COPD

Question 1

what is COPD?

Answer 1

respiratory disease characterised by airway obstruction that is not fully reversible.

Question 2

what are the 2 subtypes of COPD and what are each of them?

Answer 2

1) chronic bronchitis -cough productive of sputum for at least 3 months each year for 2 consecutive years
2) emphysema -enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles in the lungs, either from dilatation, destruction, or distension of their walls.

Question 3

what are the causes of COPD?

Answer 3

-smoking -90% of cases
-occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, gases etc
-air pollution
-alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency -accounts for less than 1% of COPD cases

Question 4

what is the pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 4

(productive cough >3m >2y)
inflammation in small airways
mucous hypersecretion
squamous metaplasia (from ciliated) of epithelium
all contribute to bronchial narrowing