Men's Health Line - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that results in obstruction of the airways. It usually refers to two disorders: chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema.

What causes it?

Smoking is the main cause of COPD. Occupational exposure to chemical fumes and organic dusts (such as wood, mining dusts) can also be a risk factor.

Apart from chronic smoking, prolonged second-hand smoking can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Follow occupational health measures and wear mask to reduce inhalation of organic dusts.

What are the common symptoms?

COPD results from chronic irritation and inflammation of the airways, and develops gradually over the years and worsens with time. Symptoms range from being barely noticeable to incapacitating. Common symptoms of COPD include:

Chronic cough
Shortness of breath

What are the effects?

Although chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema are diseases that progress slowly, they can compromise the lung function and lead to complications including chest infections which can be fatal.

How can I prevent it?

You can lower your risk of having COPD by:

No smoking.
Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
Observe occupational health measures by wearing mask to reduce inhalation of organic dust.

Prevention

What is the treatment?

There is no cure for COPD. But there are treatments such as medication along with lifestyle changes that can control and slow down the progress of this disease. The choice of an appropriate treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms, the extent to which they affect the patient's life, and the presence of any other medical conditions.

How can I help myself?

If you have a diagnosis of COPD, there are many things you can do to help yourself, including:

Become a non-smoker.
Reduce exposure to environmental irritants e.g. secondhand smoke, fumes and environmental pollutants.
Learn and practice breathing techniques to control your breathing.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise regularly under medical supervision.
Use prescribed medications properly and treat infection early.
Avoid stress.
Eat properly and have a healthy diet.

If you have any suspicions, you should seek medical advice.


		Smoke Free & Fresh


		Health Education Infoline of the Department of Health: 2833 0111

		Organizations Offering Help Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of the Department of Health: 1833 183 •Press 1：Department of Health Smoking Cessation Hotline •Press 2：Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Smoking Cessation Hotline •Press 3：Hospital Authority Quitline •Press 4：Pok Oi Smoking Cessation Service using Traditional Chinese Medicine •Press 5：Youth Quitline of the University of Hong Kong

		Hospital Authority Quitline Phone: 2300 7272

		United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service - Smoke Free Club Phone: 3156 9012

		Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation Phone: 2332 8977