What is Chronic obstructive lung disease?

Answer 1

for those on horseisle2: its Heaves

however other names for COPD are:

COLD: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

COAD: Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease

CAL: Chronice Airflow Limitation

and

CORD: Chronic Obstructive Respirtory Disease

Answer 2

In short it is called COPD. It is actually an overlapping of many chronic progressive lung diseases, emphysema, bronchitis, and Asthma. It causes inflammation and destruction of many parts of the anatomy of the lung tissue so that oxygen and CO2 cannot be properly exchanged into the bloodstream and back. It puts excess strain on the heart and the person is very susceptible to lung infections and pneumonias during a common cold and is usually on rounds of antibiotics and even nebulizer treatments with cortisone in the steam to reverse the inflammation and shrink swollen bronchial tubes. Much use of cortisone can produce a temporary case of Diabetes. In essence all the bodies organs are adversely affected by this condition.

From the Mayo Clinic the causes usually are:

"Cigarette smoke and other irritants

In the vast majority of cases, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by long-term cigarette smoking. But other irritants can cause COPD, including cigar smoke, secondhand smoke, pipe smoke, air pollution and certain occupational fumes. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs when stomach acids wash back up into your esophagus, can aggravate COPD and may even cause it in some people.

In rare cases, COPD results from a genetic disorder that causes low levels of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Chronic asthmatic bronchitis is sometimes classified as COPD."

Although most laypersons believe COPD and all lung diseases are caused "solely" or "only" from smoking, this is simply UNTRUE. ANY environmental irritating agent can ALSO contribute to and cause COPD. As examples:

• A man worked in a saw mill for 30 years, exposed to sawdust and chemicals used to treat wood;
• A woman works as a painter and wood varnisher for a home construction business;
• Rotating shifts of people work in environments with high respiratory pollutants.
• A NON-smoker lives in a home with a chain-smoker and is exposed to heavy and chronic second-hand smoke.
• A family builds their house while living in it or does "home remodeling" that extends over years, so the family is exposed to particles from various construction materials and chemicals.

Answer 3

COPD is likely not a new condition. In the past, physicians may have used different terms to describe what we now describe as COPD. In 1679, Swiss physician Bonet referred to 'voluminous lungs' and in 1769, Italian anatomist Giovanni Morgagni reported 19 cases of 'turgid' lungs.

In 1814, British physician Charles Badham identified bronchiolitis and chronic bronchitis as disabling health conditions.

Answer 4

This condition is also called COPD. For whatever reason a person cannot get enough oxygen to the brain and other cells in the body. There is often damage to the lungs. The number of tiny little air sacs where gas exchange occurs is decreased. It is often said that it's like an elephant sitting on a chest, is it that hard to breathe at times.

Answer 5

COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD.

Answer 6

...Emphysema shares many symptoms with chronic bronchitis. In fact, the two diseases usually overlap to some degree. They are often classed together under the heading COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). However, they differ anatomically. Emphysema results in irreversible damage to alveoli — tiny sac-like structures where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. Alveoli are counted in the millions, like bubbles in a bubble bath. Emphysema causes them to burst one by one. They then coalesce into fewer,

Pharmacologists are investigating the use of inhaled glutathione to prevent the onset or progression of emphysema in smokers. As a glutathione precursor, NAC is receiving equal attention. Double blind studies in smokers using NAC demonstrate the enhanced ability of their lungs to clear away thick secretions in their airways...

Answer 7

COPD is a chronic lung disease. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common diseases under the COPD umbrella. Many people have one or the other or a combination of both

Answer 8

It is a general term for a group of conditions in which there is persistent difficulty in expelling (or exhaling) air from the lungs

Answer 9

emphysema ashma bronchitis