Definition:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, causing airflow obstruction.
Causes:
- Smoking is the leading cause of COPD.
- Passive or secondhand smoke smoking (SHS) (i.e. the inhalation or exposure to smoke comes from smokers).
- Hereditary factor (family history).
- Exposure to air pollutants such as chemicals.
- Respiratory infections.
Symptoms:
- Increase in breathing rate.
- Frequent coughing.
- Wheezing.
- Tightness in the chest.
Diagnoses:
- Spirometry: It is the fastest and easiest way to diagnose COPD.
- Chest X-ray.
- CT scan.
Risk Factors:
- Smoking.
- Passive or secondhand smoking.
- Exposure to gases and chemical vapors.
Complications:
- Cardiac patients: Low oxygen levels strain or affect the heart and may lead to the risk of heart failure.
- Respiratory tract infections: The COPD patient is more likely to get frequent colds, flu and pneumonia.
- Depression: Some patients may get depressed; as a result of breathing difficulty and inability to do the normal daily activities.
Symptomatic Treatment:
- Oxygen therapy.
- Inhaled medications or Inhalers to make breathing easier.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation program: The program is developed for COPD patients, which is a range of activities in health education, physical activities, and nutrition under the supervision of a group of specialists to improve the patients' health condition.
- Taking the seasonal influenza vaccine for the prevention of recurrent respiratory tract inflammations.
Prevention:
Quitting smoking.
Avoiding exposure to chemical vapors and gases.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity and healthy nutrition.
Taking seasonal influenza.