COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of health concern in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of death and millions of dollars are spent each year for health care costs associated with COPD patients.⁹² COPD encompasses two types of lung disease, Emphysema and Chronic bronchitis, both of which limit airflow within a person’s lungs.⁷⁴

Both forms of COPD lead to physical and chemical changes in the lung. These changes ultimately alter the ability of the COPD patient to exchange Oxygen and breathe. One of the most common characteristics of COPD is Inflammation of the airways. This inflammation is not fully reversible and eventually leads to lung tissue death or Necrosis. Inflammation can be cased by harmful gases and particles that irritate the lung when inhaled, such as those found in cigarette smoke or air pollution.

Emphysema

Emphysema occurs when the air sacs in the lungs or Alveoli become damaged, destroyed, over-stretched or collapse. This causes breathing to become more difficult and increases tiredness because the body does not get enough oxygen to operate normally. It can take a long time for a person to develop emphysema and often people are unaware that they have the disease until it is quite severe, because symptoms may be mild and are often dismissed as part of aging.⁷⁴

Once an air sac has been damaged, the damage is permanent. It cannot be replaced or fixed. People with emphysema often find that they are short of breath, feel fatigue, cough frequently, and may even experience heart problems, depression or weight loss. Damage to the alveoli usually occurs from inhaling cigarette smoke, but can also be caused by exposure to air pollution or inhaling irritating fumes and particles. In some rare cases, emphysema is Hereditary.

Individuals with inherited pulmonary emphysema lack a Protein known as alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), which controls the response of inflammatory cells in the lungs. Individuals who have AAT deficiency lack the protective function of this protein, which makes their lungs more vulnerable to damage by inflammatory cells. Inherited emphysema usually has an early onset while acquired emphysema usually begins later on in life after years of exposure to dangerous inhaled substances.⁷⁴

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is defined in clinical terms as a cough, productive of Sputum that lasts for over three months in duration over two consecutive years in the presence of airflow obstruction. It is long-term swelling or inflammation of the tubes that make up the airways, or Bronchi. Inflammation often leads to excessive mucous production, which further blocks airways because of the formation of mucous plugs. Inflammation that occurs is caused by the body’s own defense mechanisms.

When dangerous particles are inhaled, different types of White blood cells called macrophages, neutrophils, and T-lymphocytes flood the area to try to eliminate the particles. Some of these cells secrete substances that damage proteins that make up lung tissue. This damage leads to chronic inflammation due to invading white blood cells, which causes COPD. As a result, people with chronic bronchitis usually experience difficulty breathing, have frequent severe respiratory infections, chronic cough, and produce large amounts of mucous.⁷⁴