What is Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease?

Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease is sometimes seen as a mix of Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. In Chronic Bronchitis the airways which carry air to the lungs has become inflamed. This causes a lot of mucus to be produced in the air passageways. This excess amount of mucus causes the airways to become blocked and breathing more difficult.

In Emphysema the air sacs become damaged and they lose their elastic shape ability. This loss means that less air circulates in and out of the lungs. This condition causes a person to feel short of breath.

These are the main contributors towards a person getting Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. However there is another culprit which can make this lung disease even worse. This factor is that of smoking. Additionally you can get COPD by breathing in second hand smoke, dust, air pollution, and also from chemical fumes.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), is a group of diseases characterized by limitation of airflow in the airway that is not fully reversible. COPD is the umbrella term for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and a range of other disorders. It is most often due to tobacco smoking[1] but can be due to other airborne irritants such as coal dust, asbestos or solvents, as well as preserved meats containing nitrites.

The main symptoms of COPD include dyspnea (shortness of breath) lasting for months or perhaps years, possibly accompanied by wheezing, and a persistent cough with sputum production. It is possible the sputum may contain blood (hemoptysis), usually due to damage of the blood vessels of the airways. Severe COPD could lead to cyanosis (bluish decolorization usually in the lips and fingers) caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. In extreme cases it could lead to cor pulmonale due the extra work required by the heart to get blood to flow through the lungs.

COPD is particularly characterised by a ratio of forced expiratory volume over 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) being < 0.7 and the FEV1 < 70% of the predicted value. Other signs include a rapid breathing rate (tachypnea) and a wheezing sound heard through a stethoscope. Pulmonary emphysema is NOT the same as subcutaneous emphysema, which is a collection of air under the skin that may be detected by the crepitus sounds produced on palpation.

Cigarette smoking
A primary factor of COPD is chronic tobacco smoking. In the United States, around 90% of cases of COPD are due to smoking. Not all smokers will develop COPD, but continuous smokers have at least a 25% risk.


Occupational pollutants
Some occupational pollutants, such as cadmium and silica, have shown to be a contributing risk factor for COPD. The people at highest risk for these pollutants include coal workers, construction workers, metal workers and cotton workers, amongst others. However, in most cases these pollutants are combined with cigarette smoking further increasing the chance of developing COPD. These occupations are commonly associated with other respiratory diseases, particularly pneumoconiosis (black lung disease).


Air pollution
Urban air pollution may be a contributing factor for COPD as it is thought to impair the development of the lung function. In developing countries indoor air pollution, usually due to biomass fuel, has been linked to COPD, especially in women.


Genetics
Very rarely, there may be a deficiency in an enzyme known as alpha 1-antitrypsin which causes a form of COPD.


Other risk factors
Increasing age, male gender, allergy, repeated airway infection and general impaired lung function are also related to the development of COPD.

Although COPD is not curable, it can be controlled in a variety of ways.

Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation is one of the most important factors in slowing down the progression of COPD. Even at a late stage of the disease it can reduce the rate of deterioration and prolong the time taken for disability and death.


Occupational change
Workers may be able to transfer to a significantly less contaminated area of the company depending on circumstances. Often however, workers may need complete occupational change.

Also knowed as COPD, its when the lungs are damaged making it hard to breath.

It's common name Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , which is a lung disease that makes it hard to breath.

Causes:
smoking,breathing chemical fumes, dust, polluted air over many years, which will result of irritating the airways and destroys the stretchy fibers in the lungs and eventually damaging the lungs.
Also serious and frequent lung infections during the childhood would be a reason for that decease

symptoms:
- A long-lasting (chronic) cough.
- Mucus that comes up when you cough.
- Shortness of breath that gets worse when you exercise.
- At advanced stages, breath become difficult even when you do simple things like get dressed or fix a meal.
- Often lose weight and getting weaker.


Treatment:
- Quit smoking is the most important step to be done.
- Medicines can help to make breath easier. Most of them are inhaled so they go straight to the lungs.
- A lung (pulmonary) rehab program can help you learn to manage your disease.
-Oxygen maybe needed some or most of the time.
- Flu shot every year because patients who have COPD are more likely to get lung infections.
- Avoid things that can irritate your lungs, such as smoke, pollution, and cold, dry air.
- Use an air conditioner or air filter in your home.
- To take rest breaks during the day.
- Exercise to stay as strong as possible.
- To eat well