Diseases of the respiratory system, in which there is a violation of the passage of air through the airways, prone to constant progression and irreversible flow, is called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or abbreviated COPD. Symptoms of this group of the disease are expressed in constant shortness of breath, especially during periods of exacerbation, coughing with viscous sputum. The pathogenesis of COPD, the symptoms of the disease, depend on the degree of damage to lung tissue from the influence of etiological factors. Hypersecretion of bronchial mucus occurs, its viscosity increases and, as a result, mucus is difficult to evacuate from the respiratory tract. If it happens that a bacterial or viral infection occurs, COPD is exacerbated with an increase in temperature, a deterioration in general condition, the appearance of severe hypoxia and respiratory failure.
I would like to note that COPD disease is characterized by a constantly developing course, with alternating periods of exacerbation and the relative lull of the pathological process. Often the disease is difficult to treat, requires the constant use of supportive drugs and a good lifestyle. Patients, especially the elderly, are on disability, performance and exercise tolerance are steadily reduced.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combines several diseases of the respiratory system in its name: chronic obstructive bronchitis, chronic pulmonary heart, pulmonary emphysema and, as a complication of these diseases, pulmonary hypertension.
Causes of COPD
With obstructive disease, a pathological change in lung tissue is noted, not all people are prone to this, there is a hereditary predisposition, a lack of antitrypsin. The damaging factors are, first of all: prolonged smoking, harmful production (occupational hazards). They have a detrimental effect on light cement and silicon dust, dust particles of cotton or grain crops at the elevator or during harvesting. Not the last role is played by poor environmental conditions. Etiological factors, irritating secretory cells, cause hypersecretion of bronchial secretion. The altered ciliated epithelium cannot evacuate viscous mucus in sufficient quantities, it stagnates and blockages (obstruction) of the paths occur at different levels. Overstretching of the respiratory muscles leads to the formation of foci of increased airiness. Regardless of the cause of COPD, its symptoms in different diseases are similar.
Signs of COPD, symptoms in various diseases
Obstructive chronic bronchitis is characterized by a wet cough with sputum that is difficult to separate. An increase in cough occurs with a cold, cold weather. The bronchial secretion becomes viscous and difficult to pass away, often this is accompanied by subfebrile condition. In severe cases, bronchospasm with respiratory failure may develop.
With emphysema, there is a pathological expansion of the functional components of the lungs - the alveoli, causing an increase in their airiness, overstretching of the alveolar wall and the impossibility of normal gas exchange. The disease affects the lung tissue is limited (focal) and diffuse. The lungs at the same time resemble grapes. The specific form of the chest is characteristic , it takes the form of a barrel due to excess air. Patients complain of constant shortness of breath, visually it is possible to note the participation of additional muscles during breathing. If you percussively tap the chest, a boxy sound is heard.
COPD treatment methods
The main goal of COPD therapy is to eliminate the causes of the disease and possibly slow the progression of the disease. If possible, the patient should give up smoking, if there is professional harm, change his place of work. It is advisable to regularly engage in physical therapy, breathing exercises. It is very important to avoid the common cold. Exacerbation of the disease is treated with drugs dilating the bronchi. These are derivatives of tiotropium (spirit, atrovent), which are used in inhaled form. Hormones (prednisone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone) relieve inflammation and tissue edema. With a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed.
Sputum discharge and liquefaction cause mucolytics.
In case of respiratory failure, mask inhalation of pure oxygen is beneficial.