COPD

7. Influenza

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Influenza—commonly called “the flu”—is a viral infection of the respiratory system. It affects the lungs as well as the whole body. Most people recognize the symptoms—fever, body aches, sore throat, stuffy nose, and headache. Sometimes the flu is confused with the common cold, but even though some of the symptoms … Read More

6. Bronchiectasis

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Bronchiectasis is an uncommon chronic obstructive airway disease in which bronchi become damaged and collapse easily. The walls of the bronchi contain elastic and muscle fibers, which allow the bronchial tubes to expand and contract while maintaining their structure. In people with bronchiectasis, the elastic and muscular components in the … Read More

5. Asthma

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Asthma is a chronic disease that often starts in childhood but can occur for the first time in adulthood, even later in life. In the United States, about 19 million adults and seven million children have asthma. People with asthma have inflammation in their airways. This inflammation causes episodes of … Read More

4. Treatment for COPD

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Even though COPD cannot be cured, it can be treated. Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms, preventing the disease from getting worse, improving the ability to exercise, preventing and treating complications, and preventing and treating exacerbations. For those with COPD who are current smokers, the most important first treatment will … Read More

3. Diagnosis of COPD

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
The main diagnostic tools for COPD are pulmonary function tests. These tests, which are also used to diagnose asthma (see page 45) and many other lung diseases, measure the ability of the lungs to hold air, to move air in and out, and to move oxygen into the blood. The … Read More

2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
The term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically describes two conditions—emphysema and chronic bronchitis—both of which cause the airways to narrow, making it difficult to breathe in and out. Some people have just one of these, but most people with COPD have a combination of both. Chronic cough and increased … Read More

1. A Detailed Look Inside

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Inside the Lungs The lungs consist of two large, spongy organs divided into sections called lobes. The right lung has three lobes, and the left has two. Inside the lungs is a branching system of progressively smaller tubes (called bronchial tubes), at the end of which are air sacs. Oxygen … Read More

From the Editor

Nov 16, 2016 · · COPD
Having a lung disorder like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or pneumonia can be frightening. With every breath we take, we depend on our lungs to deliver life-sustaining oxygen to our bodies—so if you struggle to breathe normally, cough, wheeze, or feel very tired, it’s important to find out … Read More

Ask the Doctor: COP & Cognition; Head Injury & AD; Benefits of Happy Thoughts

Sep 16, 2016 · · COPD
Q: Does chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, impair memory and cognition? If so, can cognitive decline be avoided? A: A large study of predominantly older adults found that individuals with COPD had significantly worse performance on tests assessing information processing speed, prospective memory, and numeric and spatial skills than healthy individuals. … Read More

Increasing Lung Power Helps Boost Mental Capacity

Sep 12, 2016 · · COPD
Lung power is brainpower. Without sufficient oxygen delivered by the lungs, the brain—which represents just two percent of the body’s weight, but consumes 25 percent of its oxygen you—cannot function properly. In the short term, a lack of oxygen may cause temporary symptoms such as lightheadedness and poor motor skills. … Read More

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