Other Diseases that Often Occur with COPD: ComorbiditiesInternal OrgansChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition that has been associated with other health conditions such as heart failure, pneumonia, Osteoporosis, and diabetes.44,80 It is helpful to understand how the lungs interact with other organs in order to recognize why COPD patients often develop these illnesses. The lungs are involved in providing Oxygen to our blood, which is used to fuel the body for work. In COPD, a patient’s lungs do not work well enough to provide the amount of oxygen that the body requires, which causes the organ systems to begin to shut down. The HeartOne example of an organ that is greatly affected is the heart. Some of the major heart problems seen in patients with COPD are Pulmonary Hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) and Cor pulmonale (heart failure that results from lung disease).44 This occurs when the damaged lungs prevent blood from obtaining enough oxygen and the heart must work harder to pump more blood to the body to meet its needs. At some point, the heart will no longer be able to work as hard as required by the body and will begin to fail. As the heart fails, patients may develop irregular heart rates, kidney disease, liver disease, and skin diseases. The BonesOsteoporosis is a condition in which bones become very weak and patients are at a greater risk for falls and fractures. Some patients with COPD have other risk factors associated with osteoporosis including: smoking, low vitamin D levels, and use of Steroids for treatment.13 Women with COPD and osteoporosis are at a greater risk for hip fractures, which can be very serious. The highest risk of death after a hip fracture occurs within the first 4 to 6 months and 14% to 36% of patients die one year after the fracture.25,42,100 In 1999, hip fractures resulted in approximately 338,000 hospital admissions.71 Up to 25% of community-dwelling older adults who sustain hip fractures remain institutionalized for at least a year.49
Source:
Blood SugarCurrent research also shows that there might be an association between diabetes and COPD. The thought behind this is that both conditions involve Inflammation.74 Also, some of the medications used to treat COPD Exacerbations may worsen Hyperglycemia, which results in symptoms of diabetes such as blurry vision, frequent urination, thirst, and hunger. InfectionsPeople living with COPD may also experience frequent lung infections, such as pneumonia. These infections occur because the damaged lungs are not able to get rid of Bacteria and foreign objects as well as normal healthy lungs. Quitting smoking and reducing exposure to lung irritants will immediately decrease the risk of sustaining these types of infections. It is recommended that all COPD patients have a pneumonia vaccination as well as an annual flu shot to reduce their risk of infection. Resources:
|
|
|
