Last Updated on March 28, 2025 by Analgesia team
What are The 3 Main Causes of COPD
COPD is the medical abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Chronic bronchitis: A long-term cough with mucus
- Emphysema: Damage to the lungs over time
The Main Causes of COPD
The main causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are tobacco smoking, air pollution, and genetic abnormalities.
- The most common cause of COPD
- Three out of four people with COPD smoke or used to smoke
- People with a family history of COPD are more likely to develop it if they smoke
- Exposure to high levels of indoor air pollutants from burning wood and other biomass materials
- Long-term exposure to particulate matter PM 2.5 and nitrogen dioxides
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is a rare genetic condition that can cause COPD at a young age
- People with alpha-1 have a much lower-than-normal level of the blood protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin
Treatment
There is no cure for COPD, but treatments can help slow its progression and keep it under control. Treatments include medicines, oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and avoiding smoking and exposure to air pollution.
COPD Pain Management
Pain management for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can include over-the-counter and prescription medications, heat therapy, massage, and lifestyle changes.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Such as ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin, these can help with mild pain
- Opioids: Such as morphine or codeine, these can help with severe pain, but should be used with caution
- Mucolytic medicines: Such as carbocisteine or acetylcysteine, these can help with a chesty cough and thick phlegm
- Steroid tablets: These can help with flare-ups, but long-term use can cause side effects
- Heating pads: These can help with muscle and joint stiffness
- This can help with pain, muscle relaxation, and stress reduction
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Diet
Eating smaller meals more often, and choosing unprocessed foods like fish, lean meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables can help with pain
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Exercise
Cardio, stretching, and strengthening activities can help with breathing and muscle maintenance
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Palliative careThis can provide support for physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and respite care need
Complications
COPD can lead to life-threatening problems. It’s important to plan for end of life care, such as palliative care, in advance.
COPD is sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a form of COPD that damages the walls between the air sacs in the lungs, making it harder to move air out of the body. Chronic bronchitis is another form of COPD that involves a long-term cough with mucus
- Cigar smoke
- Secondhand smoke
- Pipe smoke
- Air pollution
- Workplace exposure to dust, smoke, or fumes