Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that can be explained as the inability to easily exhale the air taken into the lungs by breathing. Two processes that cause this condition are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Along with respiration, the place where the oxygen in the respiratory air passes into the blood and the carbon dioxide in the blood goes out is the alveoli at the end of the respiratory tract. Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation and narrowing of the airways, called bronchi, leading to the alveoli.

Emphysema means the breakdown and enlargement of these airways and vesicles. As a result, the inhaled air cannot be transmitted to the alveoli and remains restricted in the lung. This condition is called COPD.

Reasons

Smoking is shown as the most important cause of COPD.

COPD is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The progression of COPD may vary depending on the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

COPD used to be more common in men. But today, with the increase in cigarette consumption in women, it has taken its place among the most common diseases.

Other causes of COPD can be listed as follows;

Occupational deformation (such as mining and metalworking, transportation sector, wood and paper manufacturing, cement, grain and textile work…)

genetic diseases

Air pollution

age and gender

Symptoms

COPD usually does not cause symptoms until permanent lung damage has occurred. However, once symptoms appear, they will steadily worsen over time, unless causative factors, such as smoking, are quitted.

COPD Symptoms May Include:

Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities

Grunt

chest tightness

Sputum that may be white, yellow, or green.

Cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin, especially around the mouth, eyes, and nails)

Frequent respiratory infections

Tiredness

Weakness

Depression

Unwanted weight loss (in advanced stages)

Swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs

Diagnostic Methods

The diagnosis of COPD is made by considering the complaints of the person after the examination.  More than one test may be recommended by your physician for the diagnosis of COPD. Some of these tests are; Chest X-ray, blood count, biochemistry, arterial blood gas determination, respiratory test and tomography if deemed necessary by the physician. Pulmonary function test (spirometry) is a test used to confirm the diagnosis of COPD. It is of great importance in diagnosing COPD and distinguishing it from other lung diseases by determining the respiratory volumes and breathing rate of air in patients with long-term complaints of shortness of breath, cough and sputum, and a history of smoking.

Lung x-rays and blood tests are used especially when a lung infection is suspected. Arterial blood gas is used to determine the level and type of insufficiency in case of respiratory failure.