COPD
What is it?—symptoms—treatment—prevention

Holly suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

There are two main forms of COPD:

• Chronic bronchitis, which causes long-term swelling and a large amount of mucus in the main airways in the lungs
• Emphysema, a lung disease that destroys the air sacs in the lungs. Most people with COPD have symptoms of both

COPD affects how the lungs work

From the beginning:
The lungs are the major organs of the respiratory system. During inhalation, the body takes in air through the nose and mouth. This oxygen-rich air travels through passageways in the throat, through the windpipe, through the bronchial tree, and into air sacs (called alveoli) in the lungs.

In the alveoli, oxygen is transferred to oxygen-depleted red blood cells in blood vessels called capillaries. The oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart and is pumped throughout the body.

During exhalation, carbon dioxide is transferred from the blood into space between the air sacs and is exhaled from the body.

There are approximately 3,000,000 alveoli in the lungs. These tiny, thin-walled air sacs are lined with a substance that reduces pressure within the alveoli and prevents them from collapsing during breathing. Other substances in the walls of the alveoli allow the air sacs to "shrink" during exhalation.

Emphysema results from permanent enlargement of the alveoli and damage to the walls of the air sacs. The walls of the alveoli lose the ability to expand and contract properly (similar to an overstretched balloon), the air sacs become weak, and air flow in the lungs is reduced. Emphysema affects the body's oxygen supply and makes breathing difficult.

Symptoms of COPD

Causes of COPD

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. The more a person smokes, the more likely that person will develop severe bronchitis. Secondhand smoke may also cause chronic bronchitis. Air pollution, infection, and allergies make chronic bronchitis worse.

In rare cases, nonsmokers who lack a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin can develop emphysema.

Other risk factors for COPD are:

Tests & diagnosis:

The health care provider may hear wheezing or abnormal breathing sounds when listening to the chest and lungs with a stethoscope. However, lung sounds can be normal during the exam.

In severe cases, a person with COPD can seem anxious and may breathe through pursed lips (the shape lips make when you whistle).

During a flare up, the muscles between the ribs contract while the person is breathing in. This is called intercostal retractions. The person will use other muscles to breathe. The number of breaths per minute (respiratory rate) may be high.

The best test for COPD is lung function testing.

A chest x-ray may show that the lung is expanding too much. A chest CT scan may reveal emphysema.

A sample of blood taken from an artery can show low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide.

Prognosis

This condition is a long-term (chronic) illness. The disease will get worse if you continue to smoke or use tobacco.

Treatment of COPD:

There is no cure for COPD. However, there are many things you can do to relieve symptoms and keep the disease from getting worse.

Persons with COPD must stop smoking. This is the only way to prevent the lung damage from getting worse.

Medications used to treat COPD can include inhalers, steroids, and antibiotics.

Other treatments for COPD include:

Breathing support, such as long-term, low-flow oxygen.

Surgery to remove parts of the diseased lung and/or lung transplantation.

Lung rehabilitation or pulmonary rehabilitation includes breathing exercises and physical exercise including treadmill, free weights, leg and arm bikes, stretching exercises. Lung rehabilitation does not cure the lung disease, but it teaches a patient to breathe in a different way so they can stay active.

Many hospitals offer these programs. They can also help you learn more about COPD. Exercise is very important and helps keep you strong.

Things you can do to make it easier for yourself around the home include:

Complications:

Prevention

Not smoking prevents most COPD. Diagnosing and treating small airways disease and taking part in stop-smoking programs may prevent the disease from getting worse in persons who smoke.

Lung Transplants

Why a Lung Transplant?

COPD and Lung Transplants

Lung transplant is a possible surgical option for those with COPD, specifically end-stage emphysema who meet specific criteria. Enter the lung transplant image gallery, a step-by-step photo guide to lung transplantation to learn more about lung transplant.

Lung transplants are performed for a variety of lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. COPD, however, is the most common reason lung transplantation is performed.

Patients who are less than 65 years old with end-stage COPD in the absence of other significant disease should be considered for lung transplant evaluation and referral. Some programs will consider patients who are older than 65 years, but strict criteria must be met for consideration.

More transplant information is available from University Transplant Center San Antonio www.universityhealthsystem.com

University Transplant Center & Lung Transplants

University Transplant Center, San Antonio,
Texas Adult Lung Transplant Services

Dedicated to the Care of Patients with Pulmonary Disease

The Lung Transplant Program at University Transplant Center in San Antonio was established in 1987 by a pioneer in Lung Transplantation, Dr. John Kent Trinkle. University Health System in partnership with The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio has been a leader in the care of people with end stage lung disease. Every patient referred to the Lung Transplant program benefits from the strong history of research, education, creative innovation, comprehensive medical expertise and surgical excellence. The survival statistics meet the national average and they have transplanted some of the longest surviving lung transplant patients in the nation.

University Transplant Center is a Pioneering Force in Lung Transplantation

With the help of her own knowledge and determination and the expert care of the doctors and their team at University Transplant Center, Holly Julian has every expectation of living a full and meaningful life as a result of lung transplant surgery. Won’t you join her friends and family as we endeavor to help her meet the challenges that face her in the future by donating to Hugs for Holly today.

For information on organ donation or to register go to www.donatelifetexas.org.