What is COPD? Is COPD a fatal disease? COPD is the 4th most common cause of death after cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and AIDS. COPD, which causes damage to the lungs due to constriction of the airways, causes shortness of breath in these patients. Here, we will explain COPD causes and symptoms in detail in the text below.
What is COPD?
Everyone knows how much smoking reduces the quality of life. If you are addicted to smoking that causes many diseases, from cardiovascular diseases to cancer, remove them immediately from your life, because smoking is one of the major causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Common COPD is found in over 600 million people worldwide. About 3 million people die annually due to COPD. Chronic diseases are a term used for long-term diseases. It was called obstructive because of the contraction caused by the deterioration in the structure of the bronchi. COPD progresses with the restriction of airflow as a result of the ongoing deterioration of bronchial and air sacs. A group of people diagnosed with COPD has been diagnosed with “chronic bronchitis” and “emphysema”, taking into account the complaints and structural changes in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis is a term used for people who have complaints of cough and sputum for more than three months each year for two consecutive years. Emphysema is the abnormal expansion of the vesicles and the restriction of airflow in the lung as a result of the structural disruption of the air sacs in the lung.
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COPD Causes
It is known that the biggest risk factor for COPD is the consumption of cigarettes and similar tobacco products, and the risk of the disease is increased in people exposed to the smoke of these products. Research conducted by the World Health Organization shows that polluted weather conditions are also effective in the occurrence of COPD.
COPD Symptoms
People often complain of cough, sputum, and shortness of breath. The first symptoms are coughing and excess sputum, which is ignored by people. Cough and phlegm are more in the morning. These symptoms are often described as smoking cough, and therefore the diagnosis of COPD may be delayed. Sputum is usually white. An increase in the amount of sputum and darkening of the color can be a precursor to a microbial inflammation.
Shortness of breath is first recognized by movement restriction and progresses over the years. Shortness of breath becomes noticeable while dressing, talking, and even at rest. Due to the difficulty in breathing, the amount of air remaining in the lungs increases, and the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest begins to become barrel-shaped. Especially smokers are advised to consult a doctor if they have shortness of breath with cough, sputum, and shortness of breath because COPD can be prevented from progressing if diagnosed early.
Some patients in the risk group may have no symptoms. COPD symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Long-term chronic cough
- Sputum
- Shortness of breath and difficulty
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Weakness
Treatment of COPD usually involves attempts to reduce the severity of symptoms and disorders, not to eliminate the disease. The first step for treatment at this point should be to quit smoking, if used, and to move away from air pollution environments.
