Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction

COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a name given to a group of diseases that bring about breathing and airflow obstruction related problems. It comprises of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and in a few cases asthma. COPD or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is expected to affect 33 million people in America and is the 4th most common cause of death in the country (McAlister, 2003). People suffering from COPD typically show symptoms of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; however, the classic triad also takes account of asthma. Alternative names for COPD are: Chronic obstructive lung disease; Chronic obstructive airways disease; Chronic bronchitis; Bronchitis - chronic and Emphysema (McAlister, 2003).

Discussion

Chronic bronchitis is clinically defined as the occurrence of a chronic productive cough for a period of three months throughout each of two years consecutively. Emphysema is described pathologically as a permanent and abnormal growth of the air spaces farthest away from the terminal bronchioles, together with damage of their walls and devoid of clear fibrosis (Feenstram & Hoogenveen, 2010).

What causes COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the United States of America is mostly caused by smoking. Tobacco smoke is a major factor in the progression and development of COPD1, even though contact to air pollutants in the workplace as well as home, respiratory infections and genetic factors also play a significant part (Feenstram & Hoogenveen, 2010). In the third world countries, the quality of indoor air is considered to play a prominent role in the progression and development of COPD as compare to the way it occurs in United States of America.

Who is affected by COPD?

Chronic lower respiratory diseases, first and foremost COPD, were the 3rd primary cause of death in the America in the year 2011 (Rennard & Shapiro, 2012). Approximately 15 million Americans report that they have are suffering from COPD. Over fifty percent of mature individuals with low pulmonary function were not acquainted with the fact that they are suffering from COPD; for that reason the actual figure may be more than this.

However, the following groups were further expected to report COPD:

Adults belonging to the age group of 66-74 years

Women

Non-Hispanic whites

People who were unable to work, retired, or unemployed

People with lower earnings.

People with below high school education

Former or current smokers.

People with a history of asthma

People who were separated, widowed, or divorced

Tests and Exams

The most successful test for COPD is “Spirometry” which is a lung function test. In this test the patient is asked to blow out as much as he or she could into a small machine that examines the capacity of lungs. The outcomes can be checked instantaneously, and the test does not entail radiation exposure, drawing blood, or exercising (Rennard & Shapiro, 2012).

Basically a stethoscope is used to listen to the lungs. On the other hand, at times the lungs sound regular even when Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is present.

Images of the lungs (for instance CT scans and x-rays) can be accommodating; however, at time these pictures look normal even if ...