باطنية

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

  A group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema

  • A lung condition that causes shortness of breath, where the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged and the inner walls weaken and rupture
• Chronic bronchitis


  • An inflammation (or irritation) of the airways in the lungs that lasts longer than 3 months, causing thick mucus that plugs up the airways and makes it hard to breathe
• Smoking is the main cause of COPD and is thought to be responsible for around 9 in every 10 cases
• COPD


  • The airways and air sacs in the lungs become less elastic
  • The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed
  • The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed
  • The airways make more mucus than usual and can become clogged
• Signs and symptoms of COPD


  • Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
  • Wheezing
  • Chest tightness
  • A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
  • Frequent respiratory infections
  • Lack of energy
  • Unintended weight loss (in later stages)
• Signs that COPD is getting worse


  • Increased Shortness of Breath
  • Wheezing
  • Changes in Phlegm
  • Worsening Cough
  • Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
  • Edema
• Complications of COPD


  • Respiratory infections
  • Heart problems
  • Lung cancer
  • High blood pressure in lung arteries
  • Depression
• Spirometry


  A simple test of how well your lungs work, where you blow air into a mouthpiece and tubing attached to a small machine
• Chest x-ray can help support the diagnosis of COPD by producing images of the lungs to evaluate symptoms, but may not show COPD until it is severe
• Most people are at least 40 years old when symptoms of COPD first appear, but it's not impossible to develop COPD as a young adult
• Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers


  The first treatment used for most people with COPD, which are medicines that make breathing easier by relaxing and widening the airways
• Types of short-acting bronchodilator inhalers

  • Beta-2 agonist inhalers (such as salbutamol and terbutaline)