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    Many Ignore Symptoms of Lung Disease, Study Finds

    HealthDay – Thu, Dec 1, 2011

    THURSDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is rising, but many of those at risk don't talk to their doctor about symptoms, according to a new survey by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

    Symptoms of COPD -- the third-leading cause of death in the United States -- include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, excess sputum production and a feeling of not being able to take a deep breath.

    COPD affects 24 million people in the United States, but as many as half of them haven't been diagnosed.

    The NHLBI Internet survey of almost 4,200 adults found that 71 percent of respondents said they are aware of COPD, compared with 65 percent in 2008.

    Awareness was highest among those most at risk, current and former smokers. Awareness was 78 percent among current smokers and 76 percent among former smokers, compared to 69 percent and 68 percent, respectively, in 2008.

    The survey also found that 27 percent of current smokers said they had suffered from a chronic cough or wheezing, or had been too short of breath to do normal activities in the past year. That's more than double the rate in the general population (13 percent).

    However, 40 percent of smokers who said they had these COPD symptoms had not discussed them with a doctor or other health care provider.

    "COPD is surpassing other diseases as a major killer in this country. We want to reverse this trend by educating people about the symptoms, so they can get proper treatment as early as possible," James Kiley, director of the NHLBI Division of Lung Diseases, said in an institute news release.

    "It is not enough to have heard of COPD. Those at risk need to know the signs so they can talk to their health care provider about any breathing problems they are having and, hopefully, find relief," he added.

    More information

    The American Thoracic Society has more about COPD.

     

    8 comments

    • GeorgeS
      GeorgeS  •  Manchester, United States  •  5 mths ago
      If you have COPD and you run a marathon you will have to stop once in a while to catch your breath. I am not on oxygen yet but I have a meter that measures oxygen in my blood.
      I have COPD so far able to manage it.
    • JAR
      JAR  •  Minneapolis, United States  •  5 mths ago
      I put a thumbs down to Sherry's comment only because I am so sick of hearing it. I have COPD and according to the pundits who keep trying to kill me, I should have been dead already. Instead I lead a pretty active life, all things considered. I also have severe allergies and asthma, so if one isn't let me get air out, the other isn't letting it it. I'm on O2 therapy as well as asthma meds and watch what I eat as far as allergies go. What I do celebrate is what Jesus did for us; He took all our afflictions upon himself thereby healing us before we ever get ill. I attribute that belief to my being able to keep on keeping on. One day, through Him, I will be cured. What is impossible for man, is possible with God. Xena says exercise more; she's right in one respect, it does open up the passages, but she's also naive. Exercise is much more difficult with COPD. If you've got it though, do it even if it's a little bit compared to others as it does help you breath; most importantly, don't compare your exercise ability to that of a healthy person.
    • Joe
      Joe  •  Madison, United States  •  5 mths ago
      Find a place to live where the air and water are clean. Not an easy task, as clean water and clean air are also the place where you won't find any jobs, go figure. Let your body cleanse itself. Unfortunately the lungs will not grow new cilia. I'm sure I have it, I've been smoking all my life as well as industrial jobs, asbestos exposure, running chainsaws, mowing the lawn, what have you.
    • Sam
      Sam  •  5 mths ago
      My daughter is taking a (slow) walk everyday and she is doing better. It is getting easier as she gets stronger. The worst thing you can do is to not exercise and move around.
    • JAR
      JAR  •  Minneapolis, United States  •  5 mths ago
      I am retracting my statement about comparing oneself to a healthy person; you are as healthy as you believe you are, but with COPD you probably won't be able to run a marathon anytime soon. The next time your Dr. tells you you are going to die, remember, although he/she thinks he/she is God, they aren't, and if you can't flip them off in the office, do it in your mind and remember what Jesus has already done for you. Flipping them off mentally feels real good, too.
    • Fiddler
      Fiddler  •  Reno, United States  •  5 mths ago
      The article failed to mention that COPD is incurable.
    • al s
      al s  •  Dallas, United States  •  5 mths ago
      if your looking for a healthy environment, you'll have to move off the planet... if you're looking for safe sex, you're probably alone in a room somewhere... if you're going to stop exercising because it hurts a bit and gets a bit harder to breath, you're already dead...
    • xena
      xena  •  Reno, United States  •  5 mths ago
      Exercise more.
     Post a comment
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