Posts Tagged cause
Symptoms of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It generally defines the conditions which consist of regular difficulty in expelling or exhaling air from the lungs. There are two major forms of COPD: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis consists of a long term cough with mucus. Emphysema is a gradual destruction of the lungs. Most people who have COPD have a combination of these forms because smoking is a major cause of both of them.
The most common symptoms of COPD are a cough with mucus, shortness of breath (dyspnoea) which gets more severe with any mild activity, fatigue, frequently respiratory infections such as colds and influenza, and wheezing. The symptoms of COPD usually develop slowly. This makes it difficult for people to know if they are sick. If people do notice symptoms, they may simply take measures to make their breathing easier, such as taking the elevator instead of the stairs.
For severe forms of COPD, people may experience swelling in their ankles, feet or legs. They may also develop a bluish lip colour due to their low COPD oxygen levels. Other symptoms that sometimes occur in severe forms include weight loss and lower muscle endurance. Weight loss can occur with COPD because of the extra amount of energy that is required for breathing. Additionally, people may develop pulmonary hypertension because the heart muscle is pumping with higher force and pressure to maintain regular blood flow. Some severe forms also result in coughing up blood (haemoptysis), due to the damage of the airways’ inner lining and blood vessels. It is important for people to consult their doctors if they have haemoptysis because sometimes this can be a sign of lung cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
Why Oxygen Saturation Levels Are Important
Oxygen saturation levels are the amount of dissolved oxygen that is being carried though the bloodstream. There are several ways to measure how much oxygen the blood is carrying. Using a non-invasive pulse oximetry device is the quickest and easiest way. Drawing an arterial blood sample for testing is the most accurate way. But, why are these levels influential and when would they need to be measured?
Why We Need to Know
many different illnesses put people at risk for not having enough circulation oxygen in the bloodstream. A person experiencing respiratory difficulty may not be exchanging air properly. This could cause them to retain carbon dioxide or fail to take in sufficient oxygen. Being able to check their saturation levels quickly lets the physician know how their body is handling the illness.
Anaemia is when the body has insufficient red blood cells. It is these red blood cells that carry the oxygen through the blood. Thus, people who are anaemic are also at risk for not having sufficient oxygen in the bloodstream. Mechanical problems such as failing to breathe deeply due to pain or being overly sedated can all restrict the amount of oxygen the body has in circulation. Being able to measure these saturation levels helps physicians treat these illnesses effectively.
How we test
the easiest way to test is using the pulse oximetry. This method uses light waves to measure the saturation levels. It is non-invasive and pain free. Pulse oxygenation can be measured on the finger, toe nail beds or the ear lobes. It can be measured in seconds and will change rapidly as the levels change.
Drawing blood and having it analyzed is more accurate, and can tell the physician a number of other things too. However, this method is extremely painful and takes longer. Usually it takes ten to fifteen minutes to have the blood analyzed. Blood is drawn from the femoral or radial artery. This test can also provide information such as PH balance. Read the rest of this entry »