COPD is short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The disease makes it difficult to breathe and it is often associated with long-term tobacco addiction. However, asthma and air pollution can also contribute to the development of COPD. The disease is chronic and causes narrowing of the airways, increased mucus production, coughing and shortness of breath. This reduces the ability to exercise and therefore, the muscles are weakened. In addition, COPD patients are at greater risk of developing airway infections, including pneumonia.
The lungs of a COPD patients are nothing like healthy lungs. Lungs of COPD patients are characterised by destroyed air sacks and narrow, inflamed airways filled with large amounts of mucus. Thus, it becomes more difficult for the lungs to provide the body with oxygen, and this could be fatal.
Pneumonia can be due to both bacteria, viruses and fungi. People with pneumonia develop inflamed air sacs filled with fluid, making breathing more difficult. It may also reduce oxygen levels in the blood, and for this reason, pneumonia can be fatal.
In COPD patients, both the respiratory system and the immune system are weakened. They are therefore more vulnerable to pneumonia and at the same time, it typically takes them longer to recover from the infection. Pneumonia worsens breathing in COPD patients and therefore pneumonia in these patients will often require hospitalisation to prevent fatal situations.
For patients with COPD it is therefore recommended:
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To ensure proper hand hygiene to reduce the risk of infections
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To get vaccinated against the flu, whooping cough, and pneumococcal disease
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To avoid smoking
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To avoid people with respiratory diseases
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To receive effective treatment against COPD and to try to stay active
It can be difficult to assess whether a COPD patient experiences a COPD flare-up or pneumonia, when symptoms from the airways suddenly become worse. However, the symptoms of pneumonia often include fever, chills, muscle aches and exhaustion, as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It is therefore important to be aware of these symptoms.
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