Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a long-term lung condition that includes several diseases causing ongoing breathing problems. It is not just one illness, but a range of changes in the lungs that make it hard to breathe. The main types are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and many people have signs of both. The disease happens because the airways and lung tissue become inflamed after exposure to harmful particles or gases, most often from smoking. This inflammation causes the airways to narrow and damages the parts of the lung that help with breathing. At Liv Hospital, we see this as a condition that affects the whole body and needs a broad approach to care, focusing on how it impacts breathing, overall health, and daily life.
The main problem in this disease is that airflow is blocked and cannot return to normal. This blockage usually gets worse over time and is linked to ongoing inflammation in the lungs.
Airflow is blocked because of two main problems: small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and damage to lung tissue (emphysema). In the small airways, long-term inflammation causes the walls to thicken and scar, and more mucus is produced, which can block the airways. In the lung tissue, the walls of the air sacs break down, so the lungs lose their stretchiness. This makes it harder to keep the airways open when breathing out, causing them to collapse and trap air inside. This trapped air, called air trapping or hyperinflation, makes it harder for the breathing muscles to work and is a main reason for feeling short of breath.
Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed when someone has a cough that brings up mucus for at least three months each year, for two years in a row.
Although the main problem is in the lungs, this disease is now known to cause inflammation throughout the body. Chemicals from the inflamed lungs can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. This helps explain why many patients also have other health problems, such as heart disease, muscle loss, weak bones, metabolic issues, and depression. These extra health issues make the disease harder to manage and affect the outlook. At Liv Hospital, we focus on treating the whole person, not just the lungs.
While most cases are caused by things in the environment, genetics are important for some people. Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic problem that makes people more likely to get emphysema at a young age. Alpha 1 antitrypsin is a protein made by the liver that protects the lungs from damage. People who do not have enough of this protein are at risk because their lungs are not protected from harmful enzymes. This type of the disease often appears before age 45 and can happen even in people who have never smoked. That’s why doctors check for this genetic issue in younger patients or those with a family history.
The course of this disease is often interrupted by sudden worsening of symptoms, called exacerbations. During these times, people have more trouble breathing, cough up more mucus, and the mucus may look thicker or change color. These flare-ups are usually caused by infections or exposure to pollution. They are serious because they speed up lung damage and raise the risk of death. People who have frequent flare-ups need more careful management. Preventing these episodes is a main goal of treatment.
This disease is a major cause of illness and death around the world, and the number of cases is going up. It is now the third leading cause of death globally. The problem is expected to get worse as people keep being exposed to risk factors and as the population gets older. Although it used to be more common in men, more women are now affected because smoking habits have changed. The disease is also common in low- and middle-income countries, where indoor air pollution from cooking fuels is a big risk.
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Emphysema involves the destruction of the air sacs in the lungs, leading to air trapping, while chronic bronchitis involves inflammation and excess mucus in the airways, causing a persistent cough.
No, the disease itself is not contagious. It is caused by long-term lung damage, usually from smoking or other irritants, and cannot be passed from person to person like a cold or flu.
The structural damage to the lungs, such as the destruction of air sacs or scarring of airways, is generally permanent and cannot be reversed, but treatment can help manage symptoms.
Yes, it is a systemic disease that can lead to muscle wasting, heart problems, weak bones, and other health issues due to chronic inflammation and low oxygen levels.
Long-term cigarette smokers are at the highest risk, but people exposed to heavy dust, chemicals, or indoor smoke from cooking fuels over many years are also at significant risk.
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