Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects a reported 16 million Americans. However, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes, millions more may have developed this condition and may not even know it.

Keep reading for information about COPD, including what it is and how it can negatively impact your health, particularly for seniors.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung condition that causes air flow blockage and difficulty breathing. While the term COPD may be unfamiliar to some, you are likely familiar with the two most common health conditions associated with it: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Asthma shares some similarities with COPD but they are different conditions.

The CDC indicates that excess exposure to tobacco smoke is one of the leading causes of the development of COPD in American adults.

However, the following factors may also contribute to the onset of COPD:

• Genetics
• Excess exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants
• A history of or increased reactivity to respiratory infections

COPD may exist without any symptoms present. However, if it advances enough to create significant lung damage, the following symptoms may result:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest
• Wheezing
• Excess coughing with mucus
• Recurring respiratory infections
• Fatigue
• Undesired weight loss

COPD can sometimes progress to chronic respiratory failure, which results in the impairment of either exhaling carbon dioxide or bringing in oxygen.

However, while COPD gets worse over time, it is treatable—especially if you catch it early, monitor it, and manage it properly as guided by your healthcare provider. 

As a 2017 review in the medical journal Clinics in Geriatric Medicine notes, COPD “is prevalent in the elderly population, with high impact on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality.” The article also notes that COPD is linked to premature aging and other medical conditions, which may in part demonstrate why it is underdiagnosed and thus left untreated in many cases.

According to the CDC, along with adults over the age of 65, the following populations are also at a higher risk of developing COPD:

• Women
• Past and present tobacco smokers
• Indigenous people in the US
• Non-Hispanic multiracial groups
• Retirees, those who cannot work, and other sedentary groups
• People who lose a life partner through separation, divorce, or death
• Asthmatics

As we can see, seniors may be included in any of these groups on top of their risk due to advanced age. For this reason, it is highly important to be in regular contact with your medical team, especially if you:

• have any of the symptoms listed above
• have a personal or family history of respiratory infection
• have a family history of COPD

COPD is diagnosed by measuring the air capacity of your lungs with a device called a spirometer, as well as evaluating symptoms.

Again, treatments are available to reduce the severity of COPD symptoms. The CDC shares that such treatments and lifestyle tips include:

• Medication for coughing and wheezing
• Quitting smoking and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke
• Avoiding exposure to pollutants and improving your home’s air quality
• Taking extra precautions to avoid lung infections, such as getting the flu shot each year
• Learning breathing tips
• Using supplemental oxygen when necessary

Content contained on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your health care provider before beginning any new fitness or dietary plan. References provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Should you have any health-related questions, you should contact your health care provider.

Learn more through these related resources:

COPD and CAT Scores

Does Exercise Help COPD?