A doctor spoke about the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often called the main disease of smokers. It develops in every fifth person with this harmful habit. Candidate of Medical Sciences Olga Ulankina, a doctor - expert of the laboratory "Hemotest" told "Izvestia" on November 27, what this disease is and what symptoms can be suspected.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops if for some reason the lumen of the bronchi becomes narrow and inhaled air through them can not normally reach the lungs. Because of this, a person suffocates and often coughs.

"Bronchi are the pathways through which inhaled air enters the lungs, and carbon dioxide goes out when exhaling. They are like hollow tubes that are lined on the inside with mucous membrane. In COPD, this becomes inflamed and swollen, preventing the normal passage of air. The word "obstructive" in the name of the disease and means narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi. Otherwise, this disease is also often called obstructive chronic bronchitis, or emphysema," explained Ulankina.

Anyone can get COPD regardless of age. It is believed that the risk of encountering the disease is three to four times higher in those who smoke cigarettes themselves or have to constantly inhale tobacco smoke.

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"Most often COPD develops because of prolonged exposure of the bronchi to some irritant or toxic substance. This can be smoke from cigarettes, vapors, including from vapes, dust and chemicals, so in the zone of special risk smokers and people who work in harmful industries or live in environmentally unfriendly areas," - said the doctor.

In addition, she said, the risk of developing COPD is increased in babies who were born prematurely, in often sick children and people with asthma. Also COPD can provoke a genetic feature - a deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin. In this case, the disease debuts at an early age, but such a violation is rare, the specialist specified.

One of the main and most obvious symptoms of COPD is a prolonged and severe cough.

"For the doctor, an important diagnostic criterion is the duration of the cough. You can suspect the disease if the patient complains that he has been coughing constantly for three months or even longer. At the same time, there are no symptoms typical of respiratory infection: no sore throat, no stuffy nose, no elevated body temperature, but the cough does not go away. It can be deep, moist, with expectoration of sputum - clear or with streaks of pus and blood", - said Ulankina.

During the exacerbation of COPD may appear shortness of breath - sometimes it is difficult to breathe even at rest. A person may seem that he can not breathe: he breathes often and occasionally breathes heavily and deeply, the expert said.

"Air is really not enough, and from this organs and tissues that experience oxygen starvation begin to suffer. Patients with COPD quickly get tired, often against the background of the disease develops anxiety and depression. Swelling of the legs may also appear," the doctor added.

According to her, it is impossible to cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease completely. At the same time, during the exacerbation period, the symptoms increase, intensify. Such a severe condition can last from several weeks to several months. Then comes remission, but after some time the disease again makes itself known.

"Therapy is aimed at alleviating the condition. The doctor can recommend special inhalers that reduce swelling and relieve obstruction. In addition, sometimes it is advisable to use steroid medications. And if a bacterial infection has joined, antibiotics are prescribed. In severe cases, oxygen therapy is carried out and even surgery is performed," the expert said.

Lifestyle is of great importance for the treatment and prevention of COPD. Ulankina explained that the first thing a doctor will tell a patient with this disease is to stop smoking and avoid exposure to harmful environmental factors if possible, to change work if it is associated with harmful substances. This will help to maintain good health and prolong life.

"In addition, it is important not to ignore respiratory diseases and responsibly approach their treatment. Unfortunately, many people carry ARVI, influenza and even COVID-19 on their feet and thus put themselves and others at risk. Untreated infections can provoke a number of severe complications, including COPD," Ulankina warned.

Earlier, on November 19, the doctor-gastroenterologist "SM-Clinica" Valeria Lomova said that the most negative impact on the liver has alcohol, which destroys its cells - hepatocytes. Therefore, regular alcohol consumption threatens such dangerous complications as fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver.