Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)
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- COPD is a progressive lung disease
- It is caused by damage of lung from harmful chemicals that are breathed in because of air pollution or smoking.
- It has become the third biggest cause of death among adults from 5th in last few years due to sharp rise in air pollution and smoking habits.
- Chemicals cause inflammatory reactions, which on one hand damage the structures in the lung responsible for the exchange of oxygenated carbon dioxide into the bloodstream, but also increase mucus production in the airways and make prone to infections.
- Thus patients have either breathlessness, cough with sputum or both.
- COPD patients are at greater risk of developing exacerbations ('flare ups') which become more frequent and severe over time.
- The detection and treatment is necessary as it may evolve and become severe enough to even restrict patients from doing day today activity.
- General approaches such as exercise, nutrition, vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal infections & medications are important in maintaining health
