Let's recognize Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as early as possible?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease that disrupts the respiratory system caused by the lungs becoming inflamed over a long period of time.

There are two medical conditions included in COPD, namely:
- Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the walls of the bronchial tubes that lasts for a long time. This inflammation causes the bronchial tubes to swell and fill with mucus. This mucus can block the airways, making it difficult for sufferers to breathe.
- Emphysema is damage to the alveoli. Alveoli are air sacs in the lungs which act as a place to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Several conditions can increase a person's risk of suffering from this disease:
- Smoking habit or frequent exposure to cigarette smoke (passive smoking)
- Air pollution, such as road dust, vehicle fumes, or factory and industrial fumes.
- Have asthma, TB, HIV infection, and genetic disorders
-Families with a history of COPD
-Age 40 years and over

COPD symptoms:
- Hard to breathe
- Chronic cough
- Cough with phlegm
- Sometimes shivering
- Phlegm changes color
- Non-specific symptoms: weakness, lethargy, insomnia, fatigue, depression

Supporting examinations carried out to confirm the diagnosis:
- Spirometry, is an examination carried out to objectively measure lung capacity or function.
- Chest x-ray
- If an acute exacerbation occurs: blood gas analysis, DPL, sputum gram, MOR culture

COPD Treatment
COPD cannot be completely cured. But treatment can be done to help relieve symptoms and prevent the progression of this disease. Here are several methods for treating COPD:
- Drugs
1. Bronchodilators, such as aclidinium, salbutamol, salmeterol, and terbutaline
2. Corticosteroids, such as fluticasone and budesonide
- Oxygen Therapy, aims to provide oxygen supply to the lungs. Patients can use oxygen cylinders that they carry everywhere.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Breathing aids, if the condition is serious enough the patient must use a ventilator.
- Surgery, performed if COPD symptoms cannot be suppressed with medication or therapy. Operations that can be performed include:
1. Lung volume reduction surgery
2. Lung transplant
3.Bullectomy, which is removing the air sacs (bullae) formed due to damaged alveoli, so that air flow can be better.