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 OTHER NAMES
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- OCFA
DEFINITION
The chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (EPOC) is a term used to group two disorders: the emphysema and the chronic bronchitis. The chronic bronchitis is characterized by the persistent inflammation of the interior revetment of the bronchi. The emphysema is characterized by the irreversible damage in the air bags (alveoli) that exist at the end of the bronchi in the lungs. Most of the persons with EPOC have a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis, although generally, one of two disorders is domineering.
The chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (EPOC) fond of hundreds of million persons in the whole world. Although it is incurable, the suitable medical handling and a few healthy habits of life can help those persons with the illness to enjoy a better quality of life and to reduce the complications perspectives.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE EPOC
The primary signs and the symptoms of the EPOC are a shortness of breath and persistent light cough that can or not to produce mucus. As the illness progresses, the difficulty to breathe can limit the aptitude of the person to carry out his daily activity.
CAUSES
The nicotinism causes more than one 80 per cent of the cases of the emphysema, of the chronic bronchitis and of other chronic illnesses of the lung. Most of those that EPOC suffers are severe, current smokers or previous.
Another cause known about the EPOC is a relatively rare hereditary shortcoming of a protein - called alpha - 1-antitripsina - WITH A protective FUNCTION in the lungs. These patients have a severe form of emphysema of very precocious beginning, before 30 ó 40 years of age.
The exhibition frequent or prolonged to contaminated air or the infections of airways also can redeem a function in the development of the EPOC.
DIAGNOSIS
The EPOC can be diagnosed by a doctor of primary health care, based on the medical and personal precedents of the patient and a physical exploration. Often there are needed also, to confirm the diagnosis, functional tests of the lung and radiographies.
TREATMENT
The EPOC cannot be treated, but the suitable medical handling and a few healthy habits of life can help those persons with the illness to enjoy a better quality of life, increase the tolerance to the habitual physical activity and to reduce the complications perspectives.
1. Medication
- bronchodilators: By means of the relaxation and the expansion of the bronchi, these medicines allow to interfere more oxygen in the lungs. There are bronchodilators in syrups, in tablets or in aerosol.
-You vaccinate. Since some common, relatively light illnesses in other patients, can present serious risks for the health in the patients with EPOC, there is recommended usually in these patients an anti-flu vaccine (administered in October or November before the beginning of the station of the flu) and a vaccine against the pneumonia (an injection of only one time).
- antibiotics: They can be necessary to treat a sharp respiratory infection and, in some cases, to help to prepare a bacterial infection.
2. Exercise
A program of moderate exercise - always under medical supervision - can help the patients with EPOC which they take more active lives. The physical form cannot improve the function of the lungs, but it can increase the tolerance of a person to the effort, on having allowed the heart and other muscles to use the available oxygen of more efficient form. Sometimes some medicine bronchodilator can be necessary before an exercise meeting.
The respiration exercises are very important to increase the force and the resistance of the muscles that control the inspiration and the exhalation, as well as certain skills to help to clear the lungs of mucous secretions.
3. Nutrition and hydration
The suitable nutritional habits redeem an important function in the physical form and the resistance to the infection.
The patients with EPOC who experience shortness of breath on having eaten, more kidlings can tolerate better eaten and more frequent. Certain nutritional supplements can be indicated if his doctor suspects that the nutritional needs of a patient are not satisfied.
It is fundamental for every patient with EPOC to remain well hydrated (a), drinking at least eight glasses of water or of other liquids a day, what will help to support a more slack expectoration and fluída, and therefore a more effective cough.
4. Other measurements
To never smoke. To avoid closed areas where other persons are smoking.
To avoid the contact with persons who suffer cold or flu.
To the first sign of a respiratory infection, to contact with the doctor.
Always to breathe for the nose, like way of introducing in the lungs warmer air. In full winter, use a scarf on the mouth and the nose.
In days of special air pollution, due to the high ozone or other pollutants, remain inside house with the closed windows.
Avoid to breathe dust, gases of the motorcar, painting, aerosols, etc.
Use a humidificador if the air in his hearth is very dry.
In the future, new medical therapies - now under investigation - it is possible that they improve the quality of life of the persons who develop the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Illness.
It is clear, nevertheless, that the best way of preparing this illness so incapacitante is to create a free smoke world.
WHAT DOCTOR CAN TREAT ME?
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DENOMINATION 
