Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC)

If you would like to see more scientifically accurate 3D medical images, please subscribe to our channel:    / nucleushealthvideose   MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the gradual loss of the ability to breathe effectively. Normally, when you inhale, air moves freely through the trachea, then passes through large tubes called bronchi to smaller tubes called bronchioles, and finally reaches tiny air sacs called alveoli. Tiny blood vessels called capillaries surround the alveoli. Oxygen from the air you breathe passes into the capillaries, and then carbon dioxide from your body passes from the capillaries into the alveoli so that your lungs can get rid of it when you exhale. Normally, the airways and alveoli are flexible and elastic. When you inhale, each air sac inflates like a small balloon, and when you exhale, the sacs deflate. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD; however, it can also be caused by prolonged exposure to other lung irritants such as air pollution, chemical fumes, dust, and smoke from other sources. If you have COPD, you have the two main conditions that make up the disease: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the airways and alveoli lose their shape and become flabby, which reduces the flow of air in and out. Emphysema destroys some of the walls of the air sacs, resulting in fewer large sacs and less surface area to absorb oxygen from the air you breathe. Over time, these changes can block normal airflow, resulting in a condition called air trapping. This means that some air gets trapped in your lungs when you exhale. Air trapping causes a condition called pulmonary hyperinflation, meaning your lungs are excessively filled with air. Pulmonary hyperinflation weakens the diaphragm, a muscle that helps you breathe, causing it to flatten. A flatter, weaker diaphragm can't contract as well, making it harder to breathe. Symptoms of emphysema include wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. With chronic bronchitis, damage inside the airways causes the lining to swell, thicken, and produce mucus. A persistent cough develops as the body tries to get rid of the extra mucus. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a continuous cough that produces a lot of mucus, shortness of breath, and frequent respiratory infections. The lung damage caused by COPD cannot be reversed, and there is no cure for the disease. However, treatment can slow its progression and help you feel better. The most common treatments are: quitting smoking, using inhaled medications to open the airways and reduce swelling, antibiotics for bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection, oxygen therapy for patients with advanced COPD and very low blood oxygen levels, and surgery, such as a bulectomy or lung volume reduction surgery to remove non-functioning alveoli. The best way to prevent COPD is to not smoke; and if you already smoke, quitting reduces your chance of developing COPD. You can also limit your exposure to chemicals, fumes, and dust that can cause COPD. If you have any questions about COPD, talk to your healthcare provider. ANH12080es