COPD

Question 1

What is COPD?

Answer 1

COPD is characterised by airflow obstruction which is:

• Progressive in severity
• Not fully reversible
• Does not change markedly over several months
• Umbrella term for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic asthma.

Question 2

What is bronchitis?

Answer 2

A chronic disease of the lungs where the bronchi become inflamed.

Symptoms:

1. The inflammation causes more mucus to be produced, which narrows the airway and makes breathing more difficult.
2. Increased sputum production – over production of mucus in the airways which becomes difficult to clear
3. Wheezing is very common especially after coughing. This is because the inflamed airways may narrow for short periods of time. This also reduces the amount of air that enters the lungs.

Question 3

What is emphysema

Answer 3

• A condition where the alveoli of the lungs become inflamed and lose their natural elasticity
• They over expand and lose their ability to fill up and contract properly
• As air fills up in these sacs, some rupture and become one sac reducing the surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• When you breathe out, the trapped air cannot be released and breathing becomes more and more difficult

Question 4

What is asthma?

Answer 4

An episodic increase in airway obstruction caused by various stimuli resulting in increased airway resistance.

Symptoms
Breathlessness, Wheeze, Tightness in the chest

Question 5

What are the causes of COPD?

Answer 5

• Cigarette smoking
• Occupational exposure
• Social deprivation
• Alpha 1 antitryspin deficiency