COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease. This is basically a lung disease. This happens due to chronic inflammation in lungs that leads to obstructive airflow from the lungs.

Introduction

There are four stages of COPD. Stage I is called early stage. The other stage II is called moderate stage. The third one is called severe stage. The last stage IV is very severe. All of stages leads to you feeling breathless. These all stages use doctors to explain how severe COPD is in patient body. This grading system is known as Gold staging and grading system. This will help doctor to suggest the patient which treatment is best for them.

Circumstances on which the Gold system is based on

The Gold system forms the basis of the stage of COPD. This depends on some things like.

  • Patient’s symptoms.
  • How worse COPD in patient’s body is.
  • Result from spirometer (test to check the flow of air in lungs).

 

Gold stands for global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease. The Gold system helps doctors in the planning of the treatment of COPD. It is used to identify the different stages of COPD. Worldwide experts believe that new Gold system helps doctors to treat the COPD in better way.

Causes behind COPD

There are many causes of COPD. The main causes in many developed countries are tobacco smoking. In many other developing countries COPD occur due to burning of fuel and heating in poorly ventilated homes.

Air travels throughout the body using windpipe called trachea into the lungs. The pipe divides into two tubes which are called bronchi. These bronchi divide themselves into small tubes called bronchioles. These end with the clusters of tiny sacs called alveoli.

The tiny capillaries wrap around the sacs of alveoli. The oxygen we inhale goes to the bloodstream through this and at the same time a gas in exhaled which is known as carbon dioxide.

COPD cause these bronchial tubes to lose elasticity and become tough. This leads to some air trapped in it and COPD occurs in the patient. The main cause of narrowing of airways is asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Asthma

The walls of alveoli are made up of elastic fibers. This disease can cause the destruction of these fragile walls. This can obstruct the airways. When patient exhales small airways collapse.

Chronic bronchitis

This disease also causes COPD. In this disease bronchial tube become narrow, which causes damage to the air ways. Furthermore, lungs make more mucous. A chronic cough develops as a result of this disease.

Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency

Experts say that about 1 % of people that are affected with COPD results from genetic disorder. This happen when AAT level become low in the body. Its deficiency causes COPD in the body. AAT is the protein made by lungs or secreted by bloodstream to help and protect the lungs.

Liver and lung disease, both are caused by AAT deficiency. People used to treat this disease by replacing their AAT protein, which may help to prevent the body from severe damage.

Factors that increase the risk of COPD

There are many factors that can increase the risk of COPD in the body. These factors include.

  • Tobacco smoking.
  • Asthma
  • Genetics
  • Exposure to dust and chemicals.
  • Exposure to fumes from burning fuels.

Symptoms/Sign of COPD

The symptoms of COPD occur when the damage occurred becomes worst. The lung damage reaches worst condition, and it becomes more chronic if patient’s smoking continues.

The symptoms and signs of COPD includes shortness of breath while doing some physical activities like running, playing, walking etc. patient feels shortness of breath while doing these activities.

Patient will go through the frequent respiratory infection.

Lack of energy is also the symptom of COPD. Patient always feel tired while doing anything.

Patient also feels swelling in ankle, feet and legs.

In later stages chronic cough occur with yellow, white, or greenish mucus. Unintended weight loss is also a big sign of COPD. Chest tightness and wheezing also includes in COPD symptoms. If any person is suffering from these symptoms, they must have to visit the doctors.[1]

Spirometer and patient’s COPD stage

Spirometer is used to measure the airflow in lungs. The Spirometer result depends upon two measurements.

The first one is FVC. This stands for forced vital capacity. As deeply as you inhale air and the largest amount you breathe out after this. This can be measured through this. The other one is FEV- 1.  This stands for forced expiratory volume. This will be the amount of air which a person will inhale in one second.

Complications through COPD

If the person is suffering from COPD, they are more likely to get other severe diseases through this. [2]

People who are suffering from COPD are more like to get respiratory infections like cold cough, flu and pneumonia. It will make breathing more difficult. Usually heart problems are also caused by COPD. It can increase the risk of heart attack in patient’s body.

Lung disease is very common during COPD. It increases the risk of lung’s infection in patient’s body. Patient who are suffering from COPD have to keep away from physical activities. This might lead to patient getting in the state of depression. High blood pressure is also caused by the COPD.

Treatment of COPD

The treatment of COPD is

  • Stop smoking.
  • Surgery
  • Inhalers
  • Lung transplant.
  • Medications

There are two type of long acting inhalers. These are called Beta 2 agonist inhaler and the other one is ant muscarinic inhaler.  But now new inhalers are available. They are the combination of long acting beta 2 agonist and ant muscarinic.

 Medicines

There are some tablets that are usually helpful in COPD treatment. This includes.

  • Theophylline tablets.
  • Mucolytic
  • Steroid tablet.
  • Antibiotics

Reference

[1]https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353326

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353326

[3] https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd