Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the world’s third leading killer behind ischemic heart disease and stroke but how is it related to sleep apnea and are you at risk? COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes one experience difficulty in breathing such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and non-reversible asthma. Over 480 million adults worldwide are suffering from COPD but it is preventable as 80-90% of cases are caused by tobacco smoke first and secondhand smoke and secondary causes can be due to childhood respiratory infections and chronic exposure to air pollution, dust and chemicals. COPD patients have a 10% chance of developing sleep apnea and vice versa and those who have overlap syndrome significantly increase their risk of death compared to those who only have one or the other therefore it is important to treat both conditions.
There are both non-invasive and surgical treatment options available but currently, there is no cure for COPD hence spreading awareness of COPD and sleep apnea is important as there at least 7 out of 10 people with COPD do not know that they have it as indicated in a study. COPD symptoms can include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic coughing that often do not appear till the lungs were significantly damaged. Gaining awareness is as simple as taking a short 5-question screening quiz on the COPD foundation’s website.
People who are at risk include those who are long-time smokers be it cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or marijuana, those who were exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke, chemical fumes, vapors, and dust especially construction workers, those who are 35 years or older, and those who have alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency which is a rare and undetected genetic condition that sometimes misdiagnosed as asthma. It is important to consult a doctor for advice if you are at risk or
suspect might be suffering from COPD based on the screening questionnaire. The doctor will advise the type of treatment options that is suitable for your condition and usually manage sleep apnea by getting an accurate diagnosis via sleep apnea CPAP trial in the comfort of your home or an in lab sleep test to avoid any long-term issues and recommend an early intervention such as CPAP therapy with a sleep apnea device to stop snoring, get better quality of sleep, and healthier overall well-being.
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