Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Air travels down your windpipe and into your lungs through two large tubes. Inside your lungs, these tubes divide many times into many smaller tubes that end in clusters of tiny air sacs. These sacs are full of blood vessels. The oxygen you inhale passes into these blood vessels and enter your bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide (a gas that is a waste product of metabolism) is exhaled.

Causes of airway obstruction.

A lot of people think cigarette smoking is the only cause for COPD. In the vast majority of cases, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by long-term cigarette smoking. Other irritants can include cigar smoke, secondhand smoke, pipe smoke, air pollution and workplace exposure to dust, smoke or fumes. Others factors can also lead to COPD such as genetic susceptibility to the disease, emphysema, and bronchitis.

A large study found that people with COPD had almost a double risk of being diagnosed with diabetes. People with COPD suffer from other medical problems frequently linked to diabetes, such as elevated blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol. The combination of these medical problems is sometimes referred as "metabolic syndrome" and is considered a cause of cardiovascular problems.

Diabetes is associated with abnormal brain control of breathing patterns and can cause sleep breathing disorders. Studies show that COPD patients with diabetes have an accelerated decline in lung function compared to those without diabetes, and uncontrolled diabetes in COPD patients result in increased exacerbations (a sustained worsening of the patient's condition). This may be because diabetes increases susceptibility to infections, such as those associated with COPD exacerbations.

Most diabetics, especially Type 2, tend to run high blood sugars. How does high blood sugar effect the lungs?

• An increase in body mass index
• Loss of respiratory compliance (the ability of the lungs to distend) associated with diabetes.
• Damage to the nervous system (diabetic neuropathies)
• Weakened respiratory muscles

Symptoms

COPD symptoms often do not appear until significant lung damage has occurred. For chronic bronchitis, the main symptom is a daily cough and mucus production at least three months or up to a few years.

• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning
• A chronic cough that produces mucus that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
• Blueness on the lips or fingernail beds
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Lack of energy
• Unexplained weight loss (in later stages)
• Swelling in ankles, feet or legs

Complications

• People with COPD are more likely to catch colds, the flu and pneumonia
• COPD can increase your risk for heart disease, including heart attack. Quitting smoking may reduce this risk
• People with COPD have a higher risk of developing lung cancer
• High blood pressure in arteries (pulmonary hypertension)
• Depression - Difficulty breathing can keep you from doing activities you enjoy

Keep yourself healthy by eating right, exercise as much as you can, and see your doctor regularly, especially if you have diabetes and/or COPD. Tell your doctor of any problems you may be having.