COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time. Normally, the airways and air sacs in your lungs are elastic or stretchy. When you breathe in, the airways bring air to the air sacs. The air sacs fill up with air, like a small balloon. When you breathe out, the
air sacs deflate, and the air goes out. If you have COPD, less air flows in and out of your airways because of one or more problems: COPD includes two
main types:
Most people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but how severe each type is can be different from person to person. What causes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?The cause of COPD is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause COPD, especially if you inhale them. Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to COPD. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace. Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can play a role in causing COPD. Who is at risk for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?The risk factors for COPD include:
What are the symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?At first, you may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. As the disease gets worse, your symptoms usually become more severe. They can include:
Some people with COPD get frequent respiratory infections such as colds and the flu. In severe cases, COPD can cause weight loss, weakness in your lower muscles, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs. How is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) diagnosed?Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:
Your doctor will diagnose COPD based on your signs and symptoms, your medical and family histories, and test results. What are the treatments for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?There is no cure for COPD. However, treatments can help with symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and improve your ability to stay active. There are also treatments to prevent or treat complications of the disease. Treatments include:
If you have COPD, it's important to know when and where to get help for your symptoms. You should get emergency care if you have severe symptoms, such as trouble catching your breath or talking. Call your health care provider if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have signs of an infection, such as a fever. Can COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) be prevented?Since smoking causes most cases of COPD, the best way to prevent it is to not smoke. It's also important to try to avoid lung irritants such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes, and dusts. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here
Why is PO2 low in COPD?Damage from COPD sometimes keeps the tiny air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli, from getting enough oxygen. That's called alveolar hypoxia. This kind of hypoxia can start a chain reaction that leads to low oxygen in your blood, or hypoxemia.
Which exposure accounts for most cases of COPD?Exposure to tobacco smoke.
The most significant risk factor for COPD is long-term cigarette smoking. The more years you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater your risk. Pipe smokers, cigar smokers and marijuana smokers also may be at risk, as well as people exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke.
Does COPD decrease PaO2?In all patients with COPD there is the decrease of pH and PaO2 and an increase of PaCO2 during follow-up period that indicates that airflow limitation is progressive but in patients taking regular therapy treatment during remissions and exacerbations of illness both pH and PaO2 are statistically significantly bigger ...
What is PaO2 in COPD?Most experts accept the PaO2 value of 60 as the baseline value we want to maintain. If COPD is causing a PaO2 of less than 60, supplemental oxygen is indicated. Usually, with COPD, all that is needed is a low flow of 2-3 LPM. This is usually all that is needed to maintain a PaO2 of 60 or better.
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