COPD
July 5th 2007 15:32
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs) affect one out of five persons in the world. Asthma and bronchitis are common forms of COPD and are found more often in men than in women. The incidence of these diseases is more common among cigarette smokers than non-smokers. Asthma is a disease characterized by attacks of wheezing and difficulty in breathing. Spasms of the smooth muscles that lie in the walls of the smaller bronchi and bronchioles bring on the attacks and cause these passageways to close partially. Asthma can be caused by environmental factors such as dust or cold air. Asthma can also be caused by an infection, exercise, or emotional upset.
In an asthma attack, several bodily changes make it difficult for air to go through bronchi passageways. These changes include bronchoconstriction (bronchial muscles constricting), mucus secretion in the bronchi, and edema (fluid retention) in the bronchial wall. The difficulty in bringing air through those passages accounts for a sign almost always associated with asthma--wheezing.
There are five types of asthma. They are:
1. Extrinsic (allergic) asthma.
2. Intrinsic asthma.
3. Triad asthma.
4. Nasal polyp asthma.
5. Bronchospasm
In an asthma attack, several bodily changes make it difficult for air to go through bronchi passageways. These changes include bronchoconstriction (bronchial muscles constricting), mucus secretion in the bronchi, and edema (fluid retention) in the bronchial wall. The difficulty in bringing air through those passages accounts for a sign almost always associated with asthma--wheezing.
There are five types of asthma. They are:
1. Extrinsic (allergic) asthma.
2. Intrinsic asthma.
3. Triad asthma.
4. Nasal polyp asthma.
5. Bronchospasm
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