The winter is slowly spreading across the country. The year 2020 will be remembered by the whole world as a year of extremes. Mankind’s fight against the Corona or Covid-19 virus is not over yet. With the onset of winter, Bangladesh, like the rest of the world, has begun to see an increase in the number of coronary heart disease patients. But keep in mind that despite the coronavirus, there are a number of other respiratory illnesses in the human body, which are less common throughout the year but increase in both the prevalence and severity in winter. Chronic respiratory problems or COPD is one of them. Another common cause of shortness of breath is asthma, but it is important to distinguish between COPD and asthma. There are several differences between the causes of these two diseases and the treatment.

What is COPD?

COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a type of respiratory problem that is usually chronic and progressing. If a person with this disease does not get proper treatment, his lung function gradually decreases. He suffered from various physical complications including shortness of breath. There are many possible causes for COPD, but smoking is the main one.

Why?

It is difficult to pinpoint a specific cause of COPD. Congenital, habitual, and environmental factors all contribute to a person’s COPD. Long-term smoking is a major cause of COPD. But there are other factors that can contribute to COPD.

• Use of fossil fuels for various purposes including cooking.
• Air pollution.
• Suffering from dust and air pollution for professional reasons.
• Recurrent lung infections since childhood.
• Malnutrition and low birth weight.

Is bronchitis and COPD one?

Traditionally, COPD can be divided into two parts.

1. Chronic bronchitisCough that lasts for 2 teaspoons or more per day and lasts for 2 years or more in a row, then it is called chronic bronchitis.

2. EmphysemaEmphysema is some qualitative change in the airways and lungs. As a result, the patient suffers from chronic shortness of breath.

Therefore, bronchitis is a part of COPD. In most cases, patients with COPD present these two types of problems together.

How to understand?

If a person 40 years of age or older has the following symptoms:

Shortness of breathOccurs almost all the time and throughout the year, increases with some walking and physical exertion, and the severity and persistence of shortness of breath increases with age.

Chronic coughmay be dry or may be accompanied by cough and phlegm.

Consider:

• Long-term smoking habits
• Use of fossil fuels for cooking or cooking in a wood stove (especially for women).
• Suffering from air pollution due to occupational or environmental reasons.
• Whether there is a family history of respiratory distress, congenital low birth weight, or recurrent lung infections from an early age.

Experimentation

Chest X-rayEarly stage X-ray examination of the patient’s chest to find out if he has COPD. However, the patient’s history and physical examination results have to be combined.

SpirometryThis test is done to be sure about COPD. In addition, spirostry tests provide an idea of ​​the patient’s lung function and the severity of the disease. At present, various public and private hospitals have this test system. Apart from this some more tests are done in some situations. Such as determining the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, the ability to do physical work, etc.

Treatment

By treating a patient with COPD, the patient’s symptoms, the severity of the disease, and previous treatment, especially the history of hospitalization য় are combined into four groups. The treatment is then determined according to the patient’s group. The most commonly used drugs include:

• Different types of inhalers, whose main function is to keep air circulation in the airways and lungs normal.
• Antibiotics as needed
• Cough liquid medicine
• Lung exercises or pulmonary rehabilitation – which is effective
• Sometimes long-term oxygen therapy, which the patient can take at home

When will you be admitted to the hospital?

COPD patients usually have problems with vomiting and shortness of breath throughout the year. It is possible to control COPD by using regular inhalers and taking necessary medicines. But sometimes the patient needs to be hospitalized. Especially in the following cases:

• If the patient has shortness of breath and cough, such as shortness of breath at rest
• If there is water on the feet or if the lips, tongue and fingers are blue
• After a few days the severity of the disease increased
• In the case of the elderly
• If there is not enough service at home

Ways to stay free from COPD

COPD is a lifelong illness. So it is important to prevent COPD before it occurs. And the best way to prevent COPD is to quit smoking altogether. People who have been smoking for a long time also start to get the benefits of quitting smoking.

The role of vaccines

People with COPD who are 65 years of age or older, as well as those who have minor lung complications, diabetes and kidney problems, can take influenza and pneumonia vaccines at regular intervals, as advised by a doctor. This type of vaccine greatly reduces the risk of recurrent lung infections and the development of severe COPD.

Corona and COPD

The severity of COPD naturally increases during the winter season. In addition, coronary heart disease increases the risk of COPD. Therefore, the lungs of people with COPD are already less functional. Complications and risk of death in COPD patients with coronary heart disease; Both increase. Therefore, people suffering from COPD should be careful not to get infected with corona. In addition, if a person suffering from COPD does not have corona, immediate action should be taken for his treatment and hospitalization if necessary.

Dr. Gautam Sen, Chest Specialist, National Chest Diseases Institute & Hospital & Consultant, Universal Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka
Prothom Alo, 16 December 2020