Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

**Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease** (**COPD**) be a type of progressive lung disease wey be characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms den airflow limitation. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) dey define COPD as a heterogeneous lung condition wey be characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, sputum production anaa exacerbations) secof abnormalities of de airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) anaa alveoli (emphysema) wey dey cause persistent, often progressive, airflow obstruction.

De main symptoms of COPD dey include shortness of breath den a cough, wich fi anaa no fi produce mucus. COPD progressively dey worsen, plus everyday activities such as walking anaa dressing cam be difficult. While COPD be incurable, e be preventable den treatable. De two most common types of COPD be emphysema den chronic bronchitis, wey na dem be de two classic COPD phenotypes. However, na dis basic dogma be challenged as varying degrees of co-existing emphysema, chronic bronchitis, den potentially significant vascular diseases all be acknowledged insyd those plus COPD, wey dey give rise to de classification of oda phenotypes anaa subtypes.

Emphysema be defined as enlarged airspaces (alveoli) wey na ein walls break down, wey result in permanent damage to de lung tissue. Chronic bronchitis be defined as a productive cough wey be present for at least three months each year for two years. Both of dese conditions fi exist widout airflow limitations wen dem no be classed as COPD. Emphysema just be one of de structural abnormalities wey fi limit airflow den fi exist widout airflow limitation insyd a significant number of people. Chronic bronchitis no always dey result in airflow limitation. However, insyd young adults plus chronic bronchitis wey dey smoke, de risk of developing COPD be high. Na chaw definitions of COPD insyd de past include emphysema den chronic bronchitis, buh na dem never include dese insyd GOLD report definitions. Emphysema den chronic bronchitis remain de predominant phenotypes of COPD, buh der often be overlap between dem, wey na dem sanso describe chaw oda phenotypes. COPD den asthma fi coexist den converge insyd sam individuals. COPD be associated plus low-grade systemic inflammation.

De most common cause of COPD be tobacco smoking. Oda risk factors dey include indoor den outdoor air pollution wey dey include dust, exposure to occupational irritants such as dust from grains, cadmium dust anaa fumes, den genetics, such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Insyd developing countries, common sources of household air pollution be de use of coal den biomass such as wood den dry dung as fuel for cooking den heating. De diagnosis be based on poor airflow as dem measure by spirometry.

Dem fi prevent chaw cases of COPD by reducing exposure to risk factors such as smoking den indoor den outdoor pollutants. While treatment fi slow worsening, der be no conclusive evidence say any medications fi change de long-term decline insyd lung function. COPD treatments dey include smoking cessation, vaccinations, pulmonary rehabilitation, inhaled bronchodilators den corticosteroids. Sam people fi benefit from long-term oxygen therapy, lung volume reduction den lung transplantation. Insyd those wey get periods of acute worsening, increased use of medications, antibiotics, corticosteroids den hospitalization fi be needed.

As of 2021, na COPD affect about 213&nbsp;million people (2.7% of de global population). E typically dey occur insyd males den females over de age of 35–40. Insyd 2021, na COPD cause 3.65&nbsp;million deaths. Almost 90% of COPD deaths insyd those under 70 years of age occur insyd low den middle income countries. Insyd 2021, na e be de fourth biggest cause of death, responsible for approximately 5% of total deaths. Na dem project de number of deaths to increase further secof continued exposure to risk factors den an aging population. Insyd de United States, na dem estimate costs of de disease insyd 2010 at $50&nbsp;billion, chaw of wich be secof exacerbation.

## References


## External links

* [WHO fact sheet on COPD](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd))
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