Deteriorating Air Quality: COPD Lurks!

It's no longer a secret that deteriorating air quality can threaten the health of the respiratory organs, namely the lungs. Although not the main cause of COPD, exposure to bad air pollution can increase the risk of developing it. So what is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammation that occurs in the lungs and develops over a long period of time. COPD, or obstructive pulmonary disease, is generally characterised by difficulty breathing accompanied by coughing up phlegm and wheezing.

The two conditions that lead to developing COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In chronic bronchitis, the damage occurs to the bronchial tubes, but in emphysema, the damage occurs to the alveoli.

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) often affects middle-aged people who smoke. COPD disease will get worse and risk causing sufferers to experience other diseases such as heart and lung cancer if not treated immediately by doctors who are experts in their fields.

 

COPD causes

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can be recognized through the characteristic features of difficulty breathing. This is due to decreased airflow in and out of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. The bronchial tubes, which are thinner and smaller, are often called bronchioles. Bronchioles contain air sacs called alveoli, in which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood vessels. COPD sufferers whose air sacs cannot accommodate enough airflow to be entered and removed from the lungs, thereby reducing the need for oxygen in the body, can be caused by several things:

• Smoking Habits: COPD most often occurs in people who are middle-aged and have a history of smoking, either as an old habit or are still smoking today.
• Suffering from asthma, HIV infection, tuberculosis, and genetic disorders that cause reduced protein alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt)
• Environmental factors can also cause COPD in someone who has a relationship with passive smoking or harmful pollutants, which include chemicals, fuel, or dust.
• Having a family history of COPD

 

Symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops slowly and does not show any specific symptoms in its early stages. COPD symptoms will appear after many years, when there has been significant damage to the lungs.

The following are some symptoms that COPD sufferers frequently experience:

• A cough that doesn't go away with phlegm
• Sudden weight loss
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
• Experiencing pain in the chest
• There is swelling in the legs and feet.
• Wheezing and weakness

However, these COPD symptoms can appear suddenly or continue to get worse, leading to a stage called COPD exacerbation. Symptoms of this advanced stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can include excessive mucus, changes in the color or thickness of the mucus, and an ever-increasing feeling of tightness in the chest. It is often caused by an infection such as pneumonia or air pollution. COPD exacerbations are often life-threatening and require medical attention as soon as possible.

 

Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

To detect or diagnose COPD, sufferers must carry out several tests. By doing a spirometry or FEV1 examination to measure the amount of air that enters and leaves the lungs and the speed of air movement. Chest X-rays can also be done to rule out other diseases that have similar symptoms, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer. An oximetry or arterial blood gas examination is also very important to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, as is an electrocardiogram to determine the condition of the heart.

The sooner COPD is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment for this disease. Lung health checks are highly recommended, especially for smokers, former heavy smokers, and those who have a high risk of suffering from COPD.

 

Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD is a disease that can be prevented in several ways. The thing to do to prevent it is to stop smoking or avoid secondhand smoke. If Hermina's best friend is an active smoker, stop smoking immediately so that Hermina's best friend can avoid complications that might occur in the future.

Therefore, let's, Friends of Hermina, take care of the health of our lungs from all kinds of diseases, such as COPD and others. By adopting a healthy diet, avoiding air pollution, stopping smoking or avoiding cigarette smoke, and exercising regularly. If Hermina's friend experiences symptoms in the lungs, immediately consult a pulmonary specialist so that they are treated by an expert.