Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, often called COPD, refers to a group of diseases that prevent the lungs from working normally. C stands for chronic because the disease is constant and irreversible. O stands for obstructive because the disease narrows the bronchial tubes and obstructs airflow. P stands for pulmonary because the disease is in the lungs, though COPD affects other parts of the body such as the heart. D stands for disease because the condition is not a normal body process. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, COPD leads to more than 500,000 hospitalizations and more than 100,000 U.S. deaths annually.
Emphysema
Emphysema in Greek means, "puff up with air." Emphysema is a disease in which the alveoli, or air sacs in the lungs, lose their normal elasticity, become overinflated and eventually rupture. These lost air sacs reduce the surface area of the lungs, limiting the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide from the blood. Emphysema is the result of irritation and inflammation from smoking, heredity, abnormal development and other unknown causes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphysema and chronic bronchitis make up 59 percent of all diseases that can be attributed to smoking.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation and irritation inside the bronchial tubes within the lungs, making it difficult for air to move into and out of the lungs. It may vary in severity from mild to severe and can be disabling if not diagnosed and treated. The irritation and inflammation of chronic bronchitis is often caused by smoking, frequent bacterial and viral infections, chest colds and environmental and occupational pollutants. Cigarette smoking causes the cilia, or hairlike projections in the airway, to become damaged, paralyzed or destroyed. The normal process of cilia is to remove irritants before they have a chance to cause an allergic reaction resulting in inflammation, infection and obstruction. Without the continuous sweeping motion of the cilia, mucous tends to build up in the airway and cause a persistent cough, often called a "smoker's cough." According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, cigarette smoking is COPD's main cause.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a chronic and progressive disease of the bronchial tubes. The bronchi become damaged because of recurrent infections and the production of thick mucous containing pus and sometimes blood. These secretions collect in the damaged airways making it difficult to clear or cough up. Bronchiectasis often begins in early childhood as the result of pneumonia, the flu, whooping cough, measles or tuberculosis. A foreign body in the lung causing an obstruction in the bronchi, bronchial tumor, lung abscess or chronic asthma can also cause bronchiectasis.
References
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Clinical Research in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cigarette Smoking-Attributable Morbidity --- United States, 2000
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is COPD?
- Cleveland Clinic: COPD Glossary of Terms
