As the heating season begins in the north, we spend more time indoors, and many people's coughing and shortness of breath worsen. Behind this may be a "silent killer" - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Today (November 19th) is World COPD Day, let's learn about this' respiratory killer 'together. Be careful of the "pain of breathing" and be alert to the "silent killer" during the heating season. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a persistent and progressive airflow obstruction disease characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, and sputum production, caused by respiratory abnormalities or alveolar damage. Yang Ting, Deputy Director of the National Office for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) generally has a history of exposure or contact with high-risk factors, such as long-term smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as exposure to occupational dust and chemical substances. In rural areas, if animal feces, charcoal, or crop stalks are burned for heating or cooking, long-term exposure without good ventilation facilities may also lead to harmful gases entering the airway, causing a series of pathological and physiological changes in COPD. The second symptom is chronic cough, phlegm production, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. We need to be highly vigilant about whether we have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The "gold standard" for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is lung function examination. Early COPD patients do not experience significant discomfort, and simple chest X-rays are difficult to detect. Only through lung function examination can clues be discovered. Pulmonary function examination is currently recognized as an objective indicator for assessing airflow limitation, and is of great significance for the diagnosis, severity evaluation, disease progression, prognosis, and treatment response of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is generally divided into three stages: the first stage is mainly characterized by frequent coughing, phlegm, and wheezing in autumn and winter seasons, which gradually improve after medication or temperature rise; The second stage is characterized by feeling short of breath after activities, such as intense exercise or panting after climbing stairs, which is actually breathing difficulties caused by airflow obstruction; In the third stage, besides wheezing, the skin begins to swell and the heart becomes larger. Experts say that lung function tests can reflect the degree of impairment in lung exhalation and ventilation function. Regular lung function tests for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are beneficial for early identification of disease progression and evaluation of management effectiveness. Mild to moderate COPD patients should be checked once a year, while severe COPD patients should be checked every 6 months. In terms of treatment, two main methods are medication and surgery. Shi Huanzhong, Chief Physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: The most basic therapy is inhalation therapy. There are two types of inhaled drugs, one may contain hormones, and the other is bronchodilators, which we call bronchodilators. Currently, medication is still the main treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China, but some patients may consider surgery, especially some minimally invasive surgeries. Once diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the structure and function of the lungs have already suffered irreversible damage and cannot be restored to their original state, so preventing the occurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is crucial. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease are often comorbidities. Advocating for "cardiopulmonary co management", data shows that 50% of COPD patients also have cardiovascular disease, and over 30% of cardiovascular patients also have COPD. Experts suggest that the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should achieve "cardiopulmonary co management". At present, several hospitals have set up joint heart and lung clinics, where patients can identify potential problems and hidden dangers in both the heart and lungs during the treatment process, achieving co management of comorbidities and obtaining the best treatment plan. Do you know these misconceptions about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Can't I exercise because I have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Don't you need to worry when there are no symptoms? The misconceptions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, let's listen to what experts have to say. Misconception 1: Is it unnecessary to use medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when it is not active or wheezing? Shi Huanzhong, Chief Physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: It is definitely not right to stop taking medication just because you feel better. Even if there are no symptoms, some basic inhaled medications should still be used consistently. Misconception 2: If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you should rest and not exercise? Shi Huanzhong, Chief Physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you should still do what you can. If the condition becomes extremely severe and you are no longer able to exercise, we will have a breathing exercise under the guidance of a specialist nurse. It will definitely be beneficial for the patient's recovery and physical strength. Misconception 3: Afraid of the side effects of hormones and refusing to use inhaled corticosteroids. Dr. Shi Huanzhong, Chief Physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: This viewpoint is definitely wrong. Firstly, the amount of inhaled hormones is very small, and the side effects are very limited; Secondly, we emphasize rinsing the mouth after inhaling medication to eliminate any remaining drugs in the mouth, as the actual amount in the body is relatively small; The worsening symptoms and systemic damage caused by the patient's condition have minimal side effects. (New Society)