Education: Lung Disorders

Many people use oxygen therapy. Some use it temporarily, to treat injuries or acute infections to their lungs. Other people need it to treat chronic diseases. This website is dedicated to people living with a disease that requires them to use or consider using oxygen. There are four specific disease categories that we will focus on:

» Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
» Alpha 1
» Cystic Fibrosis
» Asthma

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This is the overall name for emphysema, bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, or a combination of these conditions. They are chronic, because they don't ever seem to really go away, and obstructive, because they prevent you from exhaling properly. COPD is the most common reason why people have to start using oxygen.

Emphysema is a condition where the air sacs in your lungs are damaged and destroyed. This prevents you from getting enough oxygen into your blood, and from releasing enough carbon dioxide from your blood and back into your lungs to be exhaled. As a result, air becomes trapped in your lungs and causes you to cough. Often the coughing is so strong and repetitive that your bronchi can collapse and air and mucus can become trapped in the air sacs.

Bronchitis and Chronic Bronchitis consist of a recurring cough with high mucus production that lasts for several months. It becomes chronic when it continues over a period of a few years due to continued exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution, and other kinds of infections. The first sign of chronic bronchitis is a persistent morning cough that seems to never go away.

It is estimated that 16 million people in the United States suffer from some form of COPD.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha 1)

This is a genetic disorder, and is usually inherited from your parents. It manifests itself as a condition that falls under the COPD category, with the same symptoms (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc). Alpha 1 is a disease in which your body can't make enough of a certain protein that protects your lungs when you are fighting infections. As a result, when your body attacks germs and infections, it also attacks your lung tissue, which leads to irreversible damage. Treatment involves regular injections of the missing protein. Some scientists believe that Alpha 1 may affect 25 million Americans.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is another genetic disorder in which the body produces abnormally thick and sticky mucus. This can clog your lungs, pancreas, and liver, leading to very serious complications and organ damage. In the past, people with CF were not expected to live past their 30's, but new treatments have improved that prognosis greatly. 30,000 people in the US are diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

Asthma

Asthma Another chronic disease, Asthma is a disorder where your airways are extremely sensitive to allergens such as smoke and dust, or to infections. As a result, your airways can suddenly constrict and tighten, making the passages much smaller. You feel like you can't breathe. People with asthma have their own unique triggers that make this happen. It's important to know what those triggers are, so you can stay clear of them whenever possible. There are many treatments, but it never fully goes away. It is estimated that more than 17 million people in this country suffer from asthma.

Testing

Your doctor will probably start by examining your medical history and giving you a complete physical, including a basic breathing test. If it appears you may be suffering from COPD or another chronic illness of the lungs, he or she will probably use a breathing test called spirometry.

Spirometry

This test quite simply measures how much air your lungs are capable of breathing out at once, and how long it takes to do it. It's easy, painless, and the quickest way to find out if you may have COPD. Your doctor will ask you to blow as hard as you can into a machine called a spirometer, and the machine will calculate the results. This test is very sensitive, and can detect lung problems very early, so it's important to have the test at the first sign of not feeling quite right.

For people suffering from asthma, your doctor will probably test you using a Peak Flow Meter. This simple handheld device measures airflow from your lungs in one large burst. In most cases, your doctor will ask you to continue to use a peak flow meter every day as part of your asthma control regimen.