Overview of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
December 5th, 2009What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to certain lung disease in which the lung is damaged, making it hard to breathe. It is a long term, chronic condition in which the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs, commonly called the airways get partly obstructed making the passage of air through the lungs during respiration difficult.
Often the term COPD is used to define two chronic conditions – Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema which can either occur separately or together. However, COPD as it commonly occurs has these two illnesses appearing together. Chronic Bronchitis is a condition which has inflammation and swelling of the mucus lining of the trachea. This leads to excessive mucus that blocks the airways and causes cough that persists for several months and even years. The narrowing of the airways also makes many sufferers of the disease feel breathless.
Emphysema occurs when tiny air sacs called alveoli deep in your lungs become enlarged and stretched. This impairs their normal function and ability to inflate and deflate with air, as you breathe. Lungs will therefore not get adequate air which makes one experience breathlessness and difficulty while breathing which are early symptoms of emphysema.
The main characteristic of COPD, airflow limitation is not fully reversible but treatment can arrest further damage and manage the disease.
Common Causes of COPD
The great majority of cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema are caused by long-term smoking. People in certain professions such as mining and chemical industries have routing occupational exposure to dust, harmful chemicals or fumes. Such occupational hazards are also known to cause COPD because inhaling these irritants affects the mucus lining of the airways causing cough and mucus that lead to either or both Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Air pollution by itself is not known to cause COPD in non-smokers but it seems to advance the onset of COPD in smokers. Secondhand smokers are also likely to suffer from COPD after several years of exposure to smoke.
There is a rare type of emphysema referred to as A1AD-related emphysema which is a genetic condition in which a person’s body lacks a protein called alpha1-antitrypsin. This protein normally helps protect the lungs. People with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency who are smokers are also more susceptible to emphysema.
Major Symptoms of COPD
Sufferers of COPD are known to have varying symptoms but they almost always find that moderate daily activities also start to leave them short of breath. Bouts of bronchitis every few weeks or months, chronic cough and phlegm are some of the symptoms of COPD. In some instances, symptoms of COPD can be markedly similar to that of asthma. Only your doctor can determine if your symptoms are indicative of COPD after advising you breathing tests like spirometry. Your healthcare professional may also require you to take chest X-rays to rule out other pulmonary ailments.
What To Do If Diagnosed With COPD
The single most important step one can take when diagnosed with COPD is to quit smoking immediately if one is a smoker. Your persistent cough will start to relieve slowly, ease your breathlessness and you’ll also succeed in slowing down further lung damage. Your best bet would be following self-management options as advised by your doctor and adherence to prescribed medications.