5 ways to lower your risk of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases in Canada. Although there is no cure for COPD, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing the condition.

If you smoke cigarettes, quit. Smoking inflames the lining of your airways and causes irreparable damage.

• Quitting smoking is not easy and may seem daunting if you have tried to quit in the past.
• Talk to your physician about nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and lozenges, and seek a referral to a smoking cessation clinic to receive guidance on managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms and handling relapses.

Exposure to smoke increases your risk of COPD. If you want to avoid second-hand smoke, make your home and vehicle smoke free.

• If your relatives smoke, ask them to do it outside.
• If you must share space with someone who is smoking, sit as far away from the smoke as possible.

Exposure to dust and chemicals including coal, grains, isocyanates and cadmium may increase your likelihood of developing COPD.

• If your job exposes you to fumes or dust, use any relevant protective equipment provided by your employer.
• For example, you may need to wear protective equipment such as masks, breathing apparatus and powered respirators to reduce your risk of breathing in harmful substances.

According to some studies, air pollution may be a risk factor for COPD. Air pollution is generally lowest in the morning and rises throughout the day.

• To limit your exposure to air pollution, stay away from high-pollution areas such as congested roadways and parking lots.
• When you are in public, try not to walk behind smokers.
• Take in the recommended daily dose of vitamin C through foods including oranges, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach to reduce the risk of damage after exposure to pollution.

A rare genetic disorder called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is the cause of some cases of COPD.

• It causes low levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin, a protein that is made in your liver and secreted into your bloodstream to help protect your lungs.
• If alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency runs in your family, ask your physician to test you for the condition.
• If you have low levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin, you may be able to take medication to control the condition and limit the damage to your lungs.

While it is not as well-known as other major illnesses, COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, and experts predict that it is likely to become the third leading cause of death by 2020. The good news is that COPD has a clear path of prevention, and the vast majority of cases are directly related to risk factors that you can identify and control through simple lifestyle interventions.