InsightsFrenzy.com | Discover Insightful Content

Respiratory disorders – the signs and treatments of COPD

COPD or Chronic Oppressive Pulmonary Disorder is not a single condition. It simply means a condition of the lungs which makes breathing difficult because of chronically constricted air passages. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, cystic fibrosis, all can cause COPD. The cause is constant irritation of the lung specifically the bronchi and bronchioles and a genetic predisposition. This leads them to swell and secrete mucus. As the condition continues, the bronchioles and alveoli lose the elasticity.

During an episode of severe coughing or deep inhalation, they over expand and remain so. This results in stagnation of air and also their capacity to take a full quantity of air during inspiration. This, in turn, leads to the lower partial pressure of oxygen and less transfer to blood. The carbon dioxide partial pressure in the alveoli will be higher reducing its transfer from blood to the air. The approach to the treatment in the initial stages is to eliminate the cause of allergy or allergen if known. The approach is to reduce the swelling of the bronchioles and the usual medicines are nasally administered corticosteroids and bronchodilators both long acting and short acting depending on the situation.

COPD signs and treatment
Signs and symptoms of COPD, which is very insidious, appear only after significant damage has happened to the lungs. The initial symptoms are very much like asthma or chronic bronchitis, tightness of chest, breathlessness or shortness of breath on exertion, wheezing and chronic cough with sputum generation, clearing one’s throat first thing in the morning because of the mucus accumulation in the lung, blueness of the lips or fingernail beds, frequent respiratory infections, lack of energy and swelling in ankles, leg or feet. One may also suffer unexplained weight loss. Medical COPD also has periodic flare-ups of symptoms which last for several days.

However, as the condition deteriorates, the lung does not transfer enough oxygen to the blood. The patient starts to suffer oxygen deficiency or hypoxemia. It may be only when the individual exerts physically the deficiency become apparent in breathlessness or in shortness of breath. On further deterioration, the lack of oxygen may start to be felt in sleep also. The condition has reached a critical condition and oxygen needs to be supplied by mechanical means. Continued unabated hypoxemia leads to further complications like pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy and ultimate failure. COPD can cause lung cancer too.

Treatments for COPD
Acute conditions require hospitalized treatment, and one might need to use inhalers for COPD, undergo drug treatment and even COPD oxygen therapy.

Disclaimer:

The content provided on our blog site traverses numerous categories, offering readers valuable and practical information. Readers can use the editorial team’s research and data to gain more insights into their topics of interest. However, they are requested not to treat the articles as conclusive. The website team cannot be held responsible for differences in data or inaccuracies found across other platforms. Please also note that the site might also miss out on various schemes and offers available that the readers may find more beneficial than the ones we cover.

Popular Articles

End-stage COPD Symptoms to Know

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (CPOD) refers to a group of lung and respiratory disorders that can permanently damage tissue and organs. The lungs are tasked with absorbing fresh oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from the body through respiration.

Respiratory disorders – the signs and treatments of COPD

6 Symptoms That Indicate That You Are Suffering from COPD

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive lung disease where a person typically suffers from emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a lung condition where the alveoli, which are the tiny sacs in the lungs that allow the passage of oxygen between the lungs and the bloodstream are destroyed.

Best inhalers for treating COPD and asthma

Symbicort inhaler and Spiriva inhaler are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for treatment of airflow obstruction, caused due to conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or even emphysema.

Understanding the Relation Between Asthma and COPD

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are respiratory ailments that are often confused for each other due to overlapping symptoms and little understanding of the two conditions. The National Institute of Health (NIH) says that about 40% of people with COPD also have asthma.

Here are a few common causes and treatment options of COPD

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name given to a group of diseases that block air passage to the lungs and cause breathing issues. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma in some cases.