Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes it intensely difficult to breathe. This disease affects millions of Americans and affects tens of millions of people around the world (Jones, 2001). With COPD, the tissue where oxygen is exchanged is destroyed due to the thickened and inflamed airways in the lungs. This decreases the flow of air coming in and out of the lungs. When this occurs, body tissues receive less oxygen making it harder to get rid of the waste gas, carbon dioxide. As the disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to remain active due to shortness of breath. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has no cure, however, it is often preventable
Some common causes of COPD include smoking, genetics, bacteria and viruses, and other environmental factors. Cigarette smoking is the leading environmental factor associated with COPD and smokers are at greater risk for developing this disease as opposed to non-smokers (Clancy & Turner, 2013). According to Cope (2014), cigarette smoking triggers inflammation in the central and peripheral airways and lung tissue, all of which disrupt the lungs defense mechanisms, resulting in an accumulation of mucus that harbors bacteria which ultimately leads to infection. Genetic risk factors, such as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), has been associated with the emphysema type of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, n.d.). The protein that helps protect the lungs against damage from toxins is Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). People who lack this protective enzyme experience damage to the alveoli and the airways leading to them (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) created a system that categorizes the severity of COPD into stages. The GOLD system uses the forced expiratory volume (FEV1), the maximum amount of air you can forcefully blow out of your lungs in one second, and breaks that down into four stages. In stage one, airflow limitations are mild and most individuals do not know they have COPD. This is due to the fact that symptoms may be very mild and may be attributed to more common explanations, such as a cold. In stage two, airflow limitations begin to exacerbate and symptoms become more apparent. Stage three of COPD is marked by an increase in the severity of coughing and the worsening of symptoms. Airway passages are restricted and/or obstructed. Lastly, in stage four of COPD, respiratory failure may lead to heart complications and an impaired quality of