COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease usually results from emphysema and chronic asthmatic bronchitis. This can result from several years of smoking or uncontrolled asthma which is uncontrolled for many years. What is important to the understanding of COPD, is that the exchange of blood and carbon dioxide levels becomes out of balance; leaving patients out of breath. Unfortunately, once the damage has been done to the lungs it is impossible to reverse the damage. Current treatments focus around quitting smoking, healthy lifestyles, and exercise, as well as medication in some cases. Most physicians will tell patients to stay away from irritants such as dust, smoke (even second-hand smoke), certain chemical fumes (cleaning products), and other fine air pollens.

Emphysema patients suffer from the destruction of the alveoli. The alveoli become weaker from smoking which causes the walls to become weaker which prevents them from filling fully. The result is that the lungs are not able to fill fully and the patient must work harder to “catch their breathe”. Most often the treatment is steroids and oxygen therapy.

Other problems that are associated with COPD and other respiratory problems are heart problems, blood pressure problems, respiratory infections, and depression. Respiratory infections are most common as the lungs ciliated cells have become damaged and the mucous linings are no longer able to keep out irritants. Some new promising medications have come out to help individuals quit smoking before too much damage has been to the lungs. One common medication is Chantix which prevents the nicotine from crossing the blood brain barrier and then relies upon taste aversion in the second stage. Chantix has shown to be a promising medication in the fight against those who are trying to quit smoking.

Related Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/copd/DS00916