In ‘What is COPD’ we had a brief overview on how this pulmonary disease can get us closer to death, if we fail to give timely treatment. Today, we dig in a little deeper to develop a better understanding of this life-threatening disease by providing detailed information about this Pulmonary Disease. Today, we have Dr. K.M. Sunesara – General Physician, Mumbai, who will help us to widen our knowledge about COPD.
Pulmonary Disease: What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a term used to describe chronic lung diseases that causes obstructions in lung airflow. The three types of lung diseases are chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma and emphysema.
•Chronic bronchitis - In chronic bronchitis, the narrowing and obstruction of the airways is due to the inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways. This inflammation can also stimulate additional production of mucous, which can cause more obstruction. Obstruction caused due to mucous, increases the likelihood of bacterial lung infections as well. It is also commonly known as ‘daily cough’.
•Emphysema - In emphysema, there occurs a permanent widening of the alveoli due to the destruction of the walls between alveoli. This destruction reduces the elasticity of the lungs, which further obstruct airflow out of the alveoli due to the damage done to the bronchioles. Due to the lack of elasticity, air gets trapped in the alveoli and it decreases the ability of the lung to shrink during exhalation. This extra trapped air reduces the amount of air which has to be taken in during the next breathe. This trapped air can also prevent the nearby lung tissues from functioning to its fullest capacity.
•Chronic asthma - In chronic asthma, obstruction of the flow in the air is caused due to the inflammation of the airways and spasm of muscles surrounding the airways. This inflammation also causes thickening of the walls of the airways. The inflammation can be seen in various inflammatory cells and mediators.
•Smoking – it is the most common causes of COPD. COPD patients who smoke also have high death risks, along with other respiratory problems. Passive as well as secondhand smokers have a high risk of developing COPD.
•Air pollution - whether indoor or outdoor can create problem for a person with lung disease.
•Occupational pollutants – like cadmium and silica can increase the risk of COPD. Coal miners and construction workers are at a huge risk of developing COPD due to this type of pollution.
•Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency - At times, COPD can also result from a genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAt). The chances of this are very low. AAt is made in the liver to help protect the lungs. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can affect the liver as well as the lungs.
If you have symptoms of COPD and a history of exposure to lung irritants, especially cigarette smoke then it is recommended that you should go in for these tests.
•Pulmonary function tests - In this test, there is a machine which measures how much air your lungs can hold and how fast you can blow the air out of your lungs. It helps to detect COPD even before you have symptoms of the disease.
•Chest X-ray - A chest X-ray can show emphysema, one of the main causes of COPD.
•CT scan - A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and can also be used to screen for lung cancer, which is more common among people with.
•Arterial blood gas analysis - This blood test measures how well your lungs are bringing oxygen into your blood and removing carbon dioxide.
The best way to prevent COPD is to never smoke. If you are a smoker, quit smoking. Keep away from occupation pollutants and air pollutions. Always cover your mouth if you are under a fumigated place. The best ways to protect yourself, is by using respiratory protective equipment.