Bleeding Disorders

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the chronic inflammation of lung tissues that obstructs airflow leading to compromised lung functions. It is characterized by persistent cough with mucus production, wheeze, and difficult breathing. Smoking is a major cause of COPD, but prolonged exposure to irritant gases, fumes, and dust also increases the risk of developing COPD over time. Long-term complications include heart disease, lung cancer, and other cerebrovascular conditions.
COPD is a slowly progressive and poorly reversible disease that badly affects the patient's life quality if not treated timely and promptly. The good news is it is treatable! Proper management can slow down its progression, and life quality can be improved.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the chronic inflammation of lung tissues that obstructs airflow leading to compromised lung functions. It is characterized by persistent cough with mucus production, wheeze, and difficult breathing. Smoking is a major cause of COPD, but prolonged exposure to irritant gases, fumes, and dust also increases the risk of developing COPD over time. Long-term complications include heart disease, lung cancer, and other cerebrovascular conditions.
COPD is a slowly progressive and poorly reversible disease that badly affects the patient's life quality if not treated timely and promptly. The good news is it is treatable! Proper management can slow down its progression, and life quality can be improved.

The American Thoracic Society defines COPD in terms of Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. These two conditions may occur simultaneously or separately and vary in severity.

Chronic bronchitis is defined as a chronic cough with sputum production for a minimum of 3 months a year for two consecutive years.
The air enters our body through the nose. It flows down the trachea (windpipe), bronchi (main branches), and bronchioles (smaller branches), finally reaching alveoli (air sacs) where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
Chronic bronchitis is long-term inflammation of the bronchi. There are hair-like structures called cilia in bronchi, which help airflow and keep the tracts clean and open. Due to inflammation, increased mucus production and destruction of these cilia further aggregate the disease. Thus due to loss of cilia, the air tubes are not cleaned, air can not flow properly, and the patient feels breathless with cough and sputum production.

The American Thoracic Society defines COPD in terms of Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. These two conditions may occur simultaneously or separately and vary in severity.

Chronic bronchitis is defined as a chronic cough with sputum production for a minimum of 3 months a year for two consecutive years.
The air enters our body through the nose. It flows down the trachea (windpipe), bronchi (main branches), and bronchioles (smaller branches), finally reaching alveoli (air sacs) where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
Chronic bronchitis is long-term inflammation of the bronchi. There are hair-like structures called cilia in bronchi, which help airflow and keep the tracts clean and open. Due to inflammation, increased mucus production and destruction of these cilia further aggregate the disease. Thus due to loss of cilia, the air tubes are not cleaned, air can not flow properly, and the patient feels breathless with cough and sputum production.

Globally tobacco smoking is the major cause of COPD, but in developing countries, smoke from burning coal or dung used for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes is also a contributing factor.

Globally tobacco smoking is the major cause of COPD, but in developing countries, smoke from burning coal or dung used for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes is also a contributing factor.

• Smoking: whether it’s cigarette smoking, pipe, cigar, marijuana, firsthand smoke, or secondhand smoke, all increase your chances of having COPD. The longer you smoke in years and packs per day, the higher your risk!
• Occupational exposure: People exposed to toxic gases, fumes, chemical dust in their workplaces are at high risk of developing COPD.
• Domestic exposure: In underdeveloped countries where coal and cow dung are still used for cooking and heating purposes, the prevalence of COPD is higher.
• Genetics: Alpha_1 antitrypsin deficiency is a rare cause of COPD in some patients. If a patient develops Emphysema before the age of 40 years and other common risk factors are not present, deficiency of this protein should be ruled out.
• Asthma: Asthmatic patients are at increased risk of developing COPD as they age, and in the presence of other risk factors especially smoking, their chances are significantly high.
  • Smoking: whether it’s cigarette smoking, pipe, cigar, marijuana, firsthand smoke, or secondhand smoke, all increase your chances of having COPD. The longer you smoke in years and packs per day, the higher your risk!
  • Occupational exposure: People exposed to toxic gases, fumes, chemical dust in their workplaces are at high risk of developing COPD.
  • Domestic exposure: In underdeveloped countries where coal and cow dung are still used for cooking and heating purposes, the prevalence of COPD is higher.
  • Genetics: Alpha_1 antitrypsin deficiency is a rare cause of COPD in some patients. If a patient develops Emphysema before the age of 40 years and other common risk factors are not present, deficiency of this protein should be ruled out.
  • Asthma: Asthmatic patients are at increased risk of developing COPD as they age, and in the presence of other risk factors especially smoking, their chances are significantly high.