Get Informed: COPD
COPD: Overview
COPD, also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COAD), is a lung condition that consists of heavy sputum production (chronic bronchitis) and destruction of lung tissue (emphysema). Most often caused by long term exposure to cigarette smoke, COPD is a common cause of shortness of breath in older patients - often made worse by infections and/or exposure to air pollution.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-19 3:04 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Oct-02 9:51 PM
1 in 45 Americans have COPD
iGuard is currently monitoring more than 39,255 patients with COPD from around the United States as shown on the heat map below. These figures suggest that roughly 6.69 million Americans have COPD with women being 2 times more likely to be affected than men.
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
Medications used for COPD
Drugs commonly taken by iGuard.org users for COPD are listed below, together with the percentage of patients that take each drug.
|
Commonly Used Medication Name* (Hover mouse over name to see medication class) |
% of Patients | Average Risk Rating | Has Generic Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singulair | 24% |
|
No |
| Proair HFA | 21% |
|
Yes |
| Advair | 17% |
|
No |
| Prednisone | 6% |
|
Yes |
Less than 5%: Clarinex, Combivent, Flovent, Fluticasone, Garlic, Mucinex, Nasacort, Pulmicort, Spiriva, Symbicort, Xopenex
*This list is NOT EXHAUSTIVE - Only drugs used by a sufficiently large number of iGuard.org users are listed.
**Medications are sometimes known by different brand/generic names, depending upon how they are packaged or used.
Global Patient Feedback for COPD ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I am a 67 year old female with COPD and lung cancer. My husband is 63 and has COPD, but has much more trouble breathing, getting winded, etc than I do. Does this sound plausible?
68 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-10 20:21:33
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a progressive disease. Progressive means the symptoms worsen with time. It does sound plausible that your husband could have more trouble breathing and getting winded. His COPD could be more severe, which would cause those symptoms to be more pronounced. Many treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms of COPD. Your husband should talk to his physician about his treatment regimen so that he can find a regimen that helps improve his quality of life.
Posted: 2009-11-11 14:17:05
Question/Comment:
I wasiagnoised with COPD on July 24th 2009. I wsa prescribed a fluid pill, presdoned and an inhaler for only a short time. Should I have this medicines refilled? I am a 52 year old Black female.
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-10 11:12:30
Question/Comment:
Why does COPD never feel better? It just seems to get worse. What was the sense of quiting smoking if it wasn't to make you feel better.. I keep feeling worse every day - and feel like going back for a cigerette. I know that is stupid, but I am getting really frustrated with nothing helping anyway and feeling worse every day.
80 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-16 20:38:55
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, refers to two different diseases in the United States. One is emphysema, and the other is chronic bronchitis. Most people who suffer from it smoke cigarettes or used to smoke cigarettes. It is a progressive disease, meaning that it is not known at this time how to reverse the damage to the lungs once a diagnosis is made and that it will get worse with time. However, it is important to quit smoking to prevent further damage. Finding the proper treatment regimen and making lifestyle changes will slow the progression of the disease and improve your quality of life, possibly making it so that daily activities are no longer so hard or feel so bad. Work with your physician to find the medications and treatments that help you feel the best. You may want to ask your doctor about pulmonary rehabilitation, which can also help to improve the way you feel. However, not all insurance companies cover this so you will need to talk to your insurance company to determine if it is covered.
Posted: 2009-07-20 09:45:47
Question/Comment:
Can you tell me what is an "emergency" inhaler.
Is Ventolin or Proventil considered an emergency inhaler. I don't know what they mean by that
80 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-14 22:39:33
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
An emergency or rescue inhaler is typically a short acting bronchodilator medication such as albuterol. Albuterol is the active ingredient in both Ventolin and Proventil. Short acting bronchodilators like albuterol help to open the airways in a short amount of time. Ventolin and Proventil could be considered rescue inhalers depending on how they are prescribed by your doctor.
You should discuss any concerns with your doctor and clarify how they want you to use the Ventolin or Proventil (albuterol).
Posted: 2009-07-16 23:49:59
Question/Comment:
i am a 73 year old male and although i only have to use it only occasionally i have found ALBUTEROL (proventil) very effective when i do need to use it, it acts very fast too.
74 year old Male
Posted: 2009-05-15 14:54:38
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
8
Patient Comments about
COPD