- Overview of COPD
- Definition of COPD
- When to see a Doctor?
- Complications of COPD
- Risk Factors of COPD
- Symptoms of COPD
- Causes of COPD
- Causes of Airway Obstruction
- Prevention of COPD
1. Overview of COPD
COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an inflammatory lung disease that causes obtrusive airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus, production, and wheezing. It’s typically caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particular matter most often from cigarette smoke. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer, and a variety of other conditions.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditioners that contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These two conditions usually occur together and can vary in severity among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Although the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease that gets worse over time, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is treated able. With proper management, most people with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can achieve good symptom control and quality of life, as well as reduce the risk of other associated conditions.
2. Definition of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to a group of diseases that causes – airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It makes breathing difficult for the 16 million Americans who have this disease.
3. When to see a Doctor?
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are not improving with treatment or getting worse, or if you notice symptoms of an infection such as fever or a change in sputum.
Seek immediate medical care if you can’t catch your breath, if you experience severe blueness of your lips or fingernail beds or a rapid heartbeat, or if you feel foggy and have trouble concentrating.
4. Complications of COPD
It can cause many complications, including:
5. Risk factors of COPD
Risk factors for COPD include:
- Exposure to tobacco smoke
- People with asthma
- Occupational exposure to dust and chemical
- Exposure to fumes from burning fuel
- Genetics
6. Symptoms of COPD
Its symptoms often don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, particularly if smoking exposure continues.
Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- A chronic cough that may produce mucus that may be clear, white-yellow, or greenish • Frequently respiratory infection
- Lack of energy
- Unintended weights loss
- Swelling in ankles feet or legs
People with COPD are also likely to experience episodes called exacerbation. During this, their symptoms become worse than the usual day-to-day variation and persist for at least several days.
7. Causes of COPD
The main cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in developing countries is tobacco smoking. In the developing world, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often occurs in people to fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes.
Only some chronic smokers develop clinically apparently chronic obstructive pulmonary disease although many smokers with long smoking histories may develop reduced lung function. Some smokers develop reduced common lungs condition. They may be misdiagnosed as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease until a more thorough evaluation is performed.
8. Causes of Airway Obstruction
Causes of airway obstruction include:
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
- Cigarette smoke and other irritants
9. Prevention of COPD
Unlike some diseases, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease typically has a clear cause and a clear path of prevention, and there are ways to slow the progression of the disease. The majority of cases are directly related to cigarette smoke and the best way to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is to never smoke _ or to stop smoking now
