Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a long-standing inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. COPD makes breathing hard and difficult.
Normally, the airways and air sacs in the lungs are elastic, but during COPD, the case is different. The process is as:
- When you breathe in, the air sacs bring air to the air sacs.
- The air sacs get filled up with air, like a small balloon.
- During breath out, the air goes out, and the air sacs flatten.
If a person has COPD, the flow of the air in and out is obstructed because of one or more reasons:
- The airways and air sacs in your lungs appear to be stretchy
- The walls of the air sacs are damaged
- The walls of the airways are inflamed
- There is more production of mucus than usual, clogging the air sacs
For COPD, long-term exposure to the irritating gases or toxins from the cigarette can trigger the risk. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two other culprits that contribute to COPD.
Emphysema is a condition triggered by exposure to toxic materials such as cigarette smoke and harmful gases. Resultant, the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages become inflamed or damaged, leading to problems in the airflow in and out.
Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, that transports air to and from the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs.
Millions of people are infected with COPD, and only half of them are unaware of it. This makes recovery a little tricky. Untreated COPD can lead to problems in the heart, more severe forms of respiratory infections, and even lung cancer.
Symptoms
COPD symptoms often don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, particularly if smoking exposure continues.
Signs and symptoms
The varied signs and symptoms of COPD may include:
- Breathlessness, primarily during physical activities
- Wheezing sound
- Pain or tightness in your chest
- Cough in which mucus or sputum is quite clear or yellow in color
- Recurring respiratory infections
- Bereaved energy
- Swelling in ankles, feet, or legs
- Extreme weight loss
People with COPD experience episodes of exacerbations in which the signs become worse and intense than usual and persist for several days.
When to see a doctor
Make your appointment with your doctor if your symptoms are worsening or if you have respiratory infections or chronic cough and venting out sputum. Seek immediate medical intervention, if
- you are panting heavily,
- your lips are turning blue,
- there is a rapid heartbeat,
- extreme dizziness is troubling you,
- you are feeling confused, muddled, or faint
Causes
The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is smoking. Inhaling fumes from burning fuel is also a cause of COPD in poorly ventilated homes.
Smoking is injurious to health, but not necessarily every chronic smoker develops COPD, although their lung function may start to decline.
How your lungs get affected?
The air you breathe in passes down the trachea (windpipe) into your lungs through two large tubes (bronchi). These tubes get divided into many branch-like structures, which are called smaller tubes (bronchioles) that traverse to clusters of small air sacs (alveoli).
The air sacs have very thin blood vessels, capillaries and the oxygen enters your bloodstream through these blood vessels. Concurrently, carbon dioxide is exhaled out.
Naturally, the elasticity of the air sacs allows the air to flow in and out. But if someone has COPD, this elasticity of the air sac is compromised, which leaves a portion of air to trap in the lungs.
Causes of airway obstruction
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
In around 1% of people who have COPD, the cause is a genetic disorder called Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. The condition causes a low protein content in the body, called alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt). AAt is secreted by the liver and passed to the bloodstream to aid in lung protection. While there is a deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) in the body, the lung starts to become damaged.
Risk factors
Several risk factors contribute to the development of COPD, such as:
Asthma. Asthma is a chronic infection characterized by the inflammation of the airway. If you have asthma and still you are habitual of smoking, the risk turns out to be more.
Genetics. Some genetic disorders also trigger the risk of COPD, such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Occupational hazards. Exposure to dust and chemicals at the workplace can also make you susceptible to the risk of COPD.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests can help rule out COPD. Screening is based on a physical examination of the signs, and diagnostics tests by your healthcare team.
When you visit your doctor, he may ask you for:
Lung function test. The test measures the amount of air you breathe in and out and whether your lungs are able to deliver enough oxygen to your blood. There is a test called spirometry in which you blow into a large tube connected to a small machine, based on this your doctor concludes if your lungs are healthy or not.
Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray rules out emphysema, one of the main causes of COPD.
Arterial blood gas analysis. It is a form of blood test that checks how the lungs are bringing and removing oxygen/ carbon dioxide in and out.
CT scan. A CT scan can help know if you have emphysema or lung cancer.
Laboratory tests. Though lab tests are not beneficial in ruling our COPD, they help to bring out the signs attributed to its development. Lab tests are required if you have a family history of COPD.