What is the full form of COPD
COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It refers to a group of progressive lung diseases that get worse over time. The most common types of COPD are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. It mainly affects the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs and causes breathing difficulty. For example, in emphysema, the air sacs are damaged and in chronic bronchitis, the air sacs become swollen and fluid may accumulate in them. It is a common medical condition that mainly affects middle-aged and older people who smoke.
Symptoms
People usually don’t realize that they are suffering from it as the symptoms may not appear in the early stages of the disease. They usually appear in the more advanced stages of the disease. Some common symptoms are as follows:
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest
- Excess mucus in the lungs
- Chronic cough
- Blue lips or fingernail beds
- Swollen ankles, feet or legs
- Lack of energy
- Frequent respiratory infections
Risk Factors
- Long-term cigarette smoking
- Occupational exposure to dust and chemicals
- Long-term exposure to fumes from burning fuel
- Genetic disorder
Complications
- Respiratory infections
- Heart diseases
- Lung disorders
- High blood pressure in lung arteries
- Pneumonia
- Oedema
- Depression
There is no specific treatment for COPD. The damaged tissue is also not able to repair itself. However, there are few measures that may help you slow the progress of the disease and manage the symptoms. Its treatment may include:
- Bronchodilator medication
- Corticosteroids
- Expectorants
- Oxygen therapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Surgery