Diagnosis smoker lung disease rate is increasing

Diagnosis smoker's lung: number of diseases is continuously increasing
The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) also popularly „Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease“ called is on the rise worldwide. According to estimates of the Hannover Medical School (MHH), about five million Germans are affected by COPD, with each eighth suffering from COPD at over 40 years of age. Worldwide, such diseases of the respiratory tract are the commonest disease with the fourth highest death rate, and the trend is rising.

COPD increase worldwide
Among the ten most common deaths worldwide, COPD are the only ones whose incidence is still increasing. If left untreated, COPD usually leads to premature death of the person affected. COPD must be understood as a systemic disease that affects the heart, muscles, blood vessels and bones in addition to the respiratory system.

Initially, the disease is characterized by the relatively benign symptom of mucus-laden airways. Especially after getting up, the typical „smoker's cough“, with yellowish, sometimes brownish mucus. During the course of the disease the bronchi narrow continuously. For the time being, the patient only lacks the air during physical exertion or during sports, but over time, climbing stairs is also a pain and later the sufferer has shortness of breath with every step. These three most noticeable symptoms of COPD, discolored sputum, cough and shortness of breath during exercise, are considered in the art „AHA symptoms“ referred to clearly indicate a corresponding disease of the respiratory tract. „Death (as a result of COPD) would be a very unpleasant one - one by suffocation“, emphasized in this context, the Director of the Department of Pulmonology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Dr. med. Tobias Welte.

Smoking as the main cause of the disease
The main cause of COPD, according to experts from the MHH, is still smoking, as nine out of ten patients were or are smokers. The more smoked the higher the risk of COPD. „Already with the first cigarette there is an acute inflammation, which then can become chronic.“, stressed Jens Hohlfeld, pulmonary specialist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine in Hanover and Dr. med. Welte added: „Nothing is so important for COPD patients to stop smoking immediately“. Because this slows down the progress of lung destruction and in some cases even stops it. Those affected feel visible improvement in breathing and the coughing and expectoration of mucus goes back.

Environmental factors also crucial in COPD
While the MHH experts are focused on smoking in their warnings, this is by no means the biggest risk factor for COPD among all professionals. Pollution and its associated exposure to respiratory air is considered by some to be a higher risk of illness than smoking, although it does not take into account passive smoking. For example, high levels of airborne dust particles or biofuel vapor inhalation (two- to six-fold increase in risk) are also extremely damaging to the respiratory tract and may trigger COPD. The high exposure of respiratory air to sulfur dioxide is also directly related to the growing number of „smokers' lungs“.

Treatment difficult - healing not possible
Regardless of the causes, the disease is treatable but not curable. As part of the COPD treatment, patients need to take medication throughout their lives, Dr. Welte, since drug therapy is the only way to counteract episodic respiratory distress attacks. During this acute as „exacerbations“ The seizures usually have a lasting negative impact on their health and the more often they experience a patient, the more advanced the condition and the worse their health.

Even regular hospital stays are not enough. The drugs for COPD patients dilate the bronchi and facilitate breathing significantly, with short-acting bronchodilators are sufficient in the early stages of the disease, but later mostly with long-lasting effective preparations must be worked, according to the execution of the MHH experts. The additional administration of steroids such as cortisone in the form of a spray is therefore also common in severe disease. In addition, experts at the MHH emphasized that, for the first time in a few months, a drug for the underlying inflammation of the lungs was also on the market, which according to clinical studies reduces exacerbations by up to 21 percent and contributes to respiratory recovery.

Prevention through regular sports
Since COPD, as a pre-existing disease, promotes the occurrence of further diseases, which in turn can cause COPD to be relapsing due to acute infections, Dr. Welte the person concerned to be regularly vaccinated against influenza and pneumococci (causative agent of pneumonia). So the diseases would be correspondingly milder and bring no deterioration of COPD. For all concerned, according to Dr. Welte also: „Training is (...) crucial to curb the progression of the disease“, that means physical fitness should be particularly important to the sufferers.

However, due to shortness of breath on exertion, many patients avoid physical activity and thus lose further fitness and muscle mass, which in turn leads to a worsening of the clinical picture. A vicious circle that can only be broken with difficulty. Welte and therefore recommends at least one hour of exercise daily. Any activity that stimulates the cardiovascular system is recommended here. World, because „Couch Potatos die earlier.“ In order to be able to exercise regularly despite a disease, in the opinion of the MHH experts offer medication and targeted breathing training to avoid respiratory distress. (fp, 01.11.2010)

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