It is a condition characterized by obstruction of the airways (the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs) which is not fully reversible. It includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. There is underlying inflammation of the airways, most commonly due to tobacco smoking leading to damage to the lung tissue.

Pulmonary Disease Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease include shortness of breath, chronic cough, excessive phlegm production, wheeze (whistling noise), and chest tightness and reduced exercise tolerance. The patients may also experience tiredness, sleep disturbance and weight loss.

Physical
*Frequent lung infections requiring recurrent hospital admissions
*Respiratory failure
*Right heart failure
*Weight loss

Psychological
*Depression and anxiety
*Stress to carers
 
Social
*Social isolation – due to shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.
*Financial burden – due to frequent hospital admissions and treatments

Pulmonary Disease Treatment

Non drug treatment

*Quit smoking – can get help from quit smoking clinics available in some government clinics.
*Pulmonary rehabilitation – (described below in rehabilitation section)

Drug treatment
*Medications in the form of tablets, inhalers (pump device delivering medicines into the airways) and/or nebulizers (machine delivering medicine in gaseous form) may improve symptoms.
*Oxygen treatment may be required in some cases.
*Antibiotic treatment is usually required in treatment of infection.

Surgery
In selected cases, lung surgery may be required.

Prevention
Stop smoking- nicotine replacement therapy may help administration of vaccines (to prevent recurrence of lung infections) ie. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines.

Rehabilitation
Multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation (by doctors, nurses, physiotherapist, and dietitian) involves exercise, disease management training and nutritional advice to help patients stay active and carry out day to day activities. Assessment by clinical psychologist and medical social worker may be helpful in some cases.