Emphysema: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

Emphysema is a disease of the lungs. It occurs most often in people who smoke, but it also occurs in people who regularly breathe in irritants.

Emphysema destroys alveoli, which are air sacs in the lungs. The air sacs weaken and eventually break, which reduces the surface area of the lungs and the amount of oxygen that can reach the bloodstream. This makes it harder to breathe, especially when exercising. Emphysema also causes the lungs to lose their elasticity.

Emphysema is one of the two most common conditions that fall under the umbrella term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The other major COPD condition is chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is an irreversible condition, so treatment aims to slow its progression and minimize symptoms.

What are the symptoms of emphysema?

Some people have emphysema for years without knowing it. Some of its first signs are shortness of breath and coughing, especially during exercise or physical exertion. This continues to get worse until breathing is difficult all the time, even when resting.

Other symptoms may include:Trusted Source

  • exhaustion

  • weight loss

  • depression

Some people may develop bluish-gray lips or fingernails from lack of oxygen. If this happens, seek medical attention immediately.

Causes and risk factors

According to the American Lung Association, 2 million adults (1.6 percent of people ages 18 years or older) had emphysema in 2018.

Rates were higher among males, non-Hispanic white people, and those over the age of 65. However, the rates among females have been increasing in recent decades, so the gap between the sexes has been decreasing.

Smoking tobacco is the main cause of emphysema. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of developing emphysema. This includes smoking cannabis.

Smoking leads to the death of more than 480,000 Americans a year, and 80 percent of those deaths are caused by COPD, including emphysema. Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases your risk of developing emphysema.

Other causes of, as well as potential risk factors for developing emphysema, may include:

  • exposure to high pollution chemical fumes or lung irritants

  • a genetic condition called alpha-1 deficiency can lead to a rare form of emphysema called alpha-1 deficiency-related emphysema.

  • history of childhood respiratory infections

  • a compromised immune system, especially as a result of HIV

  • rare disorders such as Marfan syndrome.

How is emphysema diagnosed?

Your doctor will begin by getting your background and medical history, asking in particular whether you smoke and whether you’re around hazardous fumes or pollutants at work or at home.

Various tests can detect emphysema, including:

  • imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans, to look at your lungs

  • blood tests, to determine how well your lungs are transferring oxygen

  • pulse oximetry, to measure the oxygen content of your blood

  • lung function tests, which measure how much air your lungs can breathe in and out and how well your lungs deliver oxygen into your bloodstream

  • arterial blood gas tests, to measure the amount of blood and carbon dioxide in your blood

  • electrocardiogram (ECG), to check heart function and rule out heart disease

Complications

When emphysema becomes severe or isn’t properly treated, serious complications may occur. These may include:

  • pneumonia, which can bacterial or viral

  • many respiratory tract infections

  • cor pulmonale, which is failure of the right side of the heart

  • pneumothorax, which is when air collects between the lungs and the chest cavity that can lead to lung collapse

  • respiratory acidosis, which is when the lungs can’t obtain enough oxygen, leading to coma

  • hypoxemia, which is when the lungs can’t adequately oxygenate the blood

How is emphysema treated?

There’s no cure for emphysema. Treatment aims to reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease with medications, therapies, or surgeries.

If you smoke, the first step in treating emphysema is to quit smoking. You may need medications to help you withdraw from nicotine. Consider discussing a cessation plan with your doctor.

Medications

Various medications can help treat the disease, including:

  • bronchodilators, which help open air passages, making breathing easier and relieving coughing and shortness of breath

  • steroids, which alleviate shortness of breath

  • antibiotics, which fight infections that can make the condition worse

All of these medications can be taken orally or inhaled.

Therapies

Pulmonary rehabilitation or moderate exercise such as walking can strengthen breathing muscles and alleviate symptoms, making it easier to breathe and be physically active. Yoga, tai chi, and deep breathing exercises can also help relieve symptoms.

Oxygen therapy can help make breathing easier. People with severe emphysema may need oxygen 24 hours a day.

Surgery

Lung volume reduction surgery may be used to remove small parts of damaged lung, and a lung transplant can replace the entire lung. These are rare surgeries used only for people with severe emphysema.

Other treatments

Emphysema might cause you to become underweight. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, like fruits and vegetables, is recommended to improve your overall health.

Getting vaccinated against certain infections, such as pneumonia, can help prevent you from getting an infection that could complicate emphysema. These infections include pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19.

You may also experience anxiety and depression if you aren’t as active as you used to be. Joining a support group can help you connect with others who have the disease and share similar experiences. This can help you realize that you aren’t alone in fighting the disease.

Prevention and outlook

Since emphysema is mainly caused by smoking tobacco, the best way to prevent it is to refrain from smoking. It’s also important to stay away from harmful chemicals and fumes as well as heavy pollution.

The outlook for people with emphysema varies based on its severity. There’s no cure for the disease, and it worsens with time, but you can slow its progression.

As a rule, smoking cigarettes speeds up the disease, so quitting is important.

Early detection of the disease is key, because people with emphysema can develop life threatening conditions when the lungs and heart become damaged over time.

It’s important to stay healthy by eating well and getting exercise. With the aid of medications and therapies, you can live a long, healthy life with emphysema.

What Are the Stages of Emphysema?

Emphysema typically occurs slowly in stages, usually due to years of smoking cigarettes or other types of tobacco. Your doctor will use your symptoms and breathing test results to decide your stage.

Smoking is the most common cause of a serious lung condition called emphysema. With emphysema, the air sacs (alveoli) weaken and lose their ability to contract after expanding. Air can also get trapped in these sacs, causing some to break. This can make breathing difficult and ultimately decrease the amount of oxygen you get into your bloodstream.

Smoking cigarettes causes 80 percent of all emphysema. Other causes include:

  • secondhand smoke

  • marijuana smoke

  • air pollution

  • chemical fumes

  • alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition that affects the lungs

People over 40 years old, or people who smoked for long periods, are at higher risk for this condition. Once developed, emphysema can’t be reversed.

If you have emphysema, your doctor will likely diagnose the condition as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is an umbrella term for lung diseases that get worse over time. They tend to cause increased breathlessness due to the combination of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and obstructed lung airways. While COPD isn’t exactly the same, people who have emphysema are also more likely to have other lung diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, and lung cancer.

Symptoms of emphysema

It’s common for most people to not feel the symptoms of emphysema until there’s 50 percent or more damage to the lung tissue. Early symptoms may appear gradually as shortness of breath and on-going fatigue. Sometimes they may only affect your body when you’re physically active.

But as the condition progresses, you may see an increase in:

  • coughing

  • chest tightness

  • shortness of breath

  • wheezing

  • more mucus production

Eventually the feeling that you aren’t getting enough air may will also occur when you’re resting. Other symptoms that may also appear due to strained breathing include a poor appetite and weight loss.

Stages of emphysema

Your doctor will determine your stage by looking at your symptoms and the results of your breathing tests.

Stages Definition
At-risk Your breathing test is normal, but you may have mild symptoms such as an on-going cough and increased mucus production.
Mild, or early stage The breathing test shows mild air flow blockage. You will have symptoms including an on-going cough and mucus production. But you may not be able to feel the effects of reduced air flow.
Moderate Most people seek medical attention at this stage when they can feel a decline in their airflow. Symptoms also usually include shortness of breath during physical activity.
Severe, or very severe Breathing tests show severe limited airflow.

Read more: How long can you live with stage 4 COPD? »

The spirometry and pulmonary function test (PFT) measures your airflow as you inhale and exhale. The PFT will show how much air your lungs can carry. Your doctor will then compare these results to normal results of people with a similar age, height, weight, and ethnic background.

Other tests your doctor may perform include:

  • tapping your chest to listen for a hollow sound, which means there’s air trapped in your lungs

  • blood tests to see how well your lungs transfer oxygen to your bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide

  • electrocardiogram (ECG) to check heart function and rule out heart conditions

  • a chest X-ray or a chest CT scan to look for small pockets of air in your lungs, but these aren’t helpful for detecting early stages

Complications of emphysema

If left untreated, emphysema can develop into serious complications, such as:

Holes in lungs (giant bullae): These large holes make it difficult for your lung to expand. They can also get infected and may lead to a collapsed lung.

Collapsed lung: This is a life-threatening conditionfor people with emphysema because their lungs are already damaged.

Heart problems: Emphysema often increases pressure in the arteries connecting your lungs to your heart. This can cause an area of your heart to expand and then weaken.

Outlook for emphysema

The outlook for people with emphysema depends on the severity of the condition and how early they start treatment. The earlier you start your treatment, the better your outcome. Lung damage from emphysema is irreversible. But you can slow the progression and improve your quality of life.

The prediction of life expectancy in COPD is correlated with your symptoms and the results of one of the PFT parameters, the FEV1. This is also known as your forced expiratory volume of air within the first second of forcefully breathing out (performed right after breathing in as much air in as possible). You can also use this calculator to get an estimate of your survival rates.

People who stop smoking and take steps to protect their lungs from further damage usually have a longer life expectancy. Talk to your doctor about your outlook. Everyone’s outlook depends on the severity of their stage, treatment, and what steps they take to manage their condition.

How is emphysema treated?

There’s no cure for emphysema. Current treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease and reduce symptoms. Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on the severity and stage of your condition. The first line of treatment is to stop smoking, if you haven’t yet.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medication, such as:

  • Bronchodilators: This helps open up airways to improve symptoms like breathing difficulty and coughing.

  • Corticosteroids: These medications can improve breathing by removing inflammation in the lung. But long-term use increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, or cataracts.

  • Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you develop infections such as bacterial pneumonia or bronchitis.

Your doctor may also recommend therapies to improve breathing and relieve symptoms. These include pulmonary rehabilitation where you’ll learn various breathing exercises. For people who need extra oxygen, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy. You will use a nasal cannula device or wear a facemask to breathe oxygen through a machine.

Therapies

You may also need nutrition therapy if you have other conditions such as obesity that interferes with your health and contribute to breathlessness. For more severe cases that affect younger adults without additional complications, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove damaged lung tissue or a lung transplant.

Read more: Understanding emphysema treatments »

Clinical trials

Researchers who are studying emphysema are actively looking for participants. These trials range from evaluating current treatments to new management options for people with severe emphysema. If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, visit CenterWatch.com.

When to see a doctor

Make a doctor’s appointment if you have shortness of breath that lasts for several months and doesn’t improve. Especially if breathlessness interferes with your daily activities. See a doctor even if your symptoms worsen, even if you already received a diagnosis.

The Mayo Clinic recommends seeking medical attention if you experience:

  • difficulty talking because you are so short of breath

  • a bluish or grayish tinge to your lips or fingernails

  • lack of mental alertness

  • a fast heartbeat

How to manage emphysema

Over 11 million people in the United States have COPD, according to the American Lung Association. Of those people, three million people have emphysema, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Once you’ve developed emphysema, the damage is irreversible. The first step you can take to manage your health is to stop smoking, if you smoke. You can also wear a mask to avoid secondhand smoking or inhaling dust and chemical fumes.

Following these steps can help prevent emphysema complications from occurring.

You can also talk to your family, friends, or a counselor to relieve stress that may come with this condition. You may want to consider joining a support group for people with emphysema or lung diseases. This can be a good way to express your feelings, find out about new treatments, and coping strategies. Contact your local chapter of the American Lung Association to find a support group near you.

What Is the Pathophysiology of COPD?

Understanding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-threatening condition that affects your lungs and your ability to breathe.

Pathophysiology is the evolution of adverse functional changes associated with a disease. For people with COPD, this starts with damage to the airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs. Symptoms progress from a cough with mucus to difficulty breathing.

The damage done by COPD can’t be undone. However, there are some preventive measures you can take to lower your risk of developing COPD.

COPD’s effect on the lungs

COPD is an umbrella term for several chronic lung diseases. The two main COPD conditions are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases affect different parts of the lungs, but both lead to difficulty breathing.

To understand COPD’s pathophysiology, it’s important to understand the structure of the lungs.

When you inhale, air moves down your trachea and then through two tubes called bronchi. The bronchi branch out into smaller tubes called bronchioles. At the ends of the bronchioles are little air sacs called alveoli. At the end of the alveoli are capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels.

Oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream through these capillaries. In exchange, carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the capillaries and then into the lungs before it’s exhaled.

Emphysema is a disease of the alveoli. The fibers that make up the walls of the alveoli become damaged. The damage makes them less elastic and unable to recoil when you exhale, making it hard to exhale carbon dioxide out of the lungs.

If the lung airways become inflamed, this results in bronchitis with subsequent mucus production. If the bronchitis persists, you can develop chronic bronchitis. You also can have temporary bouts of acute bronchitis, but these episodes aren’t considered to be the same as COPD.

Causes of COPD

The main cause of COPD is tobacco smoking. Breathing in smoke and its chemicals can injure the airways and air sacs. This leaves you vulnerable to COPD.

Exposure to secondhand smoke, environmental chemicals, and even fumes from gas burned for cooking in poorly ventilated buildings can also lead to COPD. Discover more COPD triggers here.

Recognizing physical changes caused by COPD

Serious symptoms of COPD don’t usually appear until the disease is more advanced. Because COPD affects your lungs, you may find yourself short of breath after minor physical exertion.

If you find yourself breathing harder than usual after a common activity, such as climbing stairs, you should see a doctor. Tests focused on your degree of respiratory health can reveal conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

One of the reasons breathing becomes more challenging is because the lungs produce more mucus and the bronchioles become inflamed and narrower as a result.

With more mucus in your airways, less oxygen is being inhaled. This means less oxygen reaches the capillaries for gas exchange in your lungs. Less carbon dioxide is also being exhaled.

Coughing to try to help release the mucus from the lungs is a common sign of COPD. If you notice that you’re producing more mucus and coughing more to clear it, you should see a doctor.

Other signs of COPD progression

As COPD progresses, many other health complications can follow.

Besides coughing, you may notice yourself wheezing when you breathe. The buildup of mucus and the narrowing of the bronchioles and alveoli may also cause chest tightness. These aren’t normal symptoms of aging. If you experience them, see your doctor.

Less oxygen circulating throughout your body can leave you feeling light-headed or fatigued. Lack of energy can be a symptom of many conditions, and it’s an important detail to share with your doctor. It may help determine the seriousness of your condition.

In people with serious COPD, weight loss also can occur as your body requires more and more energy to breathe.

COPD prevention

One of the easiest ways to prevent COPD is to never start smoking or stop as soon as you can. Even if you’ve smoked for many years, you can start to preserve your lung health the minute you stop smoking.

The longer you go without smoking, the greater your odds of avoiding COPD. This is true no matter what age you are when you quit.

It’s also important to have regular checkups and follow the advice of your doctor. There are no guarantees when it comes to COPD. However, you can take steps to maintain better lung function if you’re proactive about your health.

What’s the Difference Between COPD and Acute Bronchitis?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute bronchitis both cause lung irritation and inflammation. They can trigger similar symptoms, including coughing, chest pain, and fatigue.

Acute bronchitis is typically caused by a virus or, less frequently, bacteria. It’s an infection that will clear up after a few weeks.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on the other hand, is chronic, which means it develops over time. While symptoms may improve, they’ll never disappear completely. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, a long-term form of bronchitis.

Here, we compare COPD and acute bronchitis symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

COPD vs. acute bronchitis symptoms

Both COPD and acute bronchitis cause inflammation in the bronchi. The bronchi are airways that branch off from the windpipe, allowing oxygen to enter your lungs.

This inflammation can lead to symptoms such as coughing and mucus production. But COPD is more likely to make it difficult to breathe than acute bronchitis.

COPD symptoms

The most common symptoms of COPD include:

  • an ongoing cough with or without phlegm

  • feeling constantly tired or weak

  • frequent respiratory illnesses

  • shortness of breath

  • chest tightness

  • wheezing

These symptoms may improve, but they don’t usually go away completely. Late stage COPD can lead to weight loss and swelling in the lower half of your body.

Acute bronchitis symptoms

Symptoms of acute bronchitis often resemble those of an upper respiratory infection and can include:

  • a cough with or without mucus

  • a sore throat

  • a stuffy or runny nose

  • sneezing

  • headaches

  • body aches

  • fatigue

  • fever or chills

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, acute bronchitis symptoms shouldn’t last longer than 3 weeks.

COPD vs. acute bronchitis causes

While COPD and acute bronchitis have different causes, the risk factors are similar.

COPD causes

COPD often develops after prolonged exposure to substances that irritate the airways and lungs, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution. Many people who develop COPD are current or former smokers.

Genetic factors probably play a role in who develops COPD. In addition, people who have other lung conditions, such as a history of asthma or respiratory infections, are at risk.

Acute bronchitis causes

Acute bronchitis usually develops after a viral infection, such as:

In rare cases, it’s caused by bacteria. It’s common during flu season and is often contagious.

Like COPD, acute bronchitis is more common in people who smoke tobacco products, are exposed to air pollution, or have asthma.

When to contact a doctor

Most people don’t need to see a doctor for acute bronchitis, which should go away without medical intervention.

If it doesn’t go away after 3 weeks, you should try to make an appointment with a doctor. In addition, you should consider talking with a healthcare professional if you develop bronchitis often. These are signs of a lung condition that requires treatment, such as COPD.

Diagnosing COPD and bronchitis

If you see a doctor for a persistent cough, they might start by asking you questions about your medical history and current symptoms. During the physical examination, they’ll use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs while you breathe.

A doctor might order additional tests to make a diagnosis. Some common diagnostic tests for COPD and other lung conditions include:

How are COPD and acute bronchitis treated?

COPD is a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment. Acute bronchitis usually goes away on its own in time and doesn’t require long-term treatment.

COPD treatment

If you have COPD, a doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The goal is to ease and prevent your symptoms while also slowing the progression of the disease.

Some common treatments for COPD include:

  • medications, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids

  • oxygen therapy

  • lifestyle changes

  • surgery (in severe cases)

Learn more about treating COPD.

Acute bronchitis treatment

Treatment for acute bronchitis typically involves home rest while the infection runs its course. To ease symptoms such as fever, chills, and pain, over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help.

Antibiotics and other prescription drugs don’t typically help with bronchitis, even when it’s caused by bacteria.

Learn more about treating acute bronchitis.

Can you prevent COPD or acute bronchitis?

It’s not possible to prevent COPD or acute bronchitis. But you can lower your risk by taking care of your lungs. Try the following:

  • If you smoke, speak with a healthcare professional about quitting.

  • Limit your exposure to second-hand smoke.

  • Check air quality recommendations before participating in outdoor activities.

  • Take steps to improve the air quality in your home.

  • Seek treatment for lung conditions such as asthma.

  • Strengthen your lungs with regular exercise.

  • Get a flu shot every year and take precautions against respiratory infections, and stay up to date on getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Lower your exposure to lung irritants in the workplace by wearing protective gear.

Frequently asked questions about COPD and bronchitis

The following questions can help you determine whether your cough might be COPD.

Does bronchitis turn into COPD?

COPD is an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis. When symptoms of bronchitis don’t go away, it can be a sign of COPD.

How do I know if my cough is COPD?

A COPD cough often causes wheezing and mucus production, and although it may improve, it doesn’t really go away. You should try to talk with a doctor to find out if your cough is COPD.

What does a COPD cough sound like?

COPD is more likely to produce sounds like crackling when you inhale and high-pitched wheezing. If a doctor suspects that you have COPD, they’ll listen for these sounds with a stethoscope.

Takeaway

COPD is a lung condition that develops over time. It includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis and causes symptoms such as coughing, mucus production, and difficulty breathing.

Acute bronchitis occurs after you get a respiratory infection. It causes coughing, along with other symptoms that resemble a cold or the flu, such as a sore throat or fever.

A cough caused by acute bronchitis can last up to 3 weeks. If you have a cough that doesn’t go away, speak with a healthcare professional, as it could be a sign of another condition.

Is COPD a Contagious Disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) isn’t contagious. But people with COPD can transmit other infections when they cough. They may also have a greater risk of serious illness from a respiratory infection.

COPD is a group of chronic lung conditions that can make breathing harder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it affects about 16 millionTrusted Source people in the United States.

COPD includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both can lead to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and congestion.

Germs don’t cause COPD, so one person can’t transmit COPD to another. Still, people with COPD may need to take preventive steps against getting or transmitting other respiratory infections.

Lots of coughing can transmit other infections, and COPD can put them at risk of serious complications if they get an infection.

Here’s what to know about COPD causes and risk factors and how to keep yourself and people with COPD as healthy as possible.

What causes COPD?

Long-term exposure to air that contains lung irritants is the leading cause of COPD.

In the United States, cigarette smoke is the most common lung irritant. About 75% of people who develop COPD smoke or used to smoke.

Other lung irritants that may contribute to COPD includeTrusted Source:

Many people with COPD have emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or both.

Emphysema causes damage to the air sacs in your lungs and the walls between them. It can make your lungs less elastic, making it harder to breathe.

You develop chronic bronchitis when your airways experience consistent irritation and inflammation. That causes them to make more mucus. They can also swell, leading to more coughing and difficulty breathing.

Who’s at risk of COPD?

Long-term smoking is the leading risk factor for COPD. In a 2018 studyTrusted Source, current and former smokers with COPD smoked an average of 24.3 cigarettes per day for 36.4 years. While smoking for any duration can harm your lungs, smoking many cigarettes for a long time greatly increases your risk of COPD.

Still, the American Lung Association notes that 1 in 4 people with COPD have never smoked. Other risk factors for COPD include:

  • genetics

  • asthma

  • age over 40 years

  • exposure to secondhand smoke or smoke from coal or a wood-burning stove

How can I reduce my risk of COPD?

Many COPD cases are preventable. Consider avoiding the following to reduce your risk:

  • smoking

  • secondhand smoke

  • pollutants

  • other lung irritants like chemical dust and fumes

These are also helpful ways for people with COPD to slow disease progression.

How can people with COPD reduce the risk of transmitting other infections?

While COPD isn’t transmissible by coughing, people with COPD can still transmit another infection that spreads through coughing, like the cold or flu.

People with COPD may also have a higher risk of complications from infectious lung diseases, so protecting against them is important.

Consider the following tips to help stay healthy and avoid passing on infections:

  • Cover coughs and sneezes.

  • Consider getting the vaccines your doctor recommends.

  • Stay home when you don’t feel well.

  • Wash your hands often.

  • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home.

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some questions about COPD and whether it’s contagious.

Is chronic bronchitis contagious?

Acute (short-term) bronchitis (a chest cold) can be contagious because a virus or bacteria causes it.

Chronic bronchitis isn’t contagious because germs aren’t the cause. It develops over time due to environmental factors like cigarette smoking and pollutants.

Is COPD curable?

There’s currently no cureTrusted Source for COPD. However, you can manage your symptoms and slow disease progression with treatments such as medication, pulmonary rehabilitation, and surgery if needed.

What is the life expectancy of someone with COPD?

A 2020 study that followed people with COPD for 10 years found the following loss of life expectancy based on the COPD stage:

  • Severe stage: loss of 8–9 years

  • Moderate stage: loss of 6 years

  • Mild stage: no loss of life expectancy

Still, it’s important to know that life expectancy can differ for everyone. How long you can live with COPD depends on the severity of your symptoms and the stage of the condition. With early, effective treatment, you can live for many years after a COPD diagnosis.

Is COPD hereditary?

While COPD isn’t typically hereditary, you may inherit a protein deficiency called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). People with AATD may have a higher riskTrusted Source of COPD and other lung diseases.

Takeaway

One person can’t transmit COPD to another. But COPD can cause someone to cough a lot, increasing their risk of transmitting other infections like the cold and flu.

People with COPD may also have a higher risk of complications from respiratory infections. Taking protective steps, such as covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands frequently, and sanitizing commonly touched surfaces, can help reduce the risk of infections.

How Pulmonary Rehab Can Improve Quality of Life for Those with COPD

Pulmonary rehabilitation involves following an individualized treatment plan that may include physical exercise, breathing techniques, nutritional education, and counseling.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases characterized by lung damage and breathing issues. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common varieties of COPD.

Rehab can help reduce your COPD symptoms, improve your quality of life, and reduce the risk of more serious lung, heart, or respiratory problems down the road.

Here’s what to know about the rehab and how it can help.

What is pulmonary rehab for COPD?

Pulmonary rehab is designed to improve your health and quality of life if you live with COPD. Without treatment, the disease may become life threatening.

After doing an assessment with a team of healthcare professionals, your recommended treatment plan will likely involveTrusted Source:

These steps are designed to help maintain your physical and psychological health. They can also help you stick to long-term health goals.

What are pulmonary rehab exercises for COPD like?

Pulmonary rehab exercises may involveTrusted Source:

  • Exercise training: This typically involves endurance, flexibility, and strength training exercises. Cycling and walking are the most commonly recommended endurance exercises. Strength training may require weights or resistance bands. Your exercise and training load should increase over time with the goal of improving muscle strength and aerobic capacity.

  • Breath training: Breath training may involve yogic breathing, pursed lip breathing, computer-assisted breathing programs, and other tools and techniques designed to help you breathe more easily and reduce stress.

  • Nutritional support: Nutritional counseling involves guidance to ensure that you maintain a well-rounded diet. Weight and muscle mass loss are common in later COPD stages, but a healthy rehab program can help restore your physical health.

  • Counseling and education: Counseling and education can help you deal with the stress and emotions that may come with COPD. Many with COPD also have anxiety or depression, but these conditions can be treated via therapeutic support. They’ll also be guided to understand how to take medications, manage flare-ups, and perform day-to-day tasks in a healthier and easier way.

  • Smoking cessation: Since smoking contributes to the majority of COPD cases, quitting smoking is often integral to the treatment plan. It involves smoking cessation therapy with help from positive reinforcement.

Benefits of pulmonary rehab for COPD

Since there’s currently no known cure for COPD, pulmonary rehab can’t help patients overcome the disease altogether. However, there are several benefitsTrusted Source of keeping up with the rehab:

  • Builds strength: Research has shown improvements in maximal exercise capacity and strength in people with various lung conditions, including after a lung transplant.

  • Increases aerobic capacity: Regular high intensity exercise helps people increase aerobic metabolism, which helps them tolerate more exercise before experiencing fatigue or shortness of breath.

  • Reduces anxiety and depression: Research shows that rehab can lead to a decrease in anxiety and depression in those with COPD, thanks in part to support from specialists like psychologists, therapists, and social workers.

  • Increases longevity: Pulmonary rehab is associated with better survival outcomes. In a 2023 reviewTrusted Source, researchers noted an association between rehab started within 3 months of being discharged from the hospital and a lower risk of mortality within 1 year.

  • Quality of life: Several studies have found a link between pulmonary rehab and an improved quality of life (based on assessment tests like the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire).

FAQ about pulmonary rehab for COPD

How long is pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD?

Pulmonary rehab typically consists of 2–3 weekly sessionsTrusted Source over a period of several weeks to months.

After that, a maintenance plan is still necessary to maintain results. Without continuing to implement some of the exercises into a regular routine, benefits can diminish within 6–12 months, a 2023 reviewTrusted Source suggests.

Rehab is essentially the first step toward making healthy lifestyle changes that last.

Does insurance or Medicare cover pulmonary rehab?

Many insurance providers will fully or partially cover pulmonary rehab, so check with yours to find out.

Medicare also covers the program in some cases.

How can I find a good pulmonary rehab center?

If you’re interested in finding a quality pulmonary rehab center, a GP can give you a referral.

In the United States, other specific resources include:

In the event that there’s not a rehab program in your area, following a regular exercise regimen and implementing healthy lifestyle changes can still have a profound effect on your day-to-day life. Your doctor may be able to provide you with the assistance you need to live well.

And since walking is one of the most common exercises recommended to those in pulmonary rehab, starting with regular strolls may significantly improve your condition.

Takeaway

A pulmonary rehab program typically consists of exercise training, breathing exercises, education, nutritional support, and counseling. It benefits those with COPD by increasing exercise capacity, boosting strength and breath capacity, increasing longevity, and improving one’s day-to-day life.

The main goal of pulmonary rehab is to instill healthy lifestyle changes that last. If there’s not a program near you, a doctor may still be able to assist you in implementing new strategies to live more fully and well.