Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: all about COPD
The name ” chronic obstructive pulmonary disease “Or COPD means a set of respiratory problems serious and irreversible. The main ones are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms rarely start before your XNUMXs.
People with COPD cough a lot and are easily short of breath. As the disease progresses, daily activities become more strenuous. These must be rearranged according to the energy and breath available.
Long-term smoking is responsible for 80% to 90% of COPD cases. About 1 smoking out of 5 develop COPD. Exposure to secondhand smoke and to pollutants airways can also contribute. Sometimes the cause is unexplained.
Types
Often, features of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema are found in the same person (see diagram):
- Chronic bronchitis. It represents 85% of cases of COPD. Bronchitis is said to be chronic when the cough has been present for at least 3 months per year, for 2 consecutive years, and that there is no other lung problem (cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, etc.).
The lining of the bronchi produces mucus in abundance. In addition, the bronchi are constantly plagued by inflammatory reactionsbecause they become “colonized” by bacteria. This colonization is not considered to be an infection, as it is usually understood. On the other hand, normally, the bronchi are sterile, that is to say that no bacteria and no virus or other micro-organism are there.
- Emphysema. The alveoli of the lungs lose their elasticity, gradually deform or rupture. When the alveoli are destroyed or damaged, the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide becomes less efficient. In addition, the walls of bronchi close on exhalation due to lack of support from surrounding tissue. This closure of the bronchi on expiration does not only interfere with the air passage. It also causes the sequestration of an abnormal amount of air in the lungs.
Better understand the COPD Normally inspiration is an active phenomenon and expiration a passive phenomenon. When there is obstruction of the bronchi, as is the case with COPD, the effort to breathe increases greatly, as the exhalation is forced to become active. The sensation resembles that felt during a major physical effort. The obstruction in question therefore occurs on expiration and not on inspiration. In the case of chronic bronchitis, the caliber of the bronchi is reduced by inflammation, secretions, and sometimes spasms of the muscles located in the wall of the bronchi. In the case ofemphysema, the bronchi sag and lose their elasticity. The alveoli become abnormally dilated; they are then less efficient in carrying out gas exchanges. The lungs of a person with chronic bronchitis or emphysema come to contain much more air than normal. However, this air is not of good quality: it is of little use to the body because it contains little oxygen and is stagnant. The role of the lungs is to carry out gas exchange. With each breath, the lungs absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2). In a person with COPD, there is “trapped” air in the lungs, which does not participate in these gas exchanges. |
More and more frequent
In Canada, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constitute the 4e cause of death after cancer, heart disease and stroke26. Experts predict that in 2013, they will appear in the 3e rank of causes of death. COPD gradually leads to heart failure by overloading the heart, which must push blood through the diseased lungs. At the smoking, COPD increases the risk of lung cancer.
About 6% of Canadians aged 55 to 64 have it, and 7% of those 65 to 741.
Currently, the chronic bronchitis and emphysema affect both men and women.
Evolution
Even before the first symptoms appear (usually cough), damage to the lungs are already well established and irreversible. At this point, stopping exposure to irritants, such as tobacco smoke, is still very beneficial. The progression of the disease is then slowed down.
Over time, the cough becomes more common, as do acute colds and bronchitis. Sputum is more abundant. The breathing becomes more and more difficult during heavy efforts. The person tends to become more sedentary. At a certain stage, the disease causes thebreathlessness at the slightest physical effort, and then even at rest. Symptoms are exacerbated during periods of smog, normally common infections or exposure to substances that irritate the respiratory tract. Hospitalization is sometimes necessary.
It is important to treat seizures wellexacerbation symptoms, which may increase the destruction of fragile lung tissue.
Exhaustion, pain psychological and isolation are difficulties frequently encountered by people with this debilitating disease. a emaciation can occur in the advanced stage of the disease, because the work of breathing is such that it is compared to the practice of a strong and constant physical exertion.
Currently, doctors are concerned that COPD is often diagnosed too late, limiting the effectiveness of treatments.