Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is commonly called COPD. COPD is a widely growing cause of disability and mortality in the world every day. COPD was the 6th leading cause for 4% of deaths in the world in 1990 and by 2020 it is projected to increase to 7% and move up to the 3rd cause for deaths in our world. (Lundback, 2003) Causes of COPD can include exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutions, occupational hazards, infections and also with the leading cause of cigarette smoking.

COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some effects that may aid to severity in some patients. Its pulmonary component is characterized by the limit of airflow that is not reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to gases. Airflow is limited because of a mixture of small airway disease, parenchymal destruction or emphysema, and in many cases because of increase in the airway response or asthma. Even though COPD is treatable, it is not reversible. After witnessing a grandmother with COPD having trouble breathing on her own after 2 weeks out of heart surgery and still on the ventilator only through an incision in her neck now, I see the complete effects of COPD first hand.

The risk of getting COPD varies in many ways including genetic, tobacco smoker, outdoor/indoor pollutions, ageing, occupational dusts or vapors, asthma, gender, and socioeconomic and related factors. Even though you might have similar ways the severity of your COPD is greatly different than each other. I questioned the nurse at the hospital that my grandmother is at about which factor was most common with COPD. Her response of tobacco smokers didn't surprise me. According to her nurse, it is estimated that 50% of tobacco smokers get COPD.

A person with COPD could have several different symptoms of it. The most common symptom is chronic productive cough. Other symptoms are long-standing cough, sputum production, recurrent wheeze, attacks of shortness of breath, or dyspnea of at least grade 2. Increasing age and smoking are the two most factors that play into COPD causing this. My grandmother was a smoker 20 years ago, but the damage from the smoking still plays a big role in her life. After the heart surgery, she is trying to recover it with only about 10% of her lungs according to the doctors.