Chronic bronchitis in smokers – a route to the development of COPD

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) means a chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema, the latter known to laymen as shortness of breath. This disease is currently among the most common causes of death and chronic morbidity. If not treated, it will shorten life significantly. It is manifested by the gradual narrowing of bronchi due to the inhalation of harmful substances, particularly cigarette smoke that causes damage to bronchi and the destruction of lung tissue.

Smoking – the major cause of COPD

In most cases, this disease is caused by long-term cigarette smoking. Smoking damages bronchial mucosa. At the beginning, it leads to the development of smoker’s chronic bronchitis with a typical morning wet cough that lasts at least 3 months for a period of 2 years. Pulmonary emphysema is a more serious and advanced form characterised by damage to pulmonary alveoli. Patients with this disease experience insufficient expiration and a small volume of air in their lungs. Impaired breathing is often accompanied with audible wheezing or coarse crackles. The disease can also be caused by inhaling various by-products (exhaust gases, smoke, dust, heating) or by working in the contaminated environment. However, this disease is not only a respiratory disease. Because of damaged lung tissue, the right part of the patient’s heart has to work under elevated pressure. The long-term, increased load of the heart may lead to cardiovascular failure.  

Treatment

The treatment of this disease strongly depends on patient compliance. The basic prerequisite for the improvement of the patient’s condition is that the patient will change his/her life style. First of all, patients must stop smoking and must use medication (inhaled medication) that will widen the narrowed bronchi, on a regular basis. Furthermore, it is also necessary to facilitate coughing up the mucus produced in an excessive amount by the bronchial mucosa irritated by cigarette smoking. Patients with smoker’s chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema are more likely to develop lung inflammation even at mild respiratory infections. The disease may occur in patients as early as age 40. Consult your doctor if you experience some of the difficulties. The physician will perform a general examination to asses cough severity, the condition of bronchi, and the analysis of the phlegm coughed up, plus a spirometry test and chest X-ray.

Prevention

The most effective prevention is not to start smoking or quit smoking. It is also recommended that you move in a clean environment, if possible, follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle and take care of the prevention of respiratory diseases.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease documents that smoking causes damage to health not only by increasing the risk of lung tumours but also by causing serious diseases that significantly impair the quality of life.

If you experience some of the above-mentioned symptoms such as chronic cough or difficulty breathing, do not hesitate to consult your physician.  

MUDr. Karin Taussig