Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A prevalent respiratory disorder characterised by airflow restriction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory condition. It affects more than 5% of the population and is associated with a high rate of morbidity and death. It is the fourth leading cause of mortality in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 120,000 people per year in the country. As a result of its high incidence and chronicity, COPD is associated with significant resource use, including numerous clinician office visits, frequent hospitalizations owing to acute exacerbations, and the need for chronic therapy (e.g., supplementary oxygen therapy, medication)

COPD must be diagnosed correctly since proper care can minimise symptoms (particularly dyspnea), reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, improve health status, enhance exercise capacity, and even extend life. Because current and former smokers are also at risk for a variety of other medical conditions, each of which requires a distinct treatment approach, respiratory symptoms should not be mistakenly assigned to COPD without first receiving an adequate evaluation and diagnosis.

Symptoms of COPD

It is more difficult to breathe when you have COPD. It is possible that the symptoms will be moderate at first, with occasional coughing and shortness of breath. As the disease continues, the symptoms might become more persistent, to the point where it can become progressively difficult to breathe comfortably.Excess sputum production, as well as wheezing and chest discomfort, are possible side effects of asthma. Acute exacerbations of COPD, which are severe flare-ups of symptoms, occur in certain patients with the disease.

Causes of COPD

1. The majority of persons who have COPD are over the age of 40 and have a history of smoking at some point. The longer you smoke and the more tobacco products you consume, the greater your risk of developing COPD.
2. Other types of smoking can induce COPD as well, such as cigar smoking, pipe smoking, and secondhand smoking. If you have asthma and smoke, your chances of developing COPD are even higher.
3. You can also acquire COPD if you’re exposed to chemicals and gases in the workplace. Long-term exposure to air pollution and breathing dust can also develop COPD.
4. In impoverished countries, along with tobacco smoke, homes are generally poorly ventilated, causing residents to breathe fumes from burning fuel used for cooking and heating.
5. There may be a hereditary propensity to developing COPD. Up to an estimated 5 percent Trusted Source of persons with COPD have a deficit in a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin.
6. This shortage causes the lungs to degenerate and also might harm the liver. There may be other linked genetic factors at play as well.

Treatment of COPD

Treatment can help to alleviate symptoms, avoid complications, and generally delay the progression of the condition. It is possible that your healthcare team will include a pulmonologist (a lung expert), as well as physical and respiratory therapists.

Oxygen Therapy

If your blood oxygen level is dangerously low, you can get supplemental oxygen through a mask or nasal cannula to help you breathe more easily and comfortably. It may be more convenient to move around with a portable unit.

Surgery

1. Surgeons only perform surgery in the case of severe COPD or when other therapies have failed, which is more likely in the case of an advanced type of severe emphysema.
2. Bullectomy is a sort of surgery that is performed on bulls. During this surgery, doctors remove big, abnormal air pockets (bullae) from the lungs, allowing the lungs to breathe more freely.
3. Another option is lung volume reduction surgery, which involves removing damaged upper lung tissue from the patient’s lungs. Lung volume reduction surgery has been shown to be effective in improving breathing, but only a small number of patients choose to undergo this major and potentially dangerous procedure.
4. In some circumstances, lung transplantation may be an option to consider. Lung transplantation is an excellent treatment for COPD, but it comes with a number of complications.
5. People with severe emphysema can benefit from endobronchial valves (EBV), which are one-way valves that divert inspired air to healthy lungs and away from non-functioning, damaged lungs. Endobronchial valves are a less invasive method of improving the efficiency of airflow in people with severe emphysema.
6. After receiving FDA approval in 2018, an EBV device known as the Zephyr Endobronchial ValveTrusted Source was introduced. This device has been shown to improve lung function, exercise capacity, and overall quality of life in patients suffering from severe emphysema.

Smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 

In the twentieth century, tobacco smoking was responsible for one hundred million deaths, and it is predicted that up to one billion deaths will be related to tobacco use in the twenty-first century. Despite the fact that smoking is the most significant contributing cause to COPD, it is quickly emerging as a global public health concern, with smoking being identified as the most important causal component. 

Cigarette smoking cessation is the most effective treatment for COPD currently available. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that persons at risk of acquiring COPD can slow the progression of the disease by quitting smoking. Lifelong smokers have a 50 percent chance of developing COPD over their lifetime. More importantly, there is evidence that smoking cessation reduces the chance of having COPD by almost half, which is considerable. There are currently a number of pharmacological therapies available to assist smokers in quitting, including nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline.

Conclusion

COPD is caused by a number of different illnesses, most prevalent of which are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These two disorders are associated with COPD and can manifest themselves in varying degrees of severity among those suffering from the disease.

An inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes (also known as chronic lung inflammation) is the cause of chronic bronchitis (also known as chronic lung inflammation) (alveoli). Coughing up mucus frequently is one of the symptoms (sputum).

When the alveoli at the end of the lungs’ smallest air passageways (bronchioles) are destroyed as a result of long-term exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritating gases and particulates, the condition known as emphysema occurs. Lung alveoli become inflamed with emphysema, which is a long-term condition.

Even though chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worsens over time, it is treatable if detected early. As long as they receive proper medication, the vast majority of COPD patients are able to control their symptoms and have a high quality of life.