COPD Lung Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
What is COPD?
COPD is the abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a lung disease that results from obstructions in the airways of the lungs that lead to breathing problems. Although COPD is a progressive disease, early diagnosis and treatment may slow its progression. COPD may be complicated by chronic bronchitis or emphysema; some patients develop both problems that lead to additional breathing problems. Some clinicians consider chronic bronchitis and emphysema as simply further manifestations of COPD.
How Does COPD Affect the Lungs?
Damage to the lung tissue over time causes physical changes in the lungs and the airways become clogged with thick mucus. Compliance (the ability of the lung tissue to expand) becomes weakened because of this lung tissue damage. This weakened compliance or elasticity of the lungs means that oxygen cannot get to the air spaces where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs in the lung. This all leads to coughing to remove the thick mucus and eventually, difficulty in breathing.
COPD Symptoms
Shortness of breath is the primary symptom of COPD. It occurs with daily activities and is caused by blocked or clogged airways and damaged or destroyed alveoli where oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released. Other COPD symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness, and a chronic cough. The affected individual may tire easily, have frequent colds and flu infections, and produce excessive mucus or sputum. Symptoms of COPD slowly worsen and people with advanced symptoms of COPD may:
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Be obese from lack of exercise
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Have muscle loss and declining endurance
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Have morning headaches
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Have a bluish or greyish color underneath the fingernails due to decreased oxygen levels in the blood
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Conversely, some patients with COPD and emphysema may lose weight
COPD Causes
Smoking and secondhand smoke plays a significant role in causing COPD. About 85% to 90% of all COPD deaths are related to smoking. The other causes are related to environmental irritants (pollution), and a rare few are genetically passed through family members (for example, people with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency [AAT] are more likely to develop COPD symptoms).
COPD Triggers: What Makes COPD Worse?
Half of all COPD exacerbations are triggered by bacterial or viral infections, whereas the rest of the triggers are caused by environmental factors. Minimizing exacerbations and avoiding COPD triggers can slow the progression of COPD. The following are common indoor and outdoor COPD triggers:
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Tobacco smoke
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Dust
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Pet dander
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Pollen
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Stronger odors: perfumes, scented candles, and air fresheners
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Chemical fumes: cleaning products, paints, and solvents
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Pollution: outdoor pollution (vehicle exhaust, gas station fumes) indoor pollutants (fumes and odors from cooking, fireplace, dirty air filters
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Extremes in temperatures: extreme heat or cold
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There is much more to read on this topic: Continue reading: https://www.medicinenet.com/copd_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
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This article submitted by Pat France, MSRN Member
