A chronic inflammatory disease that leads to restricted airflow from the lungs is called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. The two most common conditions included in COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Chronic Bronchitis:
It is the inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes. In this, the air is transmitted to and from the lungs' alveoli (air sacs). Mucus production (sputum) and cough are their main symptoms. It usually lasts for three months to 2 years.
Emphysema:
It is the destruction of walls of alveoli. It results in larger sacs but less surface area for the gaseous exchange. As lung tissue breakdown, lungs do not come back to their original shape after exhalation, and air cannot be pushed out and is trapped in the lungs.
Symptoms Of COPD:
Common symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are:
- Shortness of breath
- Mild wheezing
- Cough
- Mucus production (sputum) that may be clear, greenish, white, or yellow
- Recurrent respiratory infection
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Fever, chills
- Chest tightness
- Swelling in ankle, legs, or feet
- People with COPD are more likely to acquire lung cancer and heart diseases.
What Are The Causes Of COPD?
In developed countries, smoking is the major cause of COPD. Now, it does not mean that only smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. In developing countries, long-term exposure to irritating gases, viruses, bacteria, and fumes from burning fuel for heating and cooking in poorly ventilated homes leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Consequences:
Consequences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:
1. Cardiovascular disorders: There is shortness of breath in COPD, which increases your risk of heart diseases, including heart attack.
2. Respiratory infection: people with this syndrome are more likely to have flu, pneumonia, and colds. A respiratory infection can cause further damage to lung tissue.
3. Depression: Dealing with serious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can contribute to the development of stress or depression.
4. Lung Cancer: people suffering from COPD can get lung cancer. Avoiding smoking can assist in this regard.
5. High Blood Pressure in Lung Arteries: COPD elevates the blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood towards the lungs, referred to as pulmonary hypertension.
What Is The Treatment Of COPD?
COPD cannot be cured properly. Treatment helps to suppress the developing symptoms. Doctors recommend you:
- Antibiotics: to fight bacterial infections.
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids can reduce airway inflammation. You can either inhale them or take them as pills.
- Bronchodilators: they assist you to open your airways.
- Oxygen therapy: to relieve shortness of breath, protect your organs and enhance your quality of life.
- Surgery: in some difficult situations, lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplant, and bullectomy (removes large air spaces and bullae that form when air sacs collapse) are done.
Prevention:
You can prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by the following steps:
- If you smoke, stop
- Get regular checkups
- Avoid pollution, harmful irritants, dust, fumes as much as you can
- Do breathing exercise
- Take medicines as directed.
- Get yearly pneumonia and flu vaccines.
- Eat a healthy diet
References:
- Pietrangelo, A. (2021, January 22). Everything you need to know about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Healthline. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/copd
- Felson, S. (2021). COPD: Symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment. WebMD. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from webmd.com
- Clinic, M. (2020, April 15). COPD. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679#:~:text=Chronic%20obstructive%20pulmonary%20disease%20(COPD,(sputum)%20production%20and%20wheezing.