The basic meaning of COPD lung disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of lungs. This disease causes respiratory disorders and constant complexity in breathing properly.
Because of this ailment, the air passage through the lungs gets blocked and one’s breathing process gets impacted badly.
The worst part of this disorder is that there is no everlasting cure for this ailment. Also, it takes grasp over the patient consistently with time.
Two common diseases that assist COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In most cases, COPD patients suffer from these two diseases as well.
Effect Of COPD On Lungs
COPD disturbs the respiratory function of the lungs by attacking the airways directly. These airways are like air-channels that transfer oxygen from the lungs to the blood and the entire body.
Also, these air-pipes help in discharging toxic agents during the exhaling process.
At the tip of these airways are delicate and skinny, elastic sacs known as alveoli. These sacs expand and contract during the breathing process.
COPD impacts these two major lung organs in a manner that their flexibility gets damaged. Thus, they are unable to perform the stretching and contraction process inevitable to proper respiration.
This ailment also damages walls that exist between alveolar sacs. They generate the production of excessive mucus within the airways, which ultimately chokes the air-passage.
Besides, this disease is also responsible for irritation and distension of air-pipe walls.
Impact Of Emphysema And Chronic Bronchitis On COPD Patients
People who already have a COPD lung problem also experience the negative side effects of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Emphysema is a condition that injures the walls between the alveoli in a severe way. This directly affects the stretchiness of these airsacs and they become loose. This, in turn, disrupts the whole breathing system altogether.
The alveolar walls are also responsible for the proper exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) within the lungs during the inhale—exhale process.
This ailment impairs these walls in such a way that this swapping of gases diminishes. This causes respiratory troubles.
Chronic bronchitis – another widespread disease supporting a COPD disorder; thwarts the air-passage lining. It leads to inflammation and puffiness in this lining.
This swelling leads to the thinning of the air-pipe and promotes clogging of the passage with increased mucus creation. Needless to say, this hinders the respiration process and makes it difficult for an individual to breathe properly.
Basic COPD Symptoms
Dyspnea or becoming short of breath is a very widespread symptom of this disease. One can witness this symptom more rapidly while he is engaged in vigorous physical motion.
Other than this, this ailment is marked by the relentless cough that hinders free breathing. Also, this cough is accompanied with huge amount of mucus release.
A certain degree of firmness and uneasiness is felt in the chest area. Other than that, one can have other associated disorders like various allergic reactions in the lungs, fever, wheezing, and general exhaustion.
In extreme cases, COPD leads to accumulation of a bluish tinge in the nail and lip regions. This syndrome is referred to as cyanosis.
Also, at this stage the infected person can witness loss in body weight. In its advanced stage, COPD also affects the heart functioning and impairs it.
Coughing out blood (Hemoptysis) and painful inflammation of legs are other pronounced symptoms of COPD.
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