COPD takes its toll

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of lung disease that is induced primarily by smoking and is fast increasing. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, a productive cough and production of lots of smelly phlegm. Diagnosis is through a clinical history and examination, lung function tests and chest x-ray. Arterial blood gases are conducted to assess the severity of acute exacerbations. Respiratory failure can be detected clinically in those with reduced consciousness and concentration. Treatment is with medication including bronchodilators as a mainstay treatment, and antibiotics and corticosteroids for acute exacerbations. COPD is a major cause of morbidity (illness) particularly in winter, and contributes to mortality with acute exacerbations also directly causing death. Exacerbations are caused by bacterial and viral infections, pollution, and smoking, and are avoided with vaccinations e.g influenzae, S.pneumoniae (pneumonia causing bacteria) and inhaled corticosteroids. Severely affected patients require nursing care for everyday activities and can lead to anxiety and depression due to loss of independence. These patients also require home oxygen, lung rehab programs and carer support to proffer a positive quality of life despite their illness.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Red Nova

Related Disease Topics:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• COPD
• Lung disease
• Respiratory failure
• Bacterial infection
• Viral infection
• Pneumonia
• Anxiety
• Depression

Related Symptom Topics:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest
• Productive cough
• Smelly phlegm
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Reduced consciousness
• Reduced concentration

Article Source Details

About: COPD takes its toll

Date: 28 June 2005

Source: Red Nova

URL: http://www.rednova.com/news/health/158602/managing_exacerbations_of_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease/

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Cause of shortness of breath
• Cause of wheezing
• Cause of tightness in the chest
• Cause of productive cough
• Cause of smelly phlegm
• Cause of anxiety
• Cause of depression
• Cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Cause of COPD
• Cause of lung disease
• Cause of respiratory failure
• Cause of bacterial infection
• Cause of viral infection
• Cause of pneumonia
• Cause of anxiety
• Cause of depression
• Cause of lung function test
• Cause of chest x-ray
• Cause of reduced concentration
• Cause of reduced consciousness
• Risk and vaccination
• Risk and smoking
• Risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Risk and COPD
• Risk and lung disease
• Risk and respiratory failure
• Medication
• Medication and bronchodilators
• Medication and antibiotics
• Medication and corticosteroids
• Medication and steroids
• Medication and vaccination
• Medication and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Medication and COPD
• Medication and lung disease
• Medication and respiratory failure
• Medication and oxygen
• Diagnosis and chest x-ray
• Diagnosis and lung function test
• Diagnosis and smoking history
• Diagnosis and arterial blood gases
• Diagnosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Diagnosis and COPD
• Diagnosis and lung disease
• Diagnosis and respiratory failure

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