COPD Research Paper

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic disease that affect the normal function of lungs. COPD is an obstructive lung disease and the inflammation and thickening of the airway makes breathing very difficult for patients with COPD1. COPD is often preventable and treatable. The severity of COPD depends on patient’s airflow limitation through their airways and degree of symptoms1. According to Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD), air flow limitation in COPD patients is not fully reversible, usually progressive and is normally related with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to harmful particles or gases that are inhaled1. The characteristic symptoms of COPD includes chronic cough, shortness of breath, decreased exercise tolerance and wheezing1. Usually, COPD patients have a symptoms of emphysema1. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease defined as abnormal and permanent enlargement alveoli in the lungs which leads to collapse and destruction of alvoli1. This causes airflow obstruction, increased work of breathing, increased breathlessness, and reduced efficiency of expiratory muscles1.

There are so many other environmental factors that can cause COPD they are, air pollution, pollens, dust, occupational chemicals and gas fumes can also cause COPD2. There is another form of COPD called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (genetic) caused by lack of a protective protein in the blood2. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is produced by the liver and it is known as lung protector2. Deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin is responsible for 2-3 percentage of emphysema in US2. Approximately 80-90 percent of COPD is caused by tobacco smoking2. COPD is commonly affected on people aged above 40 years old and mostly affected on men. In the United States, COPD is ranked as the 3rd leading cause of