Chronic bronchitis and emphysema is a type of lung disease which makes difficulty in breathing due to severe damage in lungs. It is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The pulmonary tubes that carry breathing air to and out of the lungs will get blocked partially, resulting in obstruction for air to pass. As lungs are organs at which oxygen get absorbed and passed to hemoglobin, blocking air can cause atrocious damage to body leading to death.
The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Most of the patients with this disease are smokers or had been smoking formerly. Intake of atmospheric pollutants continuously to lungs can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Such pollutants include dust, chemicals, lung irritants etc.
The pulmonary track starts from throat and gets divided into two, to each lungs. The track branches to minute tubules called bronchioles and capillaries as it progress towards lungs. These narrow air ways are so thin that oxygen can pass through it to blood vessels. At the end of each tubule, there is a sac like structure. In a healthy man, the pathway will be clear and open till end so that air can flow freely. Another peculiarity of air sac is that they are elastic and springy in nature. So when air enters the sac during inhalation, it expands and makes the bronchioles more porous. During exhalation, bronchioles will regain the normal position. The inner lining of respiratory track produces mucus (sputum) which acts as adsorbent of dust and other particulate materials.
In case of patients with COPD, the elasticity of air tracks will be lost and become floppy. The walls of most of the air sacs and pathways will be destroyed. In some areas, there may be thickening or inflammation of walls. This can reduce the volume of air that inhales during breathing. The cells in the inner lining of air tracks will produce more mucus making the path narrow and also hinders the movement.
The progression of chronic bronchitis is very slow and it may take several years to show noticeable symptoms. The primary symptom is difficulty in breathing and is usually found in middle aged and older people. According to survey reports, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in U.S and in many other countries. So far there is no exact remedy for this illness and the damage caused by this cannot be reversed. At present, treatments are meant to slow the progress of disease and to control symptoms. |
