Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or also known by its acronym as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the world, according to the World Health Organization. This is a progressive disease, as it worsens over time causing difficulty in breathing; Furthermore, it is said to be systemic, since apart from affecting the lungs, it involves other organs such as the heart, brain, skin and blood circulation in general. For this reason, at the Ricardo Palma Clinic, we have a staff of expert pulmonologists with the most advanced equipment for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of COPD in Peru. On this occasion, Dr. Miguel Tsukayama, a specialist from our institution, provides us with more information on the subject.

The term COPD encompasses two main diseases:

• Emphysema, a condition in which the alveoli are injured and destroyed
• Chronic bronchitis, inflammation and irritation of the bronchi, characterized by the production of phlegm

Most people with COPD have both of these conditions at the same time.

Causes

The main cause is cigarette smoking. The highest percentage of COPD patients smoke or used to, however, there are people with this disease who never smoked. There are also other important factors such as long-term exposure to wood smoke and air pollution.

Symptoms

Among the main symptoms are:

• Cough with phlegm production
• Wheezing
• Progressive shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest, among others

Prevention

The best way to prevent is:

• Stop smoking at any age
• Avoid the other causal factors
• Exercise
• Have a healthy diet

Treatment

This disease has no cure, so it is important to treat it in time. The pulmonologist will prescribe, after evaluation by x-rays, CT scans and pulmonary function tests, the use of specialized medications by inhalation.

Dr. Miguel Tsukayama
Pulmonologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma