The American Lung Association reports that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third biggest killer of people worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for this progressive lung disease that typically results from many years of smoking. Having COPD, like the habit of smoking, puts you at higher risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease and a range of other diseases and conditions that can worsen your prognosis and diminish your quality of life.
GERD, Acid Reflux or Chronic Heartburn
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 20 percent of Americans experience the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called acid reflux disease, at least weekly. If you have GERD, you’re likely well acquainted with the burning sensation of stomach acid leaking into the esophagus. Most of us have experienced heartburn occasionally after eating certain foods, but if you have GERD, you’ll feel the burn a lot more frequently.
GERD is a chronic condition in which the valve at the bottom of the esophagus weakens and allows stomach acid to escape the stomach and burn the lining of the esophagus. According to the Lung Institute, more than 50 percent of people with later stage COPD also have GERD.
Having GERD can worsen your COPD prognosis. A 2006 study in the journal CHEST found that “the rate of exacerbations of COPD was twice as high in patients with [gastroesophageal reflux] symptoms compared to those without GER symptoms.” The reason for this, the researchers postulated, was that patients were aspirating or breathing in tiny amounts of stomach acid. Coughing facilitates this transfer of acid to the lungs, and in turn, introduction of this acid to the lungs causes bronchospasms resulting in more coughing and a worsening of the patient’s COPD.
A simple antacid isn’t usually enough to help calm the burn of GERD, but any of an array of over-the-counter or prescription drugs could help. If you’re having trouble with heartburn, it might be more than just the after-effects of a spicy meal. Speak with your doctor about ways to control it.
[See: 17 Ways Heart Health Varies in Women and Men.]
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, often accompanies a COPD diagnosis. The Lung Institute reports that “the nature of [COPD] forces the heart to work overtime,” because damage in the lungs means less oxygen gets into the blood. “This produces high blood pressure in the blood vessels from the heart to the lungs, and makes it even more difficult for the heart to pump much-needed blood to the rest of the body.”
In addition, COPD can cause the body to increase its production of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen throughout the body, so it makes sense that if your lungs aren’t able to process as much oxygen, your body compensates by creating more red blood cells to carry what oxygen is available. The problem is, these extra cells make the blood thicker and harder to pump, which means you’ll need to breathe faster to bring more oxygen into the body, the Lung Institute reports.
Because hypertension so frequently accompanies COPD, your doctor will carefully monitor your blood pressure by taking frequent measurements. Hypertension can often be controlled through lifestyle changes, such as limiting the amount of salt and alcohol in your diet, and medications.
Osteoporosis
COPD patients are also at higher risk for developing osteoporosis, a disease that causes the bones to become weak and more likely to fracture. According to a 2016 review study in the Journal of Bone Metabolism, 35.1 percent of COPD patients have osteoporosis. The more advanced the case of COPD, the more likely that osteoporosis was also present.
The Mayo Clinic reports that the bones of patients with osteoporosis can become “so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.” Therefore, COPD patients, who typically cough a lot, are more likely to fracture ribs and other bones if they also have osteoporosis. This can lead to exacerbations, or a worsening of COPD.
Among the general population, osteoporosis is more common in post-menopausal women because production of estrogen, which plays a role in keeping the bones healthy, drops after menopause and the bones become weaker. People with diets deficient in vitamin D and/or calcium are also at higher risk of osteoporosis, the Vitamin D Council reports.
[See: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Lung Cancer.]
In COPD patients, several factors can elevate risk for developing osteoporosis. Inhaled corticosteroids are commonly prescribed to treat COPD, but these medications can disrupt the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D and contribute to bone loss. Some patients with later stage COPD end up malnourished, and this can lead to a vitamin D deficiency that contributes to the development or advancement of osteoporosis. Similarly, a lack of physical activity — particularly weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, dancing or lifting weights — can contribute to the development of osteoporosis.
Eating right, making sure you’re getting enough vitamin D and calcium and engaging in as much weight-bearing physical activity as you can may help your bones stay stronger longer. Your doctor may also prescribe medications that slow the breakdown of bones.
Sleep Disorders
Not being able to get a good night’s rest is not only frustrating, it can be really bad for your health. While we sleep, our bodies are hard at work repairing themselves, but for COPD patients, sleep disturbances and insomnia can be a constant problem. The Lung Institute reports that “about 50 percent of COPD patients report significant trouble sleeping.” These sleep disturbances may be side effects of medications, but many patients also experience sleep apnea.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute defines sleep apnea as “a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.” These pauses can last a few seconds or a few minutes and can happen dozens of times an hour. Oxygen in the body drops as you cease breathing. These spells often end with a loud snore or snort as the body gasps for breath, moving you out of deep sleep and into a lighter sleep. Although you may not even realize you’re waking up frequently during the night, the amount and quality of what sleep you are getting isn’t enough to serve your body’s needs. Sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can lead to dangerous situations (car accidents, for example) and can worsen your COPD prognosis.
Writing in a blog post for the COPD Foundation, Dr. Xavier Soler, assistant professor of medicine, pulmonary and critical care division at UC San Diego Health, reports that “obstructive sleep apnea occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of patients with COPD, a condition referred to as the ‘overlap syndrome. ‘”
[See: Can These New Devices Really Help You Sleep, Drug-Free?]
With or without COPD, if you have sleep apnea, your doctor will likely prescribe a CPAP device, a mask worn during sleep that dispenses compressed air through the nose to keep the airway open. Soler explains that although the rate of sleep apnea among COPD patients is about the same as the rate of sleep apnea in the general population, individuals who have both conditions but don’t have CPAP treatment “have an increased risk of death and more hospitalizations from acute exacerbations” of COPD. Other treatments may include surgery and pulmonary rehabilitation, a mix of exercise and education that can improve your quality of life with COPD.
Any or all of these associated conditions can start out as small annoyances, but they could also signal a bigger underlying problem or a progressive issue. Be sure to speak with your doctor if new symptoms develop or if current symptoms worsen.
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What Other Conditions Are Associated With COPD? originally appeared on usnews.com
