams.
In the case of COPD, the first thing that happens is breathing difficulty with a cough, mucus, sputum production and wheezing. There are many reasons that cause COPD, such as smoking, long term exposure to irritating gases or toxic matters.
Patients who are affected with COPD, often are at risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer, and other terminal diseases. The most common two conditions that contribute to COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Commonly, these two diseases occur together and lead to COPD. Constant monitoring and attentive care is necessary, that is why home care services may help to take a burden off you and your family.
Early signs of COPD:
Generally, most of the affected people with COPD don’t know about the disease unless significant damage to the lungs is present already and they start suffering visibly. The main reason behind this is that the early signs of COPD may not be noticeable. So, often your loved ones remain undiagnosed at the beginning. If your loved one experiences shortness of breath while doing any light physical activity, it may go unnoticed until COPD has progressed and symptoms are more severe. The early signs include:
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Shortness of breath while being physically active
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Chest tightness
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Lack of energy
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Rapid weight loss
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Chronic cough
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Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
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Wheezing
Diagnosis:
Shortness of breath or coughing does not necessarily mean COPD. There are several other respiratory conditions like asthma that can cause similar symptoms. But it is necessary to visit a doctor while your loved one is having such symptoms.
The doctor will evaluate the symptoms, family history and lifestyle. Then the doctor will perform a physical exam and observe the lung functions. Spirometry is a common test for people with signs and symptoms of COPD. The test is very simple, a patient needs to breathe in and breathe out air and how much and how fast air the patient inhales or exhales will determine the result. Evaluating the reports in hand, the doctor may determine the severity of the patient and set the due course of treatment accordingly.
Conclusion: Symptoms of COPD in Seniors
Unfortunately, there is no cure for COPD so far. Yet, treatment can slow the disease progress and reduce the suffering of your loved one. There are many ways to treat COPD depending upon the severity of the patient, such as antibiotic medication, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and lung surgery. In most cases, the patient is advised to stay at home only in the primary and middle stages of the disease and treated with medications. So it is very crucial that your affected loved one takes their medications regularly.
With COPD, home care is a big help as their professional efficiency and experience contribute to taking a burden off you and your family. Call us today and review your options!
If you or your loved one is looking for Home Care in San Mateo, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3815613/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0062985
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0401/p433.html