| What is Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? |
Also known as “Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease” or
“Chronic Respiratory Insufficiency”, COPD is a grouping
of lung diseases characterized by limited airflow through the airways
with variable degrees of air sack enlargement and lung tissue destruction.
The diseases Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are the most common forms
of COPD.
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| What causes COPD? |
| The leading cause of COPD is smoking, which can lead to the 2 most common
forms of this disease: Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. Prolonged tobacco
use causes lung inflammation and variable degrees of air sack (alveoli)
destruction. This leads to inflamed and narrowed airways (Chronic Bronchitis)
or permanently enlarged air sacks of the lung with reduced lung elasticity
(Emphysema). 15% of long-term smokers will develop COPD. Rarely, an enzyme
deficiency called Alpha-1 Anti-Trypsin deficiency can cause Emphysema
in non-smokers.
After tobacco use, other risk factors for COPD are passive smoking
(second-hand smoke exposure), male gender and working in a polluted
environment.
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| What are the symptoms? |
-Shortness of breath (dyspnea) persisting for months to years
-Wheezing
-Decreased exercise tolerance
-Cough with or without phlegm
An examination often reveals increased work involved in breathing:
nasal flaring may be evident during air intake, and the lips may be
pursed (the shape your lips make when you whistle) while exhaling. The
respiratory rate (amount of breaths per minute) may be elevated. Pulmonary
function tests show decreased airflow rates while exhaling and over-expanded
lungs (hyperinflation).
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| How can I prevent it? |
The best way is to quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke. Early
recognition and treatment of small airway disease in smokers, combined
with quitting smoking, may prevent progression of the disease.
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