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UNHEALTHY AIRWAY
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How COPD Affects the Respiratory System
The chronic exposure to irritants leading up to the
development of COPD causes the airway to become
infl amed and obstructs the otherwise eff ortless
passage of air. Airway obstruction eventually causes
more and more air to become trapped in the lungs
during exhalation. This trapped air hyperinfl ates the
lungs and then limits the amount of air that can be
inhaled. Air trapping continues over time and the
volume of air left in the lungs after a normal breath
increases. This is why individuals with COPD often
experience shortness of breath during strenuous
exercise. The chronic irritation also causes the tissues
of the lungs, especially the alveoli, to lose their
elastic property — otherwise known as ‘compliance.’
In addition to reduced elasticity, COPD results
in a dangerous combination of overproduction of
mucus and a reduced ability to clear it. This will
lead to excessive coughing and diffi culty breathing.
This means that it will be diffi cult for air to reach
the alveoli to complete the gas exchange, and the
saturation of oxygen in the blood will decrease. There
is currently no known cure, but there are treatments
that can slow the progression of the disease, so it is
vital to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms,
and see your doctor regularly. ●
ARTACares is provided by HumanaCare, an Alberta-
based health and wellness provider with more than
thirty-fi ve years of Canadian health care experience:
ec.myworklifeportal.com/index.html.
This article took information from several
reliable websites including HealthLine.com, the
Canadian Institute for Health Information (cihi.ca),
MedicineNet.com, AlbertaHealthServices.ca, and
VeryWellHealth.com.
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