Information on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disorder that affects the lungs. When air is inhaled, it travels down the trachea into the bronchial tubes in the lungs. COPD causes the airways and air sacs in the lungs to lose their elasticity. The walls of the air sacs break down, forming larger air sacs. The airways also swell and become clogged with mucus. The symptoms of COPD begin slowly and worsen over time.

Risk Factors

• According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the biggest risk factor is smoking or a history of smoking.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of COPD include wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and coughing with mucus production. Later signs and symptoms are frequent colds, swelling in the extremities and bluish lip color.

Diagnosis

• Doctors use signs and symptoms, medical history and tests, such as lung-function studies, spirometry, X-ray and arterial blood gas tests to diagnose COPD.

Treatment

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is treated with bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, bullectomy, lung-volume reduction surgery and lung transplant.

Other Names

• Other common names for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic obstructive airway disease, chronic obstructive bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.