Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease that causes obstruction of the airflow from the lungs. Symptoms embody issues of respiration, coughing, secretion (sputum) production, and wheezing. It’s sometimes caused by long exposure to irritating gases or material, typically from fag smoke. Folks with COPD are unit at enlarged risk for a heart condition, carcinoma, and a spread of alternative conditions. COPD causes respiration issues for the sixteen million Americans World Health Organization have the sickness. Millions a lot of suffering from COPD however area units are unknown and untreated. though there’s no cure for COPD, it will be treated. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Bronchitis irritates the cartilaginous tube tubes, that carry air to and from your lungs. In response, the tubes swell and secretion (phlegm or “snot”) accumulates on the liner. The buildup narrows the gap of the tube, creating it more durable for air to induce in and out of your lungs. Abnormalities within the tiny airways of the lungs limit the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Many processes cause the narrowing of the airways. There could also be the destruction of components of the lungs, secretion interference in the airways, and inflammation and swelling of the liner of the airways.

Types of COPD

COPD is an umbrella term for when you have one or more of these conditions:

1. Emphysema results from damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs that destroy their inner walls and cause them to merge into one larger air sac. It also can’t absorb oxygen, so you get less oxygen in your blood. Damaged alveoli can cause your lungs to expand and lose their luster. Air gets trapped in your lungs and you can’t breathe it in, so you feel short of breath.
2. Deadly TB. If you have a cough, shortness of breath, and phlegm that lasts for at least 3 months or 2 years in a row, you have chronic bronchitis. Hair-like fibers called cilia line your bronchial tubes and help expel mucus. When you get chronic bronchitis, you lose your cilia. This makes it harder to get rid of mucus, which makes you cough more, which produces more mucus.
3. Refractory asthma. This type can also be called irreversible. It does not respond to common asthma medications.

Causes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Smoking causes 90% of COPD cases. Other reasons include:

1. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic defect.
2. Indirect smoking.
3. Air pollution.
4. Workplace dust and fumes.
5. smoking
6. Tobacco smoke irritates the airways, triggering inflammation (burning and swelling) that narrows the airways. Smoke also damages the cilia so they can’t do their job of removing mucus and trapped particles from the airways.

Symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD symptoms often do not appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, especially if exposure to smoking continues.

Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:

1. Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
2. wheezing
3. Chest tightness
4. A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow, or green
5. Frequent respiratory infections
6. Lack of energy
7. Unintentional weight loss (in later stages)
8. Swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs
9. People with COPD also experience episodes called exacerbations, during which their symptoms become worse than the normal daily variation and last for at least several days.

When to See a Doctor

Talk to your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve or get worse with treatment, or if you notice signs of infection, such as fever or changes in sputum. Get medical help right away if you can’t catch your breath, if you experience swelling of your lips or fingernails (cyanosis) or a fast heart rate, or if you feel foggy and have trouble concentrating.

Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD is commonly misdiagnosed. Many people who have COPD are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, discuss your family and medical history, and discuss any exposures that may cause lung irritation. – Especially cigarette smoke. Your doctor may perform several tests to diagnose your condition.

Tests may include:

1. Lung (pulmonary) function tests. These tests measure the amount of air you can breathe in and out, and whether your lungs are supplying enough oxygen to your blood. During the most common test, called spirometry, you blow into a large tube attached to a small machine to measure how much air your lungs can hold and how fast you exhale. can be taken out. Other tests include measurements of lung volume and capacity to expand, the six-minute walk test, and pulse oximetry.
2. Chest x-ray A chest X-ray can show emphysema, a major cause of COPD. X-rays can also rule out other lung problems or heart problems.
3. CT scan. A CT scan of your lungs can help detect emphysema and help determine whether you may benefit from COPD surgery. A computed Tomography Scan can also be used to screen for lung cancer.
4. Arterial blood gas analysis. This blood test checks how well your lungs are getting oxygen into your blood and removing carbon dioxide.
5. Laboratory tests. Lab tests are not used to diagnose COPD, but they can be used to determine the cause of your symptoms or rule out other conditions. For example, laboratory tests can be used to determine whether you have the genetic disorder alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which can cause COPD in some people. This test can be done if you have a family history of COPD and develop COPD at an early age.

Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Many people with COPD have a mild form of the disease that requires little treatment other than smoking cessation. Even for more advanced stages of the disease, effective therapy is available that can control symptoms, slow progression, reduce your risk of complications and progression, and allow you to live an active life. can improve your ability to

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking is the most important step in any COPD treatment plan. Stopping smoking can prevent COPD from getting worse and reduce your ability to breathe. But quitting smoking is not easy. And this task can seem especially difficult if you’ve tried to quit and failed. Talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement products and medications that can help, as well as how to deal with relapse. Your doctor may also recommend a support group for those who want to quit smoking. Also, avoid exposure to second-hand smoke whenever possible.

Medicines for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A variety of medications are used to treat the symptoms and complications of COPD. You can take some medicines regularly and others as needed.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are medicines that usually come in an inhaler – they relax the muscles around your airways. It can help relieve cough and shortness of breath and make breathing easier. Depending on the severity of your illness, you may need a short-acting bronchodilator before activities, a long-acting bronchodilator that you use every day, or both.

Examples of short-acting bronchodilators include:

1. Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others)
2. Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA)
3. Levalbuterol (Xopenex)

Examples of long-acting bronchodilators include:

1. Echlidinum (Teodorza Presser)
2. Orformoterol (Bruna)
3. Formoterol (Perforomist)
4. Indacaterol (Arcapta Neoinhaler)
5. Tiotropium (Spiriva)
6. Salmeterol (Serevent)
7. Umeclidinium (Incruse Ellipta)

Inhaled steroids

Side effects may include itching, oral infections, and hoarseness. These medicines are useful for people who have frequent exacerbations of COPD. Examples of inhaled steroids include:

1. Fluticasone (Flovent HFA)
2. Budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler)

Combination inhaler

Some medications combine bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. Examples of these combination inhalers include:

1. fluticasone and valanterol (Brevo Elepta)
2. Fluticasone, umeclidinium, and vilanterol (Trelegy Ellipta)
3. Formoterol and budesonide (Symbicort)
4. Salmeterol and fluticasone (Advair HFA, AirDev Digihaler, others)

Combination inhalers that contain more than one type of bronchodilator are also available. Examples of these include:

1. Aclidinium and formoterol (Ducler Presser)
2. Albuterol and ipratropium (Combivent Respimat)
3. Formoterol and glycopyrrolate (Bevespi Aerosphere)
4. Glycopyrrolate and indacaterol (Utibron)
5. Olodaterol and tiotropium (Stiolto Respimat)
6. Umeclidinium and vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta)

Oral steroids

For people who experience periods when their COPD becomes more severe, called moderate or severe exacerbations, a short course (for example, five days) of oral corticosteroids can prevent COPD from getting worse. can prevent However, long-term use of these drugs can have serious side effects, such as weight gain, diabetes, osteoporosis, cataracts, and an increased risk of infection.

Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors

An approved drug for people with symptoms of severe COPD and chronic bronchitis is roflumilast (Daliresp), a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor. This medicine reduces airway inflammation and relaxes the airways. Common side effects may include diarrhea and weight loss.

Theophylline

When other treatments have been ineffective or if cost is a factor, theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron), a less expensive drug, can help improve breathing and prevent exacerbations of COPD. Side effects are dose-related and can include nausea, headache, rapid heart rate, and tremors, so tests are used to monitor the blood levels of the medication.

Antibiotics

Respiratory infections, such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and influenza, can exacerbate COPD symptoms. Antibiotics help treat COPD exacerbations but are not generally recommended for prevention. Some studies show that certain antibiotics, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), prevent COPD from getting worse, but side effects and antibiotic resistance can limit their use.