COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refers to a group of diseases that obstruct airflow and cause difficulties in breathing. The obstruction can cause severe and irreversible damage to the lungs. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, COPD is the fourth leading cause for death in the United States.
Lung Anatomy
It's important to understand how the lungs work to understand how a person can be affected by COPD. When air travels down the trachea, it goes into the lungs traveling through two tubes called the bronchi. The bronchi divide into several smaller tubes once inside the lungs. At the end of these small tubes are clusters of small air sacs. These sacs are called the alveoli. Tiny blood vessels line the thin walls of the alveoli. The oxygen that you inhale goes into the capillaries, those tiny blood vessels, and into the bloodstream. When this happens, carbon dioxide is removed when you exhale.
Causes
There are two major lung conditions that cause COPD, and they are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema causes inflammation inside the alveoli. These small airways can collapse over a period of time and severely limit the amount of airflow out of the lungs. Chronic bronchitis causes inflammation and narrowing in the bronchial tubes. This condition is characterized by chronic coughing and an increased production of mucous.
Symptoms
The symptoms of COPD depend on the specific obstruction. If your COPD is caused by emphysema, then you may experience symptoms of wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.
If your COPD is caused by chronic bronchitis, then you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: respiratory infections, shortness of breath, coughing with yellow sputum and the urge to constantly clear your throat.
Complications
There are quite a few complications that can arise with COPD, namely, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failure, breathlessness and, in extreme cases, death.
As the diseases progresses, the oxygen levels in the blood go down causing the blood vessels of the lungs to narrow or constrict. In most cases, there is damage to the blood capillaries and vessels due to the disease causing breathlessness. As the heart overworks to pump in more oxygen, it can lead to enlarged or hardened heart muscles. These enlarged or hardened heart muscles can lead to serious health conditions like abnormal heart rhythms and cardiac arrest.
Diagnosis
A doctor may use one or more of the following tests and procedures to diagnose COPD. Chest X-rays are used to determine if there is any emphysema in your lungs. Arterial blood gas analysis is done to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and if carbon dioxide is being removed from the lungs properly. Pulmonary function tests are done to measure the amount of air your lungs can hold and how fast you can exhale the air from the lungs. Sputum exams analyze the cells in sputum to identify what is causing the lung problems and to rule out lung cancer. Computerized tscans are used to produce a more detailed image of internal organs to detect emphysema or the possible need for surgery.
Treatment and Prevention
There's no cure for COPD, and the damage to the lungs is irreparable and irreversible. So, treatments are designed to control symptoms and complications and to improve quality of life. Individuals must stop all smoking to prevent COPD from worsening. There's also several medications that can be used to treat symptoms. Bronchodilators are used to relax the muscles of the airway and make it easier to breathe. Corticosteroids are inhaled to reduce inflammation, and antibiotics are used to treat infections like pneumonia. If necessary, surgery can be used to remove damaged lung tissue, or in some cases, a lung transplant might be suitable for those suffering from severe emphysema.
