Obstructive Lung Disease Overview

Difficulty exhaling air from the lungs due to increased resistance in the airways.

A disorder where low alpha-1 antitrypsin levels lead to increased risk of lung diseases like COPD and bronchiectasis.

A condition causing permanent airway dilation, weakening, and impaired mucus clearance, predisposing to recurrent infections.

A rare genetic disorder causing thick mucus in multiple organs, leading to airway obstruction and repeated infections.

A condition characterized by reversible airway narrowing due to inflammation and bronchospasm.

The main problem in Obstructive Lung Disease is ___________.

Inflammation of the airway walls, leading to narrowing.

Excessive mucus production can obstruct the airway lumen, leading to difficulty breathing.

A group of guidelines that offer a structured approach for treating and managing COPD, including medication options and other aspects of care.

The use of medications to treat and manage COPD. This approach aims to reduce symptoms, prevent exacerbations, improve exercise tolerance, and enhance overall health.

A worsening of COPD symptoms that requires additional treatment. These events can be triggered by infections, exposure to irritants, or other factors.

The process of customizing a treatment plan based on the individual patient's needs, preferences, and medical history. This includes considering factors like symptom severity, risk of exacerbations, and medication side effects.

Devices that deliver medication directly into the lungs, often used for COPD treatment. Examples include inhalers and nebulizers.

The volume of air remaining in your lungs after you exhale as much as possible.

The total amount of air your lungs can hold after taking a deep breath.

The maximum speed of air you can forcefully exhale from your lungs.

A breathing test that measures how much air you can forcefully exhale in one second.

Ratio of FEV1 to FVC. It indicates how well air is moving through your lungs.

A test that checks how your lungs react to a substance that makes your airways narrow.

Long-term control medications for asthma help to reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms.

Acute relievers (rescue medications) for asthma help to quickly open up narrowed airways.

The most effective anti-inflammatory medications for asthma.

Medications that relax bronchial smooth muscle to open up airways.

Medications that interrupt the inflammatory pathway by blocking leukotrienes.

Medications that reverse bronchoconstriction by inhibiting muscarinic receptors.

Medications that target specific parts of the inflammatory process in asthma.

A condition characterized by persistent airflow obstruction and chronic inflammation of the airways.

The most common risk factor for COPD in the United States.

A genetic predisposition to hypersensitivity to allergens, often leading to asthma, eczema, or hay fever.

A substance that triggers an allergic reaction in an individual with atopic predisposition.

A narrowing of the airways due to muscle contraction, mucus buildup, and inflammation in the airway walls.

The excessive responsiveness of the airways to stimuli, leading to narrowing and difficulty breathing.

The thickening and narrowing of the airway walls due to chronic inflammation, leading to persistent airflow limitation.

The involuntary contraction of the smooth muscle in the airways, leading to narrowing and difficulty breathing.

The excessive production and secretion of mucus in the airways, leading to narrowing and difficulty breathing.

The release of chemicals like histamine and leukotrienes by immune cells, leading to inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion.

The stimulation of the vagus nerve, causing contraction of the airway smooth muscle and narrowing of the airways.

The stimulation of beta-2 adrenergic receptors, causing relaxation of the airway smooth muscle and widening of the airways.

A condition in which the stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, potentially contributing to asthma symptoms.

Factors that worsen asthma symptoms in an individual who already has asthma.

A period of worsening asthma symptoms, often accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing.

A high-pitched whistling sound produced during breathing due to narrowing of the airways from inflammation, mucus, and muscle contraction.

Tests that measure the function of the lungs, including airflow, lung volume, and diffusion capacity.

A heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms due to abnormalities of the airways and/or alveoli, resulting in persistent, often progressive airflow obstruction.

Loss of lung elasticity, abnormal permanent enlargement of airspaces distal to terminal bronchioles, and destruction of alveolar walls and capillary beds.

Defined by the presence of chronic cough and sputum production for at least three months per year for two consecutive years when other causes of chronic cough have been excluded. It involves changes in both large and small airways, leading to obstruction.

Mainstay of therapy includes inhaled bronchodilators, such as beta-2 agonists and anticholinergics, to reduce air trapping, hyperinflation, and improve exercise tolerance and symptoms.

Individuals with AAT deficiency may develop lung disease at a younger age, especially with smoking.

Increased risk of COPD is associated with long-term exposure to lung irritants such as indoor/outdoor air pollution, chemical fumes, dust, and secondhand smoke.

The most important intervention to prevent development or slow the progression of COPD. Benefits include reduced symptoms, decreased speed of decline in lung function, slowed disease progression, and reduced mortality.

Shortness of breath, chronic cough, and sputum production are common, with onset often slow and gradual. Shortness of breath may progress over time, and individuals may experience decreased exercise tolerance and fatigue.

FEV1 will be decreased, and the FEV1/FVC ratio will be decreased due to airway narrowing, loss of elasticity, and obstruction. Lung volumes, such as residual volume, functional residual capacity, and total lung capacity, may be increased due to air trapping and hyperinflation.

In later stages, a barrel chest appearance due to lung hyperinflation, increased respiratory rate, shallow breathing, altered breathing mechanics (pursed lip breathing, use of accessory muscles), and tripod position (sitting/standing leaning forward with hands braced) may be present.

Excess mucus and inflammation/fibrosis in the bronchial wall cause airflow obstruction. Loss of elastic fibers leads to decreased elastic recoil, impaired expiratory airflow, airway collapse, and air trapping. Loss of alveolar tissue leads to decreased surface area for gas exchange.

Inhaled corticosteroids have a smaller role in COPD compared to asthma. Short courses of systemic corticosteroids are used for acute exacerbations. Supplemental oxygen is used for some individuals with COPD and can reduce mortality.

The goal is to relieve symptoms, improve exercise tolerance, improve overall health status, prevent disease progression, prevent/treat exacerbations, and reduce mortality.

Individuals with both asthma and COPD have greater symptom burden, more frequent exacerbations, greater use of healthcare resources, and higher mortality.