Local Medical Meeting Reveals Deadly COPD On The Rise

DANBURY — With many diseases on the decline, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — also called chronic bronchitis and emphysema — is the only chronic disease on the rise today in this country.

That means more than 12 million people will suffer from COPD this year, and probably one-tenth will die. It is the fourth leading cause of death, only behind heart disease, cancer, and stroke, according to John Chronokos, MD, Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Disease at Danbury Hospital.

“It’s like trying to breathe through a straw that has something stuck in it,” he said. Attributed to smoking in 90 percent of cases, COPD occurs when airways get thick and swollen and prevent the healthy flow of air into the lungs.

Dr Chronokos recently spoke at a hospital-sponsored Medical Town Meeting, “Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Patient’s Perspective.” The meeting included testimonials of six Danbury Hospital patients who are being greatly helped through the efforts of pulmonary rehabilitation.

The meeting was held to raise awareness for COPD, a disease that the experts say does not get the same attention as other diseases, like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

“Many people are walking around with it and don’t realize that they even have it,” said Frank Salvatore, manager of respiratory services.

COPD does not get the respect that other diseases get, according to Pat DiLauro, RRT, RN, coordinator of the Danbury Hospital Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. She said someone once called COPD the Rodney Dangerfield of diseases, referring to the late comedian who often joked that he couldn’t get any respect.

But by the year 2010, she said, people should take note, as it will become the number three leading cause of death.

This lack of awareness, according to Ms DiLauro, may be due, in part, to the fact that a lot of COPD patients are former smokers. People tend to look at smokers and blame them for getting lung disease or cancer. “No one points the finger at a heart disease patient and says, ‘You did this to yourself.’”

Several of the patients on the panel spoke about the blame and guilt they feel for being smokers. “We feel guilty,” said one patient.

In fact, more former smokers than active smokers will get lung cancer, according to Dr Chronokos. “Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death. Smoking is the single most important modifiable risk factory today for many diseases.”

But people can also get COPD in other ways, he said, including exposure to second-hand smoke, fumes from stoves or heaters, or air pollution.

Signs of COPD include trouble breathing, a cough that will not go away, or a cold or cough that lingers.

“The sooner you see your doctor, the better,” said Dr Chronokos, as COPD is treatable. “You can get better.” COPD is treated, he said, by medications like nebulizers and inhalers that work to treat the disease and prevent exacerbation.

He also recommends pulmonary rehabilitation, which helps patients participate in appropriate exercises while learning ways to manage their medications, breathe better, and conserve energy. For more information on COPD, ask your doctor, or visit www.danburyhospital.org.  If a doctor is needed, contact the Danbury Hospital Call Center at 866-374-0007.