When you have COPD your airways may be narrowed and you will have to work harder to maintain the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance as you breathe in and out. If you have emphysema the alveoli (air sacs) in the lung are damaged and oxygen and carbon dioxide may become trapped in the lungs. This […]
GREEN AMBER! RED!! If you have COPD you are more likely to suffer from chest infections. Recognising the warning signs of infection is an important step in getting help quickly to reduce the impact before an infection can take hold. With every infection there is a risk that further damage will be done to the […]
Diagnosis and tests Smoking Inhalers Nebulisers and oxygen Daily living
This animation shows the long term effect of smoking which can lead to emphysema. Repeated irritation by smoke causes inflammation and leaves chemical deposits in the very delicate and vulnerable alveoli. Eventually the thin cell walls in the alveoli are destroyed. This is where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged so breathing becomes much harder. […]
Please note there is no audio for this animation. In emphysema exposure to an irritant over many years causes an inflammation in the lungs which causes the following changes: Loss of elasticity of the lungs. These changes cause the air sacs (alveoli) to close before you have fully exhaled. As a result, air gets trapped […]
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a term that is used to describe a mixture of lung conditions. These conditions include: Chronic bronchitis which is a narrowing of the airway. Emphysema which is due to damage to the delicate alveoli (air sacs). A mix of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. However, people will have different symptoms and experiences […]
