ARTICLES / General /
Managing Lung Disease /
Other ArticlesBy
Cheryl Ellis, RPFT, CRT, Staff Writer
The lungs oversee the body’s oxygen needs by
taking in air deep into their corridors (called
bronchi), allowing for oxygen and carbon dioxide to
filter in and out of the blood. The dance of oxygen exchange becomes more
complicated with inhaled pollutants of different kinds,
such as tobacco smoke, pollution and congestion from
infections.
Our lungs also help the body’s metabolic
process, releasing more carbon dioxide in situations
where the kidneys need help keeping the body’s acid and
alkaline quantities balanced. They can release more or less carbon dioxide if
needed in a given situation.
Each body system works with the other to keep
the body in a state of health. Illness can be acute (short term) or chronic
(recurrent).
Each disease has its own definition of acute or chronic. Lung disease can be caused by restrictive
conditions such as spinal curvature, or obstructive
conditions like emphysema. Lung disease is often a mixture of more than one
condition, and both restrictive and obstructive
conditions can occur at the same time.
UNDERSTANDING COPD
The National Institute of Health estimates
that 12 million people have been diagnosed with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).The term COPD is a general designation for a
group of lung diseases that includes asthma, chronic
bronchitis, emphysema and bronchiectasis.
COPD causes shortness of breath, and problems
with mucus clearing and oxygen exchange from the
lungs to the blood vessels. Each of the diseases that fall under the COPD
classification creates different changes in the lung
tissue, but essentially similar symptoms and
challenges. Air flow is not only obstructed from going
deep into the lungs. The ability to exhale properly hampers the
next breath coming in.
The airways can collapse because the smaller
airways “flop” closed when exhaling. The closed airway may need medication to open
them up, or an altered breathing pattern that lets
the air flow out more smoothly. Ideally, a combination of the two provides
consistent help. The trapping of air prevents easy exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the “dance” that
occurs when a new breath carries in fresh air causes
“old” air to block the entry of “new” air. It’s similar to people needing to exit an
elevator before others can get in.
DIAGNOSIS IS A BEGINNING
Individuals diagnosed in early stages of COPD
may have an easier time adapting to lifestyle
changes to assist with management of the disease. Eliminating smoking is a first course of
action; and the earlier one starts, the simpler it
may be.
Therapies like pulmonary rehabilitation are
designed to adapt to the current state of health,
and provide great benefits at any stage of
diagnosis. Pulmonary rehabilitation by competent
professionals includes breathing exercises,
education on energy conservation and supervised
exercise to improve stamina.
In all cases, COPD increases the amount of
work it takes to breathe. Conserving energy, especially in later
stages, improves breathing and the body’s ability to
transfer oxygen. By supplying the body’s oxygen needs
adequately, everything from digestion to sleep is
positively affected.
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