World COPD Day | You deserve to know it

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic airway disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. The most common symptoms of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and many COPD patients experience both symptoms at the same time [1]. Although COPD is an airway disease, it can also affect the whole body and lead to the development of cor pulmonale or respiratory failure, so prevention and timely treatment of the disease are very important.

Understand COPD in 1 minute! The main symptoms of COPD include coughing, expectoration, dyspnea, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Patients cough more violently in the early morning and have bouts of coughing at night. Shortness of breath is also a hallmark symptom of COPD. Patients experience dyspnea and shortness of breath when doing physical labor. Some patients also experience shortness of breath when engaging in daily activities or even resting. Patients with severe or acute exacerbation of COPD may also experience clinical symptoms such as chest tightness and wheezing. Some patients may also experience symptoms such as decreased appetite and weight loss [2].

Why do you get this disease?

COPD is a disease caused by the interaction of genetics and the environment. The influencing factors include genes, age, gender, lung growth and development, particulate matter exposure, socioeconomic factors, asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, chronic bronchitis, infection, etc. Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for COPD. About 50% of smokers may develop COPD, and about 80% to 90% of COPD patients have a history of smoking [3]. Tobacco contains chemicals such as hydrocyanic acid, nicotine and tar, which can damage airway epithelial cells, cause decreased ciliary motility, reduce the phagocytic ability of macrophages in the body, and increase the prevalence of COPD [2]. Studies have found that quitting smoking can slow the decline in lung function in COPD patients and improve the prognosis of COPD [4].

Don't underestimate these things in life! In addition to tobacco, industrial dust, chemicals and air pollution can also easily cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If people are exposed to large amounts of industrial dust or harmful chemicals for a long time in their lives or work, they may develop the disease. Studies have shown that occupational groups that are frequently exposed to dust and smoke are more likely to have respiratory problems, and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in this group of people is higher than that of occupational groups that are not frequently exposed to dust and smoke [5]. Therefore, the hazards of dust inhalation in occupational work should be taken seriously by relevant enterprise managers and occupational health departments. They should provide good protection for employees and strictly manage and control dust at the source.

Air pollution can also induce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For every unit increase in sulfur dioxide and PM (particulate matter) concentration in the air, the proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will increase accordingly [6]. Inhalation of these pollutants can damage the airway mucosa and cells, reduce the clearance capacity of respiratory cilia, lead to increased mucus secretion, and make it easier for bacteria to reproduce. In addition to the above-mentioned influencing factors, age, gender, infection, etc. may affect the occurrence and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially infection with pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, which is an important factor in the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Therefore, people who are often exposed to smoke, dust, and air pollutants in their daily lives should pay special attention. In addition to taking protective measures at ordinary times, regular inspections are also essential. If you have symptoms such as coughing, sputum, and shortness of breath, you should seek medical diagnosis and treatment in time.

References:

[1] Chen Yahong. Interpretation of the 2017 gold global strategy for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chinese Journal of Medical Frontiers (Electronic Edition), 2017, 9: 37-47

[2] Huang Min. What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Happy Family, 2020, No.106: 58-58

[3] Lundbäck B, Lindberg A, Lindström M, et al. Not 15 but 50% of smokers develop copd?—report from the obstructive lung disease in northern sweden studies. Respiratory medicine, 2003, 97: 115-122

[4] Zhao Ying, Tang Wenhui, Han Lili, et al. A preliminary analysis of smoking and smoking cessation status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Journal of Capital Medical University, 2016, 37: 579-582

[5] Saiyin Erdun. Effects of occupational exposure to dust and smoke on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory symptoms. China Health Industry, 2013, 10: 1

[6] Wang Shaowen. Research on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and environmental air pollution. Medicine,