Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, otherwise referred to as COPD, is a condition that affects the airways in the lungs making them become narrowed and broken down mainly due to smoking of cigarettes (Stockley, 2007). COPD, as stated by Stockley (2007), can also be caused by repeated lung infection during childhood and second hand-smoke. It can also be as a result of a rare genetic disorder known as ? -1 antitrypsin deficiency. This condition may at times lead to damage of air sacs.
Over time, the lungs become damaged and make it very difficult to breath through the narrowed bronchial tubes. According to Currie (2006), severe damage of the lungs also makes it difficult for proper oxygenation of blood and elimination of carbon dioxide from the body. This leads to shortness of breath and development of other symptoms. Symptoms of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are hard to eliminate with treatment and tend to become worse over time.
Stockley (2007) clarifies that COPD is regularly used interchangeably with other terms such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema as these two are the most common forms of COPD. The current treatments of these three conditions are also similar. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth major cause of death in the United States. More than twelve million people have been diagnosed with his condition. There are various symptoms associated with this disease. These include: excessive coughs, breathlessness, excess sputum, and lung infections.
A mild Cough is the first symptom to appear as illustrated by Currie (2006). They then become persistent with time. These symptoms manifest in people above the age of forty years who have smoked for more than 20 years. The symptoms of COPD become severe with time making it difficult for an individual to carry out routine activities. Stockley (2007) agrees that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be prevented by stopping smoking at an early stage of the illness. At an early stage, the damage caused by smoke to the lungs can be corrected.
The most effective treatment for this disease is stopping smoking. Though a chronic, debilitating and fatal disease, COPD can be dealt with, controlled and also slowed down. Various factors that can make a person diagnosed with COPD live a longer life include: early detection, stopping smoking, consumption of foods that promote health, establishment of a personal exercise program approved by a doctor, and prevention of emergence of other infections in the lungs (Stockley, 2007).