COPD is a catch-all term for several lung disorders that tend to worsen if not treated on time. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can potentially lead to COPD. A COPD diagnosis indicates that you may have signs of both of these lung-damaging conditions or just one of them. As COPD worsens over time, breathing becomes more difficult.
What are the Types of COPD?
Emphysema: Emphysema is the disintegration of the lining of the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs located at the bottom of your lung near the end of your bronchial tubes. The air sacs in your lungs are essential for moving carbon dioxide out and oxygen into your circulation. Emphysema damage obliterates the air sac walls, making it challenging to take a deep breath.
Chronic Bronchitis: Your bronchial tubes, which transport air to and from your lungs, become inflamed due to chronic bronchitis. As a result, the tubes swell, and mucus or phlegm starts to accumulate along the wall. The buildup makes it challenging to breathe in and out of your lungs as it reduces the tube’s aperture.
The mucus is often expelled from your airways by tiny, hair-like structures on the inside of your bronchial tubes known as cilia. But the inflammation from smoking or chronic bronchitis harms them. Damaged cilia make it hard to clear up the built mucus.
What are the Symptoms of COPD?
These are some of the signs and symptoms of COPD disease:
Breathlessness, especially when engaging in vigorous activity
Wheezing
Constriction in chest
A persistent and lasting cough that may discharge clear, white, yellow, or greenish mucus
Frequent contraction of respiratory diseases and infections
Quickly drained of energy
Unwanted loss of weight (in later stages)
Swelling of ankles, feet, or legs (lower body parts)
Exacerbations, also known as flare-ups, are events that COPD sufferers are more prone to experience where their symptoms worsen than the typical day-to-day variation and last for at least a few days.
Who is More likely to Get COPD?
If you fall under these criteria, you are at a higher risk of developing COPD:
Female
Above 65 years old.
Exposed to air pollution.
Exposed to dust, fumes, or chemicals.
Possess the genetic risk factor for COPD known as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT).
Had a lot of respiratory infections as a child.
What are the Causes of COPD?
Some causes of COPD matt include:
Smoking and use of tobacco products
Exposure to secondhand smoke.
Asthma
Exposure to chemicals and gases at your workplace.
Prolonged exposure to air pollution and dust inhalation.
Inhaling vapours from burning fuel used for cooking and heating
Genetic factors: lack of the protein alpha-1-antitrypsin.
How is COPD Diagnosed?
Your doctor will engage in questioning and ask you about your smoking habits, the history of your lungs, and your family history and understand the background. Later he will proceed to perform certain tests to confirm your condition. Some of the tests the doctor might perform are:
A pulmonary (lung) Function Test: These examinations check your ability to breathe as well as how well your lungs can oxygenate your blood. To measure the capacity of your lungs, you are instructed to blow into a big tube that is attached to a small machine, known as spirometry. The six-minute walk test, pulse oximetry, and evaluation of lung volumes and diffusing capacity are additional examinations
A Chest X-ray: Emphysema, which is one of the major causes of COPD, can be seen on a chest X-ray. Additionally, an X-ray can check out the possibility of heart failure or lung disease.
A CT Scan: A CT scan can assist diagnose emphysema and assess whether you would benefit from COPD surgery. Lung cancer screening can also be done with CT scans.
Testing of Arterial Blood Gases: This blood test evaluates how well your lungs remove carbon dioxide from your blood and deliver oxygen to it.
Laboratory Testing: Although lab tests aren’t used to diagnose COPD, they may be used to identify the origin of your symptoms or negate the presence of other diseases. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition that may in certain cases be the cause of COPD, can be detected through laboratory testing.
What is the Treatment for COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has no known cure, but treatment can help control symptoms and decrease the disease’s progression.
COPD Treatments consist of:
Pulmonary rehabilitation: it includes a specialized set of sessions for educating about COPD and specially designed workouts for the condition
Surgery or a lung transplant: albeit this is only a possibility for a very limited number of individuals.
Quit smoking: this is the most crucial thing you can do if you have COPD and smoke.
Medications and Inhalers prescribed by your doctor can help to keep the condition under control and make breathing easier.
How can COPD be Prevented?
The best thing you can do to prevent COPD is to quit smoking. Opt for programs to assist you to stop smoking if you are not able to do it on your own. Additionally, stay away from any area with poor air quality, which includes air that is polluted with dust, smoke, gases, and odours.
