COPD is a respiratory condition generally known as chronic obstructive disease. Due to the failure of the lungs, this illness causes difficulties in breathing.
COPD is a respiratory condition generally known as chronic obstructive disease. Due to the failure of the lungs, this illness causes difficulties in breathing. Chronic obstructive lung disease is a set of progressive illnesses, not a single disease, all connected to pulmonary abnormalities. Lungs enable people to breathe air and exchange air between the body and the atmosphere through breathing. this exchange is vital for life for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Every cell of the human body wants oxygen for oxidative phosphorylation. Which is essential for getting energy for cells most importantly y for brain cells. COPD inflammation of the lungs occurs which leads to the difficult inflow of air to and fro the lungs.
It’s a progressive and long-term disease initially the symptoms include difficulty in breathing, tightness of chest, over secretion of mucus, and yellow sputum formation in addition to wheezing. In the long run, the chronic disease causes the symptoms[i] like lung cancer which could worsen heart disease and increased risks of cardiovascular diseases. As mentioned before COPD is considered as a group of severe conditions, two main conditions are the most common that contribute to COPD. Which are named as,
- Emphysema
- Chronic bronchitis
These conditions happen side by side in the human and mostly they are unaware of them. Chronic bronchitis demonstrated the inflammation of the lungs which occurs specifically in the outer membrane of the tubes of bronchi of the lungs which are involved in the transfer of air between atmosphere and body. the mild symptoms of chronic bronchitis are uncontrollable dry cough and in some conditions production of an immense amount of sputum. In the other condition named emphysema, the alveoli are destroyed due to repeated exposure to allergens usually smoke or an irritant gas. The damage to alveoli obstructs the passage of air through them leading to tightness in the chest and subsequent difficulty in breathing. COPD is present in millions of people throughout the world in which many millions don’t even know they are suffering from disease. This disease is worsened over time.
Tobacco smoking is the main cause of disease development.it usually occurs due to fuel smoke, fumes from cooking or living in a place that is not ventilated properly. Smoking remains the main cause of every lung disease ever existed. Smokers with a long-term history of smoking could have slightly reduced lung function. COPD is usually misdiagnosed.
If a person is suffering from COPD, the illness epidemiology indicates that the lungs are damaged. The air is transmitted to the pulmonary lung via inhaling in the nose to the windpipe, also known as the trachea. Air is split into bronchi till it reaches the lungs’ alveoli. In short, the air throughout this route is breathable, reaching the sacks that we term air-packed alveoli. These alveoli have a thin membrane and are completely covered in blood vessels, which allow carbon dioxide and oxygen to be exchanged to and from the body. Breathing happens as a result of the lungs’ elasticity, which allows them to expand during oxygen inhalation. This elasticity is changed in COPD, either losing elasticity or over expanding depending on the severity of the disease.
The followings conditions[ii] are the Risk factors for COPD
- Smoking
- Exposure to secondary smoke
- Exposure to poisonous gas
- Asthmatic patients
- Patients which are immune-compromised
- Exposure to burning fumes
- Occupational exposure to any chemical
- Genetic factors
- Gene mutation
- Radiotherapy /X-ray
- Poor ventilation OF RESIDENTIAL SPACE
Many Complications could worsen the condition arising with COPD which includes
- Common cold
- Influenza
- Pneumonia
- Any other respiratory infection
- Difficulty breathing
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Lung cancer
- Depression
The major symptom of COPD is that COPD makes breathing difficult. Symptoms could be mild at the start of the disease, starting with mild coughing which goes on and off, and sometimes over any physical activity the shortness of breath leading to the tightness of the chest as well. As the disease progresses, the symptoms usually get worse and it became increasingly unbearable to breathe. Exacerbations and reoccurrence of symptoms usually occur over a period of time.
Early-stage symptoms are as follows:
- Shortness of breath
- Recurrent cough
- Tightness of chest
- Difficulty breathing
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Paleness
- High pulse rate
- Fever sometimes
- Need to clear throat in early morning
With the progression of the disease the symptoms get worse as well the Worsened symptoms are hard to get past, disease symptoms are,
- Wheezing
- Chronic cough
- Noisy breathing
- Frequent cold
- Influenza
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
- Respiratory infections
- Formation of mucus
Treatment for COPD is usually symptomatic which usually leads to the prevention of the disease or the slow disease progression. Following therapeutics, approaches can be utilized by doctors for the treatment of COPD
- Oxygen therapy
- Surgery (many options are available)
- Bullectomy
- Lung transplant
- Lifestyle changes
- With a healthy diet
- Vaccines
- Corticosteroids
- Bronchodilators
Oxygen therapy is essentially used when the oxygen level is too low in the body. When all the other therapeutic options are exhausted surgery is the only treatment left which includes bullectomy, the lung volume reduction surgery, which removes damaged upper lung tissue. Lung volume reduction surgery, Lung transplantation, etc. Lifestyle changes can also alleviate symptoms.
Medications for COPD are mainly to reduce the severity of the symptoms, followings therapeutics options are used in single or multidrug therapies
- Inhaled bronchodilators
Many Combinations of bronchodilators are used, some examples are given
| aclidinium/formoterol |
| glycopyrrolate/formoterol |
| tiotropium/olodaterol |
| umeclidinium/vilanterol |
- Corticosteroids
- Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors
- Theophylline
- Antibiotics and antivirals
- Vaccines
[i] https://www.healthline.com/health/copd
[ii] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679
