end stage copd Article

Cigarette smoking has been strongly linked to health conditions like heart disease and lung cancer. Other than these two dreaded disease, heavy smoking may also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition causes inflammation and damages the small airways of the lung tissue and may cause breathing difficulties. is usually a combination of two similar conditions: chronic bronchitis and chronic emphysema. Because cigarette smoking is the major cause of these two conditions, they often occur together in the same person. damage is progressive and permanent and has become one of the fastest-growing health problems. It has become the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is responsible for more than 96,000 deaths annually. Because of these health conditions the need to quit smoking has become more important than ever. Understanding is essential in encouraging smokers to quit this dreaded and potentially fatal habit.

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is caused by inhaling bronchial irritants like cigarette smoke, chemical fumes, air pollution, and environmental irritants like mold or dust. Cigarette smoke may increase the risk for infection because it damages the cilia or the small hair-like projections that protect the lungs from bacteria and other foreign particles out of the lungs. This disease develops slowly, middle aged and older individuals have heightened risks of getting diagnosed with bronchitis. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis may include wheezing, expectorating cough, chest pains, and persistent fatigue.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic respiratory disease that is characterized by the enlargement of the alveoli or air sacks. Emphysema may reduce the elasticity of the lungs and may result in the collapse of the bronchioles, the first airway that no longer contain cartilage. As this happens, air cannot leave the alveoli therefore hampering the function of the lungs. The lungs may lose their ability to shrink during exhalation. Reduced exhalation may also reduce the amount of air that is inhaled. Because of this condition, waste air is not easily removed from the lungs and oxygen-rich air is not restored. Individuals with emphysema may have a hard time breathing and oftentimes gasp for air. Emphysema is most common on individuals aged 50 and older and may occur with other respiratory disease like bronchitis.

Causes and symptoms of may include the following:

