Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Hby Rose Broyles

What is It?

Refers to chronic bronchitis or emphysema where the airways become narrowed. 

• Unlike asthma, condition is irreversible most of the time with a few exceptions. In between asthma attacks, the flow in the airways is good. Some people with COPD can take certain medications to help with a partial reversal of the obstruction.
• People with chronic asthma are considered to have COPD, where consistent  inflammation, narrowing and scarring of the airways occurs.

Symptoms

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough 
• Frequent respiratory infections

Causes

• 90% of COPD in the U.S. is caused from smoking – effects from 2nd hand smoking are not well known.
• some occupational pollutants such as: cadmium and silica increase risk of COPD (miners, coalworkers, construction workers, etc are at special risk)
• Alpha 1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency – a rare genetic disorder

How is COPD Diagnosed?

• Thorough check of medical history which discloses symptoms of COPD plus a physical exam
• Chest X-rays, CT scan
• After a hospitalization occurs due to a respiratory infection.
• In chronic smokers, it is suspected when they develop shortness of breath , chronic persistent cough with sputum and frequent lung infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.

How is COPD Treated?

To prevent further deterioration of the lung, a treatment plan is usually followed as such:

• Quitting cigarette smoking
• Taking medication to dilate airways and to decrease inflammation
• Home oxygen therapy
• In severe cases, lung transplant or lung volume reduction surgery

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