COPD is the abbreviation for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It can be defined as permanent narrowing of the respiratory tract (bronchi)
usually due to smoking. The most important risk factor is smoking
smoking. Exposure to dung smoke is also an important risk factor for women living in rural areas. Sometimes female patients who develop COPD without any apparent risk factors are seen. When these people are questioned carefully, it is understood that they have been passively exposed to cigarette smoke smoked by their father, grandfather or husband since infancy.
The most important symptom of COPD is shortness of breath, cough and sputum production. These complaints increase even more in the winter months. Especially following an upper respiratory tract infection, increased shortness of breath
, sputum production, sputum turning green and increasing its amount are called COPD
exacerbation. Early detection of exacerbation ensures that this period is shorter and easier. It is necessary to go to a Chest Diseases Specialist to detect and treat the cause of the exacerbation. Sometimes, when exacerbations are serious, hospitalization or even intensive care admission may be required.
Some medications that have been included in the treatment in recent years have been observed to reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbations.
In addition, it should be administered every year. Required flu vaccination and pneumonia vaccination every 5 years also reduce the risk of exacerbation.
COPD patients, especially in severe forms, must continuously take inhaled medications
has to use it. It is not right to use medication only during exacerbations. In this way, patients who receive irregular treatment experience more exacerbations and the disease progresses faster
. It is not possible to completely cure the disease with treatment. However, the rate of progression and the number of annual exacerbations can be reduced. Research has identified two treatment methods that prolong life in these patients. One of them is to quit smoking and the other is to receive oxygen therapy at home if necessary in seriously ill patients. In order for oxygen therapy to be beneficial to patients, it must be used at least 15-18 hours a day, especially at night. In this regard, our patients' most
Their mistake is to use oxygen as shortness of breath increases and not to use it at other times.
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