Question

What is the pathophysiology of COPD and give examples of some of the signs/symptoms.

Answer 1

COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease):

COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease and is refers to any of a group of diseases characterised by the pathological limitation of airflow in the airway and is caused by chronic infection, reactive airways , congenital defects or smoking.

The main diseases under COPD are Emphysema and chronic bronchitis . Emphysema is charecterised by the damage of air sacs and accumulation of air in the lung tissues. Chronic bronchitis is the inflammatory condition of bronchi of the lungs, that cause the cilia of the bronchial cells to stop functioning.  

Pathophysiology:

Due to etiological factors such as allergic reactions, smoking, chronic infection

? (leads to)

Inflammation of the airways , especially bronchi and bronchioles

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Acute bronchitis, that persists for a long time due to continous exposure to the triggers / causative agent

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chronic bronchitis : Productive cough for 3 months in each of two successive years

Emphysema:

Damage to the lung tissues due to smoking, infection and othet etiology

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Chronic inflammation of bronchi and alveolar tissue ( air sacs)

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Damage to the fibers that make up the walls of alveoli

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Alveoli become less elastic

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Difficulty in recoiling of alveoli during expiration

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Unable to exhale Carbon dioxide out of lungs

In most of the patients COPD is charecterised by both of these condition , emphysema and chronic bronchitis.  

Signs/ symptoms:

Early signs are mild , recurrent cough, shortness of breath occasionally

It may progress to :

shortness of breath during exercise

chest tightness

chronic cough

wheezing

Mucous production from lungs and need to expell it everyday

frequent infection

lack of energy.