What is COPD

What is COPD? COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The narrowing occurs both in the bronchi, but also in the lower respiratory tract - when we talk about emphysema, People with emphysema. Instead of the small alveoli, where gas exchange to occur, generates large functional spaces full of air.

The area, on which gas exchange occurs, starts to decrease and the resultant effect of these processes is exertional dyspnoea, cough and frequent wet coughing thick mucus. Difficulty breathing greatly reduces humans during normal physical activity and airway created conditions for bacteria - and therefore pneumonia.

Prolonged condition leads to heart failure right side of the heart because blood flows from the right side of the heart into the pulmonary circulation, which is normally low pressure, but these changed, obstructive conditions, the situation is changing. The walls of the alveoli begin to enter the blood vessels and the heart must therefore increase the pressure so that blood can flow through them. The right half of the heart begins to expand and overload. His power fails.

Causes and risk factors - A major risk factor is "life in the chimney," in other words, smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes, passive smoking of people who live next to smokers. Following the same principle is involved in the development of disease factors of air pollution, dust and chemical fumes. Possible genetic predisposition alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, together with COPD of these factors will accelerate the disease.