How about a simple COPD test?

If COPD is detected at an early stage, you can take measures to prevent further damage to your lungs and make you feel better.

Let's start the test now!

Your answers to the questions below can help you with COPD. .

Do you cough often?

Do you produce phlegm?

Is your breath constricting easily?

Are you over 40?

Do you currently smoke or have you ever smoked?

If you answered yes to at least three of the above questions, consult your doctor and ask whether you have COPD and have a simple pulmonary function test done. you should quit.
Most smokers are unaware of the danger, most patients are not diagnosed or diagnosed late.
"My cough and phlegm are from cigarettes! Am I healthy?"No, you are losing your health; coughing and sputum production are the earliest symptoms of the disease!
If you have these complaints, you should immediately apply to the Chest Diseases unit

Important Data on COPD

COPD;

• Today, in the world 4th deadliest disease.
• The 3rd deadliest disease in our country.
• There are 65 million COPD patients in the world.
• 2.7 million people die every year due to COPD.
• The estimated number of patients in our country is 3 million.
• In our country, 9 out of 10 patients with COPD do not know that they have the disease.

Questions about COPD

• What Does Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mean?

Chronic means long-term, and obstructive means obstructive. This disease is a disease caused by damage to both the bronchi, which are the airway, and the parts of the lung that carry oxygen to the blood, called "alveoli", which are at the end of these paths. This damage develops as a result of the reaction against harmful gases and particles, especially cigarette smoke. As a result of this damage, bronchial obstruction and difficulty in oxygen intake occur. At the same time, the excretion of carbon dioxide, which is the poisonous gas formed by our body, decreases and as a result, our body accumulation is increasing.

• What is Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis?

Chronic Bronchitis is coughing up sputum for two consecutive years and for three months each year without any other cause. is to remove. It occurs as a result of damage to the bronchi, which are more commonly called the airways. Emphysema describes damage to the terminal airways and alveoli. Instead of the definition of emphysema and chronic bronchitis, the definition of COPD is now used.

• What are the Characteristics of the Complaints in COPD?

The cough is not bothersome at first. It is usually severe in the morning and is accompanied by sputum. After the sputum accumulated in the lower respiratory tract during the night is coughed up in the morning, the patient partially relaxes. It is often not realized that this is a pathological behavior and is perceived as a normal bodily reaction from smoking. In the following years, it gets worse with the progression of the disease or during acute exacerbations. It is white or brownish and frothy and is relatively easily excreted. With the progression of the disease, the daily amount reaches 50-60 ml. While some of the patients with COPD complain of producing copious amounts of sputum, others complain of not being able to produce sputum. In particular, dyspnea may not occur until the first second forced vital capacity value (FEV1), which is determined by pulmonary function test, falls below 50-70%. For this reason, it should be kept in mind that COPD can occur without shortness of breath.

Wheezing develops as a result of obstruction in the airways. As the disease progresses, it increases especially in acute attacks.

Cyanosis, on the other hand, causes bruising on the lips, fingers and skin as the blood oxygen level decreases and the carboxyhemoglobin amount increases accordingly.

As edema and structural changes occur in the vessels feeding the lungs, right heart failure occurs. As a result, fluid collects first in the legs and then in the body.

• In Which Regions of the Lungs Disease Occurs in COPD?
• Small airways (the most important factor in the formation of bronchial obstruction) region)
• Lung tissue
• Veins in the lung

• Why is COPD an Important Disease?

In order to understand the importance of COPD, we need to examine epidemiological data including information such as how many people the disease affects in the world and how deadly it is. There are 65 million patients with COPD all over the world. Every year, 2.7 million people die, and 40,000 people die in our country. It is the 4th most common cause of death in the world and the 3rd cause of death in our country. Mortality rates have increased by 163% in recent years. The increase in cigarette consumption plays an important role in this increase. It is estimated that there are 3 million patients in our country and only 8.4% of them can be diagnosed.

Active smoking,

Occupation,

Hereditary alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency,

Domestic air pollution

• What is the Relationship Between Smoking, the Most Important Risk Factor, and COPD?

Today's most important risk factor for the development of COPD is smoking. Smoking is responsible for 80% of the development of COPD in developed countries. While cough and sputum complaints occur in 50% of smokers, only 20% develop COPD. This is an indication that some people are more sensitive. Normally, with age, our respiratory functions also decrease by FEV1 (Forced vital capacity in one second). However, smoking accelerates this decrease. The acceleration in this decrease is different for everyone. In the case of quitting smoking, the annual decrease in FEV1 decreases.

• In Which Occupational Groups Is COPD More Common?

When exposed to occupational dusts and chemicals (vapours, irritants, gases) of sufficient intensity and duration, COPD may develop independently of smoking. Occupations with a high risk of COPD include mining (such as silica, cadmium, and coal), metalworking, transportation, and wood/paper production, cement, grain, and textile work.

• Alpha 1 What is Antitrypsin Deficiency?

It is the only genetic abnormality known to cause COPD. As a result of a significant decrease in serum alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels, 30-40 years old (normally CO In this disease, which occurs with the development of emphysema, liver and skin are also affected. It has been reported that AAT deficiency is responsible for the development of the disease in less than 1% of patients with COPD. It is thought that various vegetable and animal fuels may have an effect on the development of COPD. , shortness of breath and wheezing. In the early stages of the disease, there are usually no complaints. Coughing and sputum production is ignored as it is a normal reaction of smoking. Generally, as 50% or more of respiratory functions are affected, dyspnea begins to be felt more (Figure 2). When patients apply to the physician, the FEV1 value is usually below 1.5 liters. One of the most important reasons that bring patients to the physician is the sudden attacks seen during the course of the disease. (Increased shortness of breath and sputum amount in a short time).

How is COPD Treated?

The goals of treatment include prevention of disease progression, correction of complaints, improvement of exercise tolerance, improvement of general health status, prevention of complications. prevention and treatment, prevention and treatment of exacerbations.

The treatment program includes control of risk factors, long-term drug therapy, treatment of acute attacks, long-term oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation and rehabilitation in respiratory failure.

If the blood oxygen level remains below a certain level despite all the treatments given in patients with COPD, long-term oxygen therapy is required. In this treatment, patients are recommended to take oxygen for at least 16-20 hours a day. Specially prepared oxygen concentrators are used for this treatment.

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