Talking about “the end” when suffering from a disease may connote both positive and negative vibes. Positive when the end means the disease has been obliterated completely and negative when it means that the condition has reached its peak, and all hope for cure is futile. How the word is perceived in terms of medical implications vary, but what does it mean in cases of COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is described as "inflammatory lung disease affecting the airflow from the lungs." It has four stages –mild COPD, moderate COPD, severe COPD, and very severe COPD, which is also known as the end stage.
Image Source: Timeinc.net
Very severe COPD is the fourth stage of the disease. Respiratory failure caused by either low blood oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels and signs of heart failure exist during this stage. This is regarded as the end stage because exacerbations may occur at least three times within the year, leading to the overall health of the patient becoming highly at risk.
Because of the various complications that occur during stage IV COPD, it is said that people die "with" their disease and not from it. Researches show that COPD is not the primary cause of the death, but other medical conditions that a patient also acquires while battling COPD. Lung cancer and heart failure are the usual medical conditions that cause death, and not COPD itself.
Image source: Temple.edu
Studies also show that the condition of COPD may still improve even after reaching the end stage with the help of bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Continuing with proper health care, quitting smoking, and avoiding lung irritants will also greatly help in dealing with the end stage.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon specializes in pulmonary diseases and critical care. For more articles about pulmonary diseases, visit this blog.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is described as "inflammatory lung disease affecting the airflow from the lungs." It has four stages –mild COPD, moderate COPD, severe COPD, and very severe COPD, which is also known as the end stage.
Image Source: Timeinc.net
Very severe COPD is the fourth stage of the disease. Respiratory failure caused by either low blood oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels and signs of heart failure exist during this stage. This is regarded as the end stage because exacerbations may occur at least three times within the year, leading to the overall health of the patient becoming highly at risk.
Because of the various complications that occur during stage IV COPD, it is said that people die "with" their disease and not from it. Researches show that COPD is not the primary cause of the death, but other medical conditions that a patient also acquires while battling COPD. Lung cancer and heart failure are the usual medical conditions that cause death, and not COPD itself.
Image source: Temple.edu
Studies also show that the condition of COPD may still improve even after reaching the end stage with the help of bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Continuing with proper health care, quitting smoking, and avoiding lung irritants will also greatly help in dealing with the end stage.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon specializes in pulmonary diseases and critical care. For more articles about pulmonary diseases, visit this blog.
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