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Know about COPD facts

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonay Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered as one of the most common lung disease. As the name signifies this is a disease that is chronic in nature, i.e it takes a long time to develop and exists for long time. This disease causes the obstruction of the airways in the lungs, therefore it makes the breathing process difficult. COPD is the combination of two diseases:

1. Chronic Bronchitis (Inflammation of the large airways)

2. Emphysema (Damage of the tissues supporting the lungs physically and it functions)

Causes of COPD

Our body continuously fights back against the obnoxious matter entering via any route (respiratory path in this case). Body defenses by causing inflammation to eradicate this substance by destroying it. Mast cells secrete chemical called histamine that not only destroys this foreign matter but also damages bodies own cells. This defensive process is called inflammation. In case of COPD, the obnoxious matter is commonly tobacco smoke and in other cases it could be air pollution. If not taken care of the continuous inflammation leads to a chronic disease of the airway called COPD. This continuous inflammation causes the damage of the supporting structure of the lungs (emphysema) that also affects the functioning of the respiratory process.

Signs and symptoms of COPD

The various signs and symptoms include

1. Chronic cough with production of sputum (in case of chronic bronchitis)

2. Dyspnea (difficulty in breathing)

3. Fatigue

4. Frequent chest infections

5. Wheezing sound while breathing

6. When diagnosed by a physician: Rhonchi (decreased intensity of breath sounds)

Diagnosing COPD

The best test to detect COPD is the lung capacity test done with the help of a machine called spirometer. You are required to take as deep breath as possible and then blow into the spirometer with the maximum force. The reading on the meter shows your lung capacity. Lower reading indicates low lung capacity and that could suggest that you have COPD. Another method is to get the radio image of your lungs that confirms the condition or sometime arterial blood gas test is also performed to get the data on the oxygen and carbon-di-oxide content of the blood.

Risk factors that contribute to COPD

There are various factors that contribute in the development of COPD. Let us see one by one.

a. Smoking

Smoking is one of the major factors that cause COPD. In USA, it is recorded that 80-90% cases of COPD is due to smoking. The risk of developing COPD increses with age and exposure to smoke adds to the disease.

b. Occupational Exposures

Workplace dust and airborne chemicals (like paint, cement, coal, cotton etc.) cause the respiratory system to a continue exposure to obnoxious substances that on a long duration can lead to COPD.

c. Air Pollution

With the increase in the factories, deforestation and ever increasing vehicles on the streets have made our environment pollutant. Continuous exposure to such an environment makes COPD inevitable. This is the reason that COPD is a common disease now days.

d. Genetic

It is amazing but COPD is genetic. That means that if your parents or grandparents had COPD then you have many chances to get one. Although the factors such as smoking and air pollution can trigger the disease fast as compared to others that don’t have a genetic history.

e. Autoimmune disease

There are evidences where chronic smoking triggered COPD and the condition kept on worsening even after quitting smoking for years. This suggests that COPD is could become an autoimmune disease on people who chronically exposed to the irritants.

Treating COPD

Unfortunately COPD cannot be cured, but can certainly be managed by practicing few daily routines. Some of them are mentioned below.

a. Quit smoking

Immediately quit smoking as you are further adding stress to the already irritated lungs.

b. Antibiotics

Consult your doctor to get appropriate antibiotics because COPD sometimes get associated with infection.

c. Bronchodilators

Various inhalers are now days available which help dilate the respiratory tract and thus making the breathing process easy and comfortable. Many inhalers have steroids that help reduce the inflammation of the lungs and relieve bronchospasm.

d. Use masks

If the irritants are not avoidable like in you occupation then it is highly suggested to use the masks that filter the irritants.

e. Brisk walk

Walking improves strengthens the body and a brisk walk also helps improve the breathing and the lung capacity.

f. Eat healthy diet

Eat a healthy diet less on fats like lean meat or fish. Consume more of green vegetables and fruits. Keeping your weight low as it helps to improve your condition.

Although COPD is not curable but can be managed well adopting the above mentioned measures.

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