Short breath when climbing stairs or taking off clothes, suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Mar 09, 2025
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The main symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are cough, phlegm, and dyspnea. In particular, symptoms of shortness of breath may appear when climbing stairs or wearing clothes and taking them off. However, there may be no symptoms in the early stages, and even if the lung function is reduced by more than 50%, there are cases where symptoms are not felt, so it is important to have a regular checkup if there are risk factors.
Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and occupational dust, chemical exposure, air pollution, low socio-economic levels, and chronic bronchitis. Genetic factors and old age, digestion that was born underweight at birth or affect lung growth, and respiratory infections are also risk factors. In particular, if a smoker aged 40 or older or a person who has been exposed to dust and gas for a long time shows symptoms of coughing, phlegm, and dyspnea over a long period of time, he or she must undergo a lung function test.
Professor Jang-soo of the Department of Respiratory Allergy at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital said "These symptoms can also appear for a long time in diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculous destructive pulmonary disease, and bronchiectasis, so they should be discriminated through accurate examination."
Diagnostic methods include lung capacity measurement to confirm functional changes, X-rays to examine structural changes, and chest CT. When measuring the lung capacity, 'effortive expiratory volume for 1 second' and 'effortive lung capacity' are measured, and if 'effortive expiratory volume for 1 second' is divided by 'effortive lung capacity', less than 0.7 can be diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Inhalation is the basic treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchodilators such as 'beta-2' and 'anticholinergic' can be used in combination depending on the patient's condition and symptoms, such as the number of exacerbations and the degree of difficulty breathing. In addition, oxygen therapy, systemic steroids, antibiotics, fluids, and diuretics can be used.
When chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsens rapidly, systemic steroid injection treatment is performed, reducing recovery and hospital stay, improving lung function, improving oxygen partial pressure in arterial blood, and reducing exacerbations. However, continued repeated deterioration may cause other side effects, so caution is required. Accordingly, biological agents are also attracting attention as a new treatment.
Professor Jang-soo said, `When patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsen severely, it is difficult to get enough nutrition, which often weakens the whole body and worsens the heart. In addition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is often accompanied by various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, lung cancer, and depression, so it is necessary to consider this and choose a treatment method carefully.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease weakens breathing muscles such as the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which requires rehabilitation treatment. Respiratory rehabilitation treatment recommends aerobic exercise three to five times a week for 20-60 minutes a day, and includes treatment for emotional changes such as social isolation and depression as well as decreased exercise performance, muscle weakness, and weight loss.
Smoking cessation is the most important for the prevention and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You should be vaccinated against flu and pneumococcus every year, and you should maintain your physical strength with proper nutrition and regular exercise. Indoor air quality management is also important.
Professor Jang-soo said "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is at risk of leading to lung cancer or pneumonia if left unattended, and there is a risk of various complications, but it can be sufficiently managed with early diagnosis and steady treatment. I hope you keep a healthy breath with regular check-ups and proper lifestyle habits."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
