COPD and Oxygen Therapy

Chronic respiratory diseases (mainly COPD), cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, malignant tumors, and diabetes are called the "Four Major Chronic Diseases" by the World Health Organization. COPD is also the "fourth leading cause of death in humans", second only to heart disease, stroke, and acute lung infections. COPD has become the "third leading cause of death" in China and ranked second among all causes of death in men. COPD has a high prevalence, high morbidity, high disability, high fatality, high economic burden rate, and low awareness ,which are called the "five high and one low" in China. Not only does the mortality rate rank first in the world, but the prevalence of COPD among people aged 40 and above is also the highest in the world, and this prevalence rate has been increasing over the years.

Winter is coming again, and beware of COPD attacks or acute exacerbations when the weather suddenly becomes cold. Therefore, it is imperative to improve people’s awareness of COPD, thus to actively prevent it and receive early diagnosis, early intervention, and early treatment. 

COPD is a serious respiratory disease, which includes chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, etc. Because these diseases cause varying degrees of airway obstruction and breathing distress, they are collectively referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short, and COPD in English.

The pathogenic factors of COPD include individual susceptibility and environmental causes, which influence each other. It is now considered that the more specific individual susceptibility factor is α1-antitrypsin deficiency, and the most important environmental factor is smoking. In addition, exposure to occupational and chemical substances (smoke particles from burning firewood and charcoal, allergens, industrial air, and indoor polluted air, etc.) are also considered main factors.

Therefore, the morbidity and mortality of the disease are relatively high in rural area. The risk factors for COPD are also related to the large amount of oil fume produced during cooking and the smoke and dust produced by fuel; The majority of women’s illnesses are related to the long-term use of firewood for cooking and poor ventilation in the kitchen. Some are related to the long-term smoking of their husband.

In fact, there are many factors that cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. So far, there are still many factors that are not clear enough and need to be further studied.

If the condition of COPD is not well controlled, it will show a continuous and irreversible progressive development, usually from bronchitis and bronchial asthma to emphysema, and then to pulmonary heart disease. Cor pulmonale is often attacked by acute infections, which could lead to heart failure, lung failure,and at this time, if rescue is not timely, it