what is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Answer 1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the term for lung disease usually cause by smoking, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most smokers have components of both. Chronic bronchitis is a problem with the lung airways caused by chronic smoke irritation (although there are other causes of chronic bronchitis such as allergic asthma). Emphysema is a loss of the normal elasticity of aveoli (air sacks where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange take place).

Answer 2

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease of the lungs characterised by expiratory airflow obstruction. Main risk factor is smoking.

COPD is not curable. Medicines are used to control the condition.

Answer 3

Used to be called COAD (Chronic obstructive airways disease), until it had its name changed. Better known as chronic bronchitis which is combined with emphysema.

It is a disorder that is characterised by reduced maximal expiratory flow and slow forced emptying of the lungs; features that do not change markedly over several months. This limitation in airflow is only minimally reversible with bronchodilators.

Emphysema has a pathological definition, which is a condition where there is permanent destructive enlargement of of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles without obvious fibrosis. Chronic bronchitis is defined clinically by the presence of chronic bronchial secretions, enough to cause expectoration, occurring on most days for a minimum of 3 months of the year for 2 consecutive years. The pathological basis of chronic bronchitis is mucus hypersecretion secondary to hypertrophy of the glandular elements of the bronchial mucosa. Patients with COPD have features of both conditions, although one may be more prominent than the other.

The most common cause of these conditions is without doubt smoking. They can also be caused by chronic exposure to other chemicals and dusts.

Answer 4

Its a disease that includes emphesema and bronchitis. It occurs due to damage in the lungs(Pulmonary) making them narrow and is a long term(Chronic) illness

Answer 5

Pulmonary is of the lungs, so there's something preventing breathing. I know of pulmonary fibrosis - that's also a chronic (and terminal) disease - I hope no one you know has a similar illness x

Answer 6

COPD is an airway obstruction caused by dilation if the airway usually as a result of smoking or inhalation of aspestos etc. although there is no cure there are many treatments to ease the symptoms.

Answer 7

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath that can drastically restrict daily activities. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute estimates that more than 12 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with COPD. However, data from a national health survey suggests that as many as 24 million people Americans are affected by the disease.

COPD is closely associated with smoking. Roughly 15 to 20 percent of active smokers will develop COPD. Second-hand smoke exposure has also been linked to COPD. Besides smoking, the disease is also associated with exposure to environmental pollutants and organic substances such as fertilizer. Rarely, COPD may be caused by a genetic deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin. Studies have shown that low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin coupled with known risk factors such as smoking are particularly dangerous. Because of the genetic component, people who have a family history of COPD may benefit from earlier or more frequent screening for this condition.

Patients with COPD usually have one of two pulmonary diseases: bronchitis or emphysema. Though these conditions are generally linked with COPD, they are not synonymous. These diseases may be diagnosed before or at the same time an individual is found to have COPD.

Chronic bronchitis is a condition in which the breathing passages to and from the lungs (bronchioles) have become irritated, decreasing air flow and resulting in greater mucus production. This situation leaves the lungs at greater risk of infection.

Emphysema is a condition in which the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged, interfering with the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Some of them eventually collapse. Thus, a single, large useless sac (a bulla) takes the place of the many functional sacs (alveoli) that had been supporting the airways (bronchioles). This makes it harder to exhale stale air from the lungs and inhale a full breath of clean air.

COPD is consistently among the five leading causes of death in the world. It is the only major disease that is both increasing in frequency and lethalness. By 2020, researchers expect that COPD will be the second leading cause of death in the world. In the United States, COPD has far-reaching effects. It is responsible for more than 1 million emergency room visits every year and medical costs exceeding $20 billion annually.

Currently, there is no cure for COPD. As a chronic, progressive condition, physicians usually hope to manage this chronic, progressive disease in close partnership with the patient. It is essential that smoking is discontinued and medications and therapy be closely followed. As the disease worsens, patients are at risk of experiencing acute episodes of COPD, accompanied by breathlessness, lack of oxygen, severe coughing and other symptoms. An acute episode will usually require hospitalization.

Because COPD is progressive, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease has suggested a staging system that will help physicians guide treatment. Three stages have been suggested, ranging from mild airflow limitation and few symptoms to severe lack of oxygen (hypoxemia) and increased risk of death. Patients in the latter stages of this disease are encouraged to consult with a pulmonary specialist to learn how to manage their disease.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From 1980 to 2000, the death rate among women with the disease grew faster than the death rate for men. The disease is responsible for more than 100,000 deaths each year.

Answer 8

Many good answers as above.
I am a profound sufferer of this ailment and progressively it affects many areas of the body incurring very reduced mobility, severe cramps and muscle spasms, and also suffering from seizures. now at the stage where almost constant care is provided by social services dept, and ultimately in the not too distant future, terminal !

Answer 9

It is a disease of the lung usually brought on by smoking, or by inhaling toxic gases. I'm sure if you google it, you will find plenty of information

Answer 10

Well the VA Hospital told me that I had CHF Congestive Heart Failure so I think that is included within your question.