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Cigarettes + You = COPD
Do not let this dangerous equation affect you.
Think lung cancer is the only condition brought on by smoking? Think again. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects as many as 430,000 people in Cook
County alone — and half of these cases are undiagnosed.
“COPD is extremely preventable,” Charles Alex, MD, board-certified pulmonologist and medical director of the lung transplantation program at Loyola University Health System, said. “Smoking is the chief culprit for COPD. Unfortunately as long as smoking is around, COPD will be a problem. I make sure that all my patients attempt to quit smoking.”
Getting Fresh Air
COPD is a lung disease that occurs when the tissues of the lungs become inflamed resulting in chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Initially the sufferer experiences a chronic
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Women suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) now outnumber men. |
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cough and occasional shortness of breath. Over time,the lung tissue can become permanently destroyed, resulting in an incapacitating condition — making it difficult to walk even 50 feet without rest.
Since there is currently no cure for COPD, the best way to overcome the condition is to avoid cigarette smoking. If you don’t smoke, you will most likely never experience COPD. If, however, years of smoking do result in COPD, you can stop smoking, take special medications and use a portable oxygen device to help manage symptoms.
Transplant: The Last Resort
In severe cases of COPD, the condition can worsen over time despite every medical effort. When other treatments, such as medications, don’t allow you to live the life you deserve, another option is available at Loyola.
“There are medications that can improve symptoms of COPD, but none are as effective as quitting smoking,” James Gagermeier, MD, pulmonologist and associate medical director of the lung transplant program at Loyola, said. “When medications aren’t enough, a lung transplant is often the best choice for improving an individual’s quality of life. At Loyola, our highly qualified team performs approximately 30 lung transplants annually using a multidisciplinary approach to care.”
If you smoke and experience a chronic cough or shortness of breath, see your physician. Call (888) LUHS-888 to make an appointment with a Loyola physician. Loyola offers a six-week smoking cessation program. Call (888) LUHS-888 ext.6-0585 for more information or to register. Log on to www.giftofhope.org to find out how you can become an organ donor.
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