COPD

In short

• When you have COPD, less air flows into and out of your lungs You quickly become breathless when you are physically active
• COPD cannot be cured. By giving up smoking and making sure that you get enough exercise, you can halt or slow down the progression of the disease
• With COPD it is easy to get caught in a downward spiral. Being active can leave you feeling breathless. Because the feeling of breathlessness is unpleasant, it makes you want to avoid exercise. This causes the symptoms to get worse
• Physiotherapy can help stop this downward spiral
• In many cases, physiotherapy for COPD is covered by basic health insurance

What is COPD?

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a chronic lung disease. ‘Chronic’ means that it cannot be cured. More than 600,000 people the Netherlands have COPD. They experience tightness in the chest and a cough that brings up mucus. COPD is primarily a disease of the lungs but it also affects the rest of the body.

COPD refers to a group of diseases that include:

Chronic bronchitis: When you have chronic bronchitis, your bronchial tubes are constantly inflamed. The bronchial tubes are the airways that branch into the lungs. The chronic inflammation causes the body to produce excess mucus and makes it harder to breathe.

Pulmonary emphysema: Pulmonary emphysema or emphysema slowly damages the alveoli in the lungs. The alveoli are the tiny air sacs where oxygen is delivered to the blood when you breathe in and waste products are removed from the blood when you breathe out. As they decrease in number, this process becomes more difficult. This can cause a feeling of tightness in the chest.

You can find more information about COPD on the Lung Foundation Netherlands (Longfonds) website.

Only available in dutch.

This short video issued by Lung Foundation Netherlands (Longfonds) explains what happens in your body when you have COPD. Only available in dutch.

Causes of COPD

COPD is usually caused by smoking. First-hand and passive smoking do serious damage to the lungs. This makes it easier for lung disease to develop. In some cases, COPD can be genetic. It can also develop as a result of asthma that does not respond to treatment. COPD usually becomes apparent after the age of 40.

Other causes of COPD

Approximately one in five people with COPD have never smoked. In their case, the disease has another cause, such as:

• Asthma, pneumonia or another lung disease
• Genetic susceptibility
• Exposure to harmful substances, such as wood dust, adhesives and paint fumes
• Air pollutants such as particulate matter

Symptoms of COPD

People with COPD can experience:

• Tightness in the chest and shortness of breath
• Coughing that brings up mucus
• Fatigue
• Loss of physical fitness and muscle strength
• Changes in mood, such as feeling depressed

Sometimes COPD symptoms can suddenly get worse. This is known as a flare-up. Severe flare-ups can require hospital treatment. People with COPD are also more susceptible to other health issues such as cardiovascular disease.

Treatment of COPD

COPD is a chronic condition and cannot be cured. But there is a lot that can be done to manage and possibly even reduce the symptoms of COPD. Physiotherapy can be a solution. It has been found to significantly improve quality of life for people with COPD.

How can a physiotherapist help?

First, the physiotherapist will want to know more about you and the symptoms you are experiencing. They will want to gauge how active you are in your daily life, your overall level of fitness and your muscle strength. The physiotherapist will also examine you and ask you questions to assess your breathing and observe how you cough. This often involves a fitness test, a step test and/or a questionnaire to determine the extent of your symptoms. When the physiotherapist has completed the assessment, together you agree a treatment plan. Before you start treatment, you may have to see a lung specialist and do a cycle test so the specialist can measure your exercise capacity and determine a safe and effective level of exercise. Physiotherapy treatment may include:

• Exercises to improve your fitness and increase your muscle strength
• Exercises to help you be more active in your daily life and/or
• Exercises to help you breathe more easily

The physiotherapist will teach you how to be more active and stay more active after the session. They will also explain the best way to spread your energy throughout the day.

After finishing treatment, you see the physiotherapist for a check-up two or three times a year (or after a flare up). If necessary, you can temporarily resume treatment. You only see the physiotherapist on an ongoing basis if you are unable to be active enough on your own. This is known as maintenance physiotherapy.

In many cases, physiotherapy for COPD is covered by basic health insurance, but you will need a referral from your doctor or a lung specialist. The insurance covers a certain number of treatment sessions and your policy excess applies. If you are not sure, you can always contact the physiotherapist for advice.

Our physiotherapists are available nearby to provide immediate treatment for your symptoms. We have a practice in your company or in the area, so you can start treatment straight away and do not have to spend time travelling. Our physiotherapists are familiar with your workplace. They know a great deal about the workstations, working postures, workloads and strains that the employees within the company have to deal with. They will assess your condition and determine the right treatment and guidance to best meet your needs.