Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
An acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB), is a sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms including shortness of breath, quantity and color of phlegm that typically lasts for several days.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of progressive lung disease characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. [8] GOLD 2024 defined COPD as a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea or shortness of breath, cough, sputum production or exacerbations) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis ...
Obstructive conditions of the lower airway, including severe asthma or COPD episodes, can also lead to respiratory arrest. During these episodes, known as exacerbations, airway resistance is increased due to inflammatory changes in the lungs. This leads to increased work of breathing and decreased oxygen delivery to tissue.
Many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a low partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and high partial pressure of carbon dioxide.Treatment with supplemental oxygen may improve their well-being; alternatively, in some this can lead to the adverse effect of elevating the carbon dioxide content in the blood (hypercapnia) to levels that may become toxic.
Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), and bluish skin coloration (cyanosis). [1] For those who survive, a decreased quality of life is common. [4] Causes may include sepsis, pancreatitis, trauma, pneumonia, and aspiration. [1]
COPD is defined as a forced expiratory volume in 1 second divided by the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) that is less than 0.7 (or 70%). [8] The residual volume, the volume of air left in the lungs following full expiration, is often increased in COPD, as is the total lung capacity, while the vital capacity remains relatively normal.
It is life-threatening in the elderly or those who are immunocompromised. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] The most common treatment is antibiotics and these vary in their adverse effects and their effectiveness. [ 13 ] [ 15 ] Pneumonia is also the leading cause of death in children less than five years of age in low income countries. [ 15 ]
ACO presents with symptoms of both asthma and COPD. [1] ACO presents in adulthood, usually after the age of 40 (after there has been significant tobacco smoke or other toxic fumes exposure), with symptoms of dyspnea (shortness of breath), exercise intolerance, sputum production, cough and episodes of symptomatic worsening known as exacerbations.