lung and airway disorders
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Symptoms of COPD
COPD takes years to develop and progress. In people with COPD, a mild cough that produces clear sputum develops during their 40s or 50s. The cough and sputum production are usually worse when the person first gets out of bed in the morning. Cough and sputum production can persist throughout the day. Shortness of Breath may occur during exertion. People often think at first that aging or being in poor physical condition is the cause, and they tend to decrease their physical activity in response. Sometimes, shortness of breath first occurs only when the person has a lung infection (usually By the time people with COPD reach their middle to late 60s, especially if they continue smoking, shortness of breath during exertion becomes more troublesome. Overview of Pneumonia and other lung infections occur more often. Infections may result in severe shortness of breath even when the person is at rest and may require hospitalization. Shortness of breath during activities of daily living, such as toileting, washing, dressing, and sexual activity, may persist after the person has recovered from the lung infection. About one third of people with severe COPD experience severe weight loss. The cause of weight loss is not clear, and causes may differ among different people. Possible causes include shortness of breath that makes eating difficult and increased levels in the blood of a substance called tumor necrosis factor. People with COPD may intermittently cough up blood, which is usually due to inflammation of the bronchi, but which always raises the concern of Lung Cancer . Morning headaches may occur because breathing decreases during sleep, which causes increased retention of carbon dioxide and decreased levels of oxygen in the blood. As COPD progresses, some people, especially those who have emphysema, develop unusual breathing patterns. Some people breathe out through pursed lips. Others find it more comfortable to stand over a table with their arms outstretched and their weight on their palms or elbows, a maneuver that improves the function of some of the respiratory muscles. Over time, many people develop a barrel chest as the size of the lungs increases because of trapped air. Low oxygen levels in the blood can give a blue tint to the skin (cyanosis). Clubbing is rare and raises the suspicion of lung cancer or other lung disorders. Fragile areas in the lungs may rupture, permitting air to leak from the lungs into the pleural space, a condition called Pneumothorax . This condition often causes sudden pain and shortness of breath and requires immediate intervention by a doctor to remove the air from the pleural space. A flare-up (or exacerbation) of COPD is a worsening of symptoms, usually cough, increased sputum, and shortness of breath. Sputum color often changes to yellow or green, and fever and body aches sometimes occur. Shortness of breath may be present when the person is at rest and may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Severe air pollution, common allergens, and viral or bacterial infections may cause flare-ups. During severe flare-ups, people may develop a life-threatening condition called Respiratory Failure . Among the possible symptoms are severe shortness of breath (a feeling likened to being drowned), severe anxiety, sweating, cyanosis, and confusion. If low oxygen levels are not treated with supplemental oxygen, complications can occur. Low oxygen levels in the blood, if not treated, stimulate the bone marrow to send more red blood cells into the bloodstream, a condition known as Secondary Thrombocythemia (also called erythrocythemia). The low oxygen levels in the blood also constrict the blood vessels leading from the right side of the heart to the lungs, thereby increasing the pressure in these vessels. As a result of the increased pressure, called High carbon dioxide level (hypercarbic respiratory failure) cause the blood to become acidic ( People with COPD also have an increased risk of developing Overview of Abnormal Heart Rhythms (arrhythmias). People with COPD who smoke have a higher risk of developing 