Lifestyle. Cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for

Alzheimer's disease: The best bets for prevention, so far
It's uncurable and will strike 1 in 8 of us. So do your part by eating the right kind of diet and keeping your body and brain engaged. <br/><br/> The audience wasn't happy. Its members &#8212; private citizens, healthcare professionals and advocates for the elderly &#8212; had gathered to hear a report on how to prevent Alzheimer's; instead, they were told that, in fact, nothing has been proved to keep the disease at bay. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z8RnhkPlXhhev9FHMX0wdhPVhYw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z8RnhkPlXhhev9FHMX0wdhPVhYw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z8RnhkPlXhhev9FHMX0wdhPVhYw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z8RnhkPlXhhev9FHMX0wdhPVhYw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/Sa-MQxawb3A" height="1" width="1"/>
Resources for Alzheimer's patients and caregivers
For basic information on Alzheimer's disease, including the latest research developments, go to the website of the National Institute on Aging . <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y1bbmVdg9SZLKlCggpL4A2Q1G74/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y1bbmVdg9SZLKlCggpL4A2Q1G74/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y1bbmVdg9SZLKlCggpL4A2Q1G74/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y1bbmVdg9SZLKlCggpL4A2Q1G74/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/qYpF3UEyJdI" height="1" width="1"/>
Studies target amyloid plaques and tau tangles
For a long time now, scientists studying treatments for Alzheimer's disease have focused on telltale plaques that appear in patients' diseased brains as a target for therapy. The plaques are clumps of a small protein called beta-amyloid that build up in the space around nerve cells and interfere with normal brain function. Thus, the thinking goes, if plaques can be prevented from forming or cleared with medicine, the disease could be slowed. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wRimKi684jDxBA7DCC3i21QsLOA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wRimKi684jDxBA7DCC3i21QsLOA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wRimKi684jDxBA7DCC3i21QsLOA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wRimKi684jDxBA7DCC3i21QsLOA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/h7KTuepA11Q" height="1" width="1"/>
Alzheimer's Assn. Graduation Club copes together
The program allows diagnosed patients to socialize with others who understand. <br/><br/> Leaning forward in his chair, Bob Patterson, 64, addresses a small group of his peers seated around a conference table. "You want to fill each day with something that's relevant," he says. "Live like it's the last day of your life, whether you have a disease or not." <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NF6AbbzHru9l17GiQMpVoELNU_Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NF6AbbzHru9l17GiQMpVoELNU_Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NF6AbbzHru9l17GiQMpVoELNU_Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/NF6AbbzHru9l17GiQMpVoELNU_Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/skrV7g3kcrk" height="1" width="1"/>
Help for Alzheimer's caregivers
Government and private organizations can aid those taking care of a loved one or seeking a facility. <br/><br/> If you're caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, you're in plenty of company. Nearly 11 million people take care of the 5.3 million Americans with the disease, a number that's expected to grow to almost 16 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Assn. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E95ixDhe1_KLb3yIUTz2biBpv4A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E95ixDhe1_KLb3yIUTz2biBpv4A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E95ixDhe1_KLb3yIUTz2biBpv4A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E95ixDhe1_KLb3yIUTz2biBpv4A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/WNFwbh1R77Q" height="1" width="1"/>
Prescription drugs for Alzheimer's disease
Five medications have been approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The drugs can reduce some symptoms &#8212; such as difficulties with memory, language, attention and reasoning &#8212; especially in the early stages of the disease. They can, accordingly, improve quality of life, but they don't work for everyone, and none of them works permanently. Eventually the disease will overtake the drugs' ability to compensate. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/P7zseKU9WJKptKTi02rXI1r2CEo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/P7zseKU9WJKptKTi02rXI1r2CEo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/P7zseKU9WJKptKTi02rXI1r2CEo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/P7zseKU9WJKptKTi02rXI1r2CEo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/tuD9i6WAOqk" height="1" width="1"/>
My Turn: The hand that rocks the cradle can shake up the diet
I have always loved helping people achieve their fitness goals, whatever they may be. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/j42sqYDAff7kBLg72N5fjIyukb4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/j42sqYDAff7kBLg72N5fjIyukb4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/j42sqYDAff7kBLg72N5fjIyukb4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/j42sqYDAff7kBLg72N5fjIyukb4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/xDjrLPZ9umQ" height="1" width="1"/>
Sniffing device may help the severely disabled communicate
For those unable to move or speak, a new mechanism using nasal breath control is shown to help them write and guide a wheelchair. A patent is being pursued. <br/><br/> The severely disabled, including those "locked in" to their bodies as a result of accidents or disease, may soon have a new way to communicate and move around, Israeli scientists said Monday. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/48gRux6IU_kJ4k13Q3Ue1nAaqN4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/48gRux6IU_kJ4k13Q3Ue1nAaqN4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/48gRux6IU_kJ4k13Q3Ue1nAaqN4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/48gRux6IU_kJ4k13Q3Ue1nAaqN4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/hJv9eWvakPs" height="1" width="1"/>
Effect of call-based counseling ringing true
Hospitals and clinics have been showing success with therapy by phone. One study even finds it can help cancer patients. <br/><br/> The therapist-patient relationship is crucial to people battling depression, addiction, weight gain and diabetes. But that relationship might not always have to be in person to be effective. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Wg0Alg9qyHKsqzy3dSgZaAu6mM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Wg0Alg9qyHKsqzy3dSgZaAu6mM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Wg0Alg9qyHKsqzy3dSgZaAu6mM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Wg0Alg9qyHKsqzy3dSgZaAu6mM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/gYCPbPKhEcQ" height="1" width="1"/>
Pantry Raid: Vegan doesn't necessarily mean healthy
They try to avoid animal products. But that doesn't mean the busy couple won't run to a fast-food outlet or snack on potato chips when pressed. <br/><br/> Every so often, we take a candid look at the private dietary lives of people whose food choices need a makeover. Up this week: the kitchen and dining habits of 22-year-old Jessica Watson and her boyfriend, 31-year-old Todd Preboski. <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/s2k8XXRnJ739C6FUs2hMeuk0qpo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/s2k8XXRnJ739C6FUs2hMeuk0qpo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/s2k8XXRnJ739C6FUs2hMeuk0qpo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/s2k8XXRnJ739C6FUs2hMeuk0qpo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/latimes/features/health/~4/5UPxCCihjC0" height="1" width="1"/>

COPD and accounts for at least 80% of all cases. Cigar and pipe smoking can also cause COPD. Air pollution and industrial dust and fumes are the known air pollutants that worsen the ailment.
Age. Chronic bronchitis is more common in people over 40 years old; emphysema occurs more often in people 65 years of age and older.
Socioeconomic class. COPD-related deaths are about twice as high among unskilled and semi-skilled laborers as among professionals.
Family clustering. It is thought that heredity predisposes people in certain families to the development of when other causes, such as smoking and air pollution, are present.
Lung infections that can either be viral or bacterial.

Treatment for is dependent on the patient's condition and the severity of the disease. With a health program that involves respiratory care, disability and other symptoms can be prevented and therefore reducing the occurrence of early deaths. However, no treatments are proven to cure this disease. Certain treatments are only designed to alleviate symptoms and increase survival rate.

Rather than focusing on the cure, lifestyle changes that may prevent the development of should be emphasized. The occurrence of may be prevented if individuals who smoke quit smoking, maintain good nutrition, drink lots of fluids, maintain proper weight, and exercise. Understanding the health risks of of are essential in making smokers quit smoking.