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WWW.YOUR OPTIMAL NUTRITION.COM

Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary DiseaseFacts About COPD

YourOptimalNutrition.com

7/30/2012

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eeh D

Fact

S

AgeHealthier

BreatheEasierInformationfor Older Adults andtheirCaregivers

ChronicObstructive

PulmonaryDisease

(COPD) is the fourthleadingcause of

death in theUnited

States.

More than two

millionadults age

65 and older have

asthma, and in

2004more than one

million older adults

sufferedan asthma

episode.4

id you know that

Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease

(COPD) is the fourth

leading cause ofdeath in the

United States, claiming more

than125,000 lives in 2005?1 In

2006, COPD caused 672,000

hospitalizations and 1.4 millionhospital emergency room

visits.2 COPD includes chronic

bronchitis and emphysema -

lung diseases which frequently

coexist and arecharacterized

by obstruction to air flow,

making it difficult to breathe.

Smokers are particularly at risk

ofdeveloping COPD, however,it also has been linked to

workplace exposure to dust

and fumes. Symptomsincludechronic cough, increased

mucus production, chest

tightness,shortness ofbreath

and difficultybreathing.

Economic Impact ofCOPD and Asthma

In 2007, the annual treatment

cost for all age groups was

approximately $43 billion for

COPD.3

COPD isparticularlycommon among older adults

and significantly compromises

theirquality of life. As baby

boomers age, the numberof

older adultsaffected by COPD

and asthma isexpected to

grow significantly.

Environmental Hazards,Triggers for COPD andAsthma

Outdoor AirExposure to airpollution can pose

a significant risk to older adults,

especially those with lung disease.Particle pollution may aggravate

lungdiseases, including COPD

andasthma, and may be

responsible forserious health

effects, includinghospitalization

orpremature death. Ozone also

mayaggravate lung diseases and

may result in emergency room

andhospital admissions.

Indoor AirPollutants that exist within

homes and buildings also

may be harmful to persons

with COPD orasthma. Many

olderpersons spend up to 90

percent of their time indoors,

often at home. Common indoor

environmental hazards that

may trigger COPD and asthma

attacks include tobacco smoke

(direct and second-hand smoke),

animal dander, dust mites and

cockroaches, mold, dust andpollen. Other sources ofindoor

airpollution that may trigger a

COPD orasthma attack include

combustion products of oil, gas,

kerosene and coal, and building

materials and furnishings made

ofpressed wood products.

Pesticides,household cleaning

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Pollutants that exist within homes and buildings also may be

harmfultopersonswith COPD orasthma.

What you can do to

control and reduceexposure toenvironmental hazards

Ifyou or your loved one experience symptoms

ofCOPDorasthma, consult a doctor and follow

a management plan outlinedby yourhealth

care provider. The key to management ofthese

diseases is through preventive measures andreduced exposure toenvironmental hazards.

Take steps to prevent, controlandreduce the

frequency ofsymptoms to allow you oryour

loved one to breathe easier.

Q Avoid tobacco smoke

Q Avoid smoke from wood-burning stoves

Q Reduce mold, dust mites and

cockroaches in your home

Q Keep pets out of sleeping areas

Q Check furnace and heating unitsannually

Q Fix water leaks promptly

Q Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)

Reduce outdooractivity as much as possible on

poor airquality days. TheAQI reports how clean

the air is andwhetherit will affect your health.

Ifyou have access to the Internet, you can learn

moreabout the AQIby visiting www.epa.gov/

airnow. If you do not have access to a computer

or the internet, you canlearn more about the

daily AQI through newspaper,television and radio

weatherreports.

products and substances with irritating

odors also may exacerbate these

diseases.

Learn More About EPAsAging Initiative

The Aging Initiative is working to protect

theenvironmental health of older adults

through the coordination ofresearch,

prevention strategies and public

education. Formoreinformation about

the Aging Initiative, visit www.epa.

gov/aging.

Aposter entitled Age Healthier Breathe

Easier on COPD, asthma and older

adults is also available on the website to

download.

Endnotes

1. Centers forDisease Control and

Prevention,National Center forHealth

Statistics. Final Vital Statistics Report.

Deaths: Final Data for2005, Vol. 56,

No.10, April 24, 2008.

2. Ibid.

3. U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices, National Institutes ofHealth.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Morbidity and Mortality: 2007 Chartbookon

Cardiovascular, Lung and Blood Diseases.

4. National Center for Health Statistics.

Raw Data from the National Health

Interview Survey, U.S., 1982-1996,

2001-2004.

Publication NumberEPA 100-F-09-045