| Smoking, whether it is cigarettes, cigars or a pipe, | | | | reduced exhalation may also reduce the amount |
| is strongly linked to developing health conditions | | | | of air that can be inhaled. Because of this, carbon |
| such as heart disease and lung cancer. Besides | | | | dioxide, the waste air, is not properly removed |
| these serious diseases, smoking may also be the | | | | from the lungs and oxygen-rich air is not restored. |
| cause of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary | | | | Because of this problem, individuals with |
| disease). | | | | emphysema may have very hard time breathing |
| This condition causes inflammation and damages | | | | and frequently gasp for air. Emphysema is most |
| the very small air sacs (alveoli) in the lung tissue | | | | common in individuals who are over 50 and can |
| and will usually cause some form of breathing | | | | coexist with other respiratory diseases like |
| difficulty. COPD is usually a combination of chronic | | | | bronchitis. |
| bronchitis and chronic emphysema. | | | | What are the real causes and symptoms of |
| Because smoking is the major cause of both | | | | COPD? |
| chronic bronchitis and chronic emphysema, these | | | | The most important risk factor is a lifestyle of |
| two conditions often occur together in the same | | | | smoking. It makes no difference whether you |
| person. | | | | smoke cigarettes, cigars or a pipe. Also the |
| The damage from COPD is both progressive and | | | | fumes from chemicals, cleaning agents, aerosol |
| permanent. It has become a major health | | | | sprays, air pollution, and dust pollutants can |
| problem and according to health statistics, it is the | | | | worsen the ailment. |
| fourth leading cause of death in the United States. | | | | Chronic bronchitis is more common in people who |
| Because of seriousness of these health conditions, | | | | are over 40 years old while emphysema occurs |
| there is an urgent for those who smoke, to quit | | | | more often in people 60 years of age and older. |
| smoking. Understanding the causes and symptoms | | | | Certain type of jobs (socioeconomic class) can |
| of COPD is absolutely essential in trying to | | | | have a role in COPD. Deaths from COPD are |
| encourage smokers to quit this potentially fatal | | | | about twice as high among unskilled and |
| habit. | | | | semi-skilled laborers as compared to professionals. |
| Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the | | | | Family History and possibly heredity predisposes |
| bronchiole tubes and is usually caused by the | | | | people in certain families to develop COPD when |
| inhalation of various bronchial irritants like cigarette | | | | other causes, such as smoking and air pollution |
| smoke, fumes from chemicals, air pollution and | | | | are also present. |
| other environmental irritants such as mold, mildew | | | | Is there any successful treatment for COPD? |
| or dust. | | | | The treatment for COPD is strictly dependent on |
| Smoking can increase your risk of infection | | | | the patient's general health condition and the |
| because it damages the small hair-like projections | | | | severity of the disease. |
| (cilia) that protect the lungs from bacteria and | | | | Generally a health program involves respiratory |
| other foreign particles from getting into the lungs. | | | | care. Disability and other symptoms can be |
| This disease can develop slowly in middle aged | | | | lessened and therefore reduce the occurrence of |
| and older individuals that have greater risks of | | | | early deaths. However, there are no treatments |
| getting diagnosed with it. The symptoms of | | | | that are proven to cure this disease. Treatments |
| bronchitis may include such things as wheezing, | | | | are only designed to help alleviate the symptoms |
| coughing up sputum, chest pains from coughing or | | | | and increase the survival rate. |
| difficulty breathing and persistent fatigue. | | | | Rather than focusing on the cure, for which there |
| Emphysema on the other hand is a chronic | | | | is not one, lifestyle changes that may prevent the |
| respiratory disease. It is characterized by the | | | | development of COPD should be emphasized. |
| enlargement or loss of elasticity of the alveoli or | | | | COPD may be prevented if individuals, who |
| air sacks and may result in the collapse of the | | | | smoke, stop smoking, maintain proper nutrition, |
| bronchioles, which are the first airway that no | | | | drink lots of fluids, maintain a proper weight and |
| longer contain any cartilage. | | | | exercise regularly. |
| When this happens, the gaseous exchange of | | | | Understanding the serious and potentially |
| oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli reduces | | | | life-threatening health risks of COPD are essential |
| the proper function of the lungs and lungs may | | | | in convincing and making smokers quit smoking. |
| lose their ability to shrink when you exhale. This | | | | |