Researcher Hopes to Reduce Suffering for People with COPD

Research Matters, Breathe Easy news magazine, Spring/Summer 2002

PHILIP THAI, MD, hopes that someday he can help ease the suffering of people who live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The researcher is studying the overproduction of mucus in the airways, which is a major symptom of COPD.

"This excessive mucus production causes people with COPD to cough a lot," Dr. Thai says. "It blocks their airways and makes it more difficult to breathe."

When he's not working on his study, which is partially funded by a grant from the American Lung Association of California, Dr. Thai treats patients at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center. There, he works with patients with COPD who struggle to breathe.

"Right now we mostly control symptoms with inhaled medications like bronchodialators and steroids," he says. "These medications help to open up the airways and reduce inflammation, but they do not specifically treat mucus production. If we could inhibit mucus production, we could potentially improve symptoms without the negative side effects."

Dr. Thai is looking at a specific gene contained in the proteins that make up mucus. He is hoping to figure out how it controls mucus production.

COPD is a Major Cause of Death and Disability

COPD is an overarching term that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis — diseases that obstruct airflow. It is the fourth leading cause of death in America and the third leading cause of disability. COPD is also a major cause of death and disease worldwide.

A recent conference in Hong Kong brought together respiratory experts from around the world to explore ways to better diagnose and manage COPD. They concluded that while other global diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are expected to decline over the next 20 years, COPD is expected to increase.

Smoking causes approximately 80 to 90 percent of all COPD cases. Smokers are 10 times more likely to die of COPD than nonsmokers. Other known causes are frequent lung infections and exposure to certain industrial pollutants.

Symptoms include chronic cough, increased mucus, and shortness of breath. The quality of life for people with COPD diminishes as the disease progresses and there is no cure, only treatments to help alleviate symptoms. People with COPD may eventually require supplemental oxygen to breathe.

The American Lung Association offers a variety of services to help people with COPD live quality lives, including Better Breathers programs, support groups and educational programs.