Question

Why might the changes in lung volumes explain the greater shortness of breath during exercise in the patient with COPD?

Answer 1

In a patient suffering from COPD, during exercise there is shortness of breath due to the change in the lung volume. The COPD is a type of lung disorder which limits the airflow and is generally caused due to the airway being obstructed for long time by irritants. Due to the increase in the trapping of the pollutants and irritants within the lungs for long time, the airways tend to get inflamed. This tends to obstruct the flow of air in and out of the lungs. There is increase in air trapping within the lungs and hence it tends to cause hyperinflation of the lungs changing the lung volume. Due to this type of change in the lung volume, it limits the amount of air that one can inhale. Hence due to such change in the lung volume, during exercise a patient suffering from COPD suffer from shortness of breath as they have reduced rate of inhalation and amount of air that they can inhale.