Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (CPOD)encompasses a group of lung disorders that include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive airways disease and chronic asthma. CPOD affects millions of people worldwide and this disease is mostly attributed to smoking. Air pollution, working in an environment with harmful effluents and passive smoking are also likely causes for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Sometimes a patient may suffer an inherited form of emphysema due to a deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin. With chronic bronchitis, the air passages and mucus glands are enlarged thereby leading to severe cough. Over time, the enlargement can lead to reduced oxygen supply to the lungs. Elevated blood pressure is noticed. This condition is more predominant in those who smoke or have a history of respiratory illness. While some patients develop wheezing and shortness of breath, others notice mucus while coughing. Chronic bronchitis is noticed with symptoms such as continuous cough, rapid breathing and cyanosis (bluish tint to the lips and nails). Morning headaches may be noticed on account of inability to remove carbon dioxide from the blood. Patients with severe case of COPD may face hemoptysis (blood while coughing). Emphysema occurs when the tiny alveoli in the lungs are destroyed thereby hampering efficiency of the lungs. It leads to labored breathing and the patient often feels out of breath. Other symptoms are loss of weight, disturbed sleep and tight constriction in the chest.
Diagnostic tests for COPD include blood tests and pulmonary function test. The pulmonary function test is an indicator of the extent of blockage of the lungs. Chest x-rays help in identifying damaged areas of the lungs and areas of fluid collection as well as any masses in the lungs. Sputum culture can identify any respiratory infection. A spirometry test measures the amount of air a person can blow in a second. Arterial blood gas analysis indicates how efficiently the lungs bring oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide.
Antibiotics can help in tackling the bacterial infections in the lungs. Bronchodilators open up the air passages in the lungs thereby alleviating some of the symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Inhaled corticosteroids will reduce airway inflammation. In severe cases, oxygen is administered. In addition, some lifestyle changes must be followed:
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke
- Adopt physical fitness regime to maintain good lung health
- As far as possible, avoid environmental irritants, hazardous inhalated substances such as paints, chemicals and cleaning agents
- Balanced diet
- Plenty of water and fluids
- Steam inhalation
Mycoplasma Infection
Mycoplasma are smallest living organisms that are found on the surfaces of mucous membranes. They can cause chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, urogenital tract and joints. Mycoplasma infection spreads through air or direct contact. Coughing, spitting and sneezing by infected persons leads to spread of infection. It can lead to sore throat, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Typical symptoms of mycoplasma infection include fever, cough, bronchitis, sore throat and headache. A person suffering from mycoplasma infection experiences extreme fatigue. Blood tests and chest x-rays aid in diagnosing mycoplasma infection. If mycoplasma pneumonia is suspected, x-ray of the lungs is taken. Usually mycoplasma infection clears up by itself. But if it causes pneumonia, suitable antibiotics will be prescribed. Antibiotics such as erythromycin or tetracyline are used to treat this condition.
Lung Function Test
Lung functions tests are mainly diagnostic tools that measure the various functions of the human lung. These tests help determine how your lungs are performing with regard to how well they process the air that we take in and if they are distributed well through the body. Lung volume or lung capacity is also measured through lung function tests. Other tests also help determine any physiological abnormalities of the lungs.
Lung function tests also help in the diagnosis of various respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis. Conditions such as chest pain and shortness of breath may also be explored through spirometry. These tests are also used to determine the effects of medication on the lungs as also to examine the lungs of those who have been affected adversely by environmental factors or work hazards (coal mine workers or those who work with chemicals for example). In many cases, fitness for surgery or a procedure might be adjudged by a lung function test. Lung function tests help in checking for conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), sarcoidosis, asthma and lung tissue scarring.
Spirometry
Spirometry is the most commonly used test to measure and evaluate lung functions, while there are several other tests that pertain to more specific diagnostic needs. In the spirometry test, lung function is observed as the patient breathes into the spirometer. The patient's nostrils are usually clipped and a tight mouth piece is used. The patient will be monitored by a trained professional and asked to breathe at various paces in order to measure various test parameters and also the capacity of the lungs.
Peak Flow Meter: This hand-held device aids in tracking breathing and is especially helpful to those suffering wheezing and asthma.
Lung diffusion capacity: This lung function test helps in gauging how effectively oxygen is passed from the lungs to the bloodstream.
Lung volume measurement: This breathing test indicates the amount of air left in your lungs after breathing out.
Bibliography / Reference
|
