What is OAH (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?

It is a lung disease that can be explained as the inability of the air taken into the lungs by respiration to be easily expelled.

The two processes that cause this condition are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Along with breathing, the oxygen in the respiratory air passes into the blood, and the carbon dioxide in the blood comes out through the vesicles called alveoli at the end of the respiratory tract.

Chronic bronchitis is an inflamed narrowing of the airways leading to the alveoli, called the bronchi. Emphysema, on the other hand, means the disintegration and expansion of these airways and vesicles. As a result, the air taken in breathing cannot be transmitted to the alveoli and remains restricted in the lungs. This condition is called COPD. The changes that COPD creates in the lungs can also cause other diseases. For this reason, in people with COPD, this disease may also be accompanied by diagnoses such as Emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

What are the Causes of COPD?

Smoking is shown to be the most important cause of COPD. COPD is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The progression of COPD may vary depending on the number of cigarettes smoked daily. COPD used to be more common in men. But today, with the increase in cigarette consumption in women, it has also taken its place among the diseases that are Decently observed. Other causes of COPD that cause it to occur can be listed as follows; • Occupational deformation (such as mining and metal working, transportation sector, wood and paper manufacturing, cement, grain and textile working...) * Genetic diseases • Air pollution • Age and gender

Among the Symptoms of COPD May Be the Following: Decapitation:

* Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities

• Wheezing • Shortness of breath

* Chest tightness

* Sputum, which may be white, yellow or green in color

* Cyanosis (a bluish color from the skin, especially around the mouth, eyes and nails)

* Frequent respiratory infections

• Tired

• Fatigue

• Depression

* Unwanted weight loss (in advanced stages)

* Swelling of the ankles, feet or legs

What are the diagnostic methods?

The diagnosis of COPD is made by taking into account the complaints of the person after the examination. More than one test may be recommended by your doctor for the diagnosis of COPD. Some of these tests are Lung X-ray, blood count, biochemistry, arterial blood gas determination, respiratory test and tomography if deemed necessary by the physician. Respiratory function test (spirometry) is an examination used to confirm the diagnosis of COPD. It is of great importance in diagnosing COPD and distinguishing it from other lung diseases by determining the respiratory volumes and respiratory rate of patients with long-term complaints of shortness of breath, cough and sputum, with a history of smoking. Blood tests with lung X-ray are used, especially in case of suspicion of a lung infection. Arterial blood gas, on the other hand, is used to determine the level and type of insufficiency in case of respiratory failure.

Treatment Methods:

Lung damage caused in COPD is not curable or reversible once it occurs. But the treatments performed can alleviate the symptoms of the disease, eliminate the complications associated with the disease, or help slow down the fast-moving disease.

Patients with untreated COPD, on the other hand, cannot even do their daily movements as the disease progresses and may become bed-bound after a while. If a person diagnosed with COPD uses cigarettes, he should quit smoking as soon as possible. Quitting smoking will stop the increase in lung damage, as well as allow a person to breathe more comfortably.

There are 4 separate stages of COPD disease. These are passed as light, medium, heavy and very heavy. The treatment methods applied may vary depending on the stage of COPD disease and the person's condition. Pharmaceutical applications include sprays and medicines given by special machines. Decongestants are also used.

One of the most important points in the treatment of COPD is to be able to prevent COPD exacerbations and to treat them if they occur. An exacerbation of COPD is an attack that usually occurs with lung infections, followed by sudden worsening in the condition of people with COPD. Patients become quite open to lung infections due to the deterioration of their lung structures.

It can also become a dangerous situation for people with COPD who already have restricted lung function to get lung infections. In the treatment of such conditions, in October, in addition to the medications prescribed for COPD, some other medications that can overcome the condition will be started. In order to prevent flare-ups, it is important to carry out preventive applications such as vaccination if recommended by your doctor.

The most important factor in the treatment of COPD is smoking. No matter what treatment is applied to a person suffering from COPD, the loss of lung function will continue to decrease rapidly as long as he does not quit smoking. The decrease in lung function of a COPD patient who has quit smoking is almost halved and provides a reduction in cigarette-related blockages (such as sputum, etc.).