COPD(Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

For COPD occuring in horses, see recurrent airway obstruction.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseClassification & external resources
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), is a group of diseases characterized by the pathological limitation of airflow in the airway that is not fully reversible. COPD is the umbrella term for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and a range of other lung disorders. It is most often due to tobacco smoking,[1] but can be due to other airborne irritants such as coal dust, asbestos or solvents, as well as congenital conditions such as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

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1. Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms
The main symptoms of COPD include dyspnea (shortness of breath) lasting for months or perhaps years, possibly accompanied by wheezing, and a persistent cough with sputum production.[2] It is possible the sputum may contain blood and become thicker (hemoptysis), usually due to damage of the blood vessels of the airways. Severe COPD could lead to cyanosis (bluish decolorization usually in the lips and fingers) caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. In extreme cases it could lead to cor pulmonale due to the extra work required by the heart to get blood to flow through the lungs.[3]
COPD is particularly characterised by the spirometric measurement of a ratio of forced expiratory volume over 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) being < title="FEV1" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEV1">FEV1 < title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COPD#_note-2">[4] as measured by a plethysmograph. Other signs include a rapid breathing rate (tachypnea) and a wheezing sound heard through a stethoscope. Pulmonary emphysema is NOT the same as subcutaneous emphysema, which is a collection of air under the skin that may be detected by the crepitus sounds produced on palpation.[5]

2. Causes

aigarette smoking
A primary risk factor of COPD is chronic tobacco smoking. In the United States, around 80 to 90% of cases of COPD are due to smoking.[6] Not all smokers will develop COPD, but continuous smokers have at least a 25% risk.[7]

Occupational pollutants
Some occupational pollutants, such as cadmium and silica, have shown to be a contributing risk factor for COPD. The people at highest risk for these pollutants include coal workers.

Air pollution
Urban air pollution may be a contributing factor for COPD as it is thought to impair the development of the lung function. In developing countries indoor air pollution, usually due to biomass fuel, has been linked to COPD, especially in women.[1]

Genetics

Very rarely, there may be a deficiency in an enzyme known as alpha 1-antitrypsin which causes a form of COPD.[8]

Other risk factors
Increasing age, male gender, allergy, repeated airway infection and general impaired lung function are also related to the development of COPD.