Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Number of Conditions: 2
Chronic Bronchitis
Specialty: Pulmonology
Category: Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Sub-category: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Symptoms:
chronic cough with mucus production; shortness of breath; wheezing; fatigue; recurrent respiratory infections
Root Cause:
Persistent inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes, often due to long-term exposure to irritants like tobacco smoke or air pollutants, leading to airway narrowing and mucus overproduction.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through a combination of patient history (e.g., smoking), pulmonary function tests (spirometry), chest X-rays, and blood tests to rule out other conditions.
Treatment:
Includes smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and management of symptoms with medications. Oxygen therapy may be required in advanced stages.
Medications:
Bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol, tiotropium ), inhaled corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone ), combination inhalers, and mucolytics (e.g., carbocisteine). Antibiotics may be prescribed during acute exacerbations caused by bacterial infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects millions globally, with higher prevalence in smokers and older adults. Chronic bronchitis is a leading cause of COPD.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking (primary risk factor), long-term exposure to air pollutants, occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, recurrent respiratory infections.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Progressive disease with variable outcomes depending on smoking cessation and treatment adherence. Early intervention improves quality of life.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Frequent exacerbations, respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and increased susceptibility to infections.
Emphysema
Specialty: Pulmonology
Category: Obstructive Lung Diseases
Sub-category: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Symptoms:
shortness of breath (dyspnea); chronic cough (often dry); wheezing; fatigue; barrel-shaped chest; weight loss; reduced exercise tolerance
Root Cause:
Destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil in the lungs due to chronic exposure to irritants like smoking. This results in air trapping, hyperinflation of the lungs, and impaired gas exchange.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, spirometry (showing reduced FEV1/FVC ratio), chest X-ray (showing hyperinflated lungs and flattened diaphragms), CT scan (for visualization of emphysematous changes), and blood gas analysis in severe cases.
Treatment:
Smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, bronchodilators, corticosteroids (inhaled or oral), long-term oxygen therapy for advanced cases, and surgical options like lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplant in severe cases.
Medications:
Inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol - a short-acting beta-agonist, salmeterol - a long-acting beta-agonist); anticholinergics (e.g., ipratropium ); combination inhalers (e.g., budesonide /formoterol ); inhaled corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone ); and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors (e.g., roflumilast ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Emphysema affects approximately 5%–6% of the adult population globally, with higher prevalence among smokers and individuals over 40.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Cigarette smoking (most significant factor), exposure to air pollutants, occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, recurrent respiratory infections, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Progressive disease with no cure. Smoking cessation and proper treatment slow progression and improve quality of life. Advanced disease often leads to disability and reduced life expectancy.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale), pneumothorax (collapsed lung), frequent exacerbations, and respiratory failure in advanced stages.