COPD: Pathophysiology and Diagnosis

Developed and produced for www.MDPracticeG..., a CME resource for physicians and healthcare providers.
Animation Description: Cigarette smoking is by far the most common primary risk factor of COPD worldwide.
According to global statistics, approximately 210 million people have COPD.
By 2030, COPD is predicted to be the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
Epithelial cells lining the airways will respond to smoke inhalation by undergoing cellular changes due to long-term exposure.
Over time, chronic irritation and inflammation of the air passages causes small airways disease and parenchymal destruction.
Irritation and inflammation of the air passages causes constriction in the bronchi and bronchioles of the lung.
In a healthy individual, standing at rest at the foot of a staircase while breathing normally, lung volume is well balanced in terms of:
- IRV (Inspirational Reserve Volume);
- VT (Tidal Volume);
- FRC (Functional Residual Capacity).
In the severe COPD patient, lung function is extremely imbalanced with only a tiny capacity for IRV. A patient with severe COPD has a very difficult time managing everyday tasks such as stair climbing.
(Spirometry test) The patient is asked to inhale and then forcefully exhale until the lungs are completely emptied via a tube attached to a recording device.
The most important values from the spirometry readings are FEV1 and FVC.
If the ratio of these values is less than 0.7 then COPD is suspected. More detailed results from spirometry can reveal the stage of COPD in the patient.

[@GoldCoyote14]

I chose this video for my school presentation it was really helpful

[@stemcelltreatment]

The most common symptom we see in cases with mild COPD are exertional dyspnea that may or may not come with chronic cough. COPD is a treatable disease and this video goes a long way in helping to educate.

[@alwayslovelytc5932]

Thanks

[@StreetDancer171]

Cheers, video was rather simple so not very useful for a medical student but I bet it does the job well for other purposes

[@kamalkhalif7249]

Very helpful

[@kasandrachristina411]

thanks!

[@paulysmallz8095]

I just got diagnosed with copd and small airway disease and it sucks

[@ThisunaMapa]

Hope you're well Paul, plenty of exercise and lifestyle choices and stuff you can make to hopefully help manage your diagnosis, sending my well wishes mate!

[@caribaez5711]

I can see what is pathophysiology.

[@rehulinatarigan8528]

Excellent to education our patients. Thank you so much

[@Hobbes_the_cat]

thank you!

[@drbelief6296]

useful. thanks

[@faisalmohammed8388]

Great

[@stemcelltreatment]

The most common symptom we see in cases with mild COPD are exertional dyspnea that may or may not come with chronic cough. COPD is a treatable disease and this video goes a long way in helping to educate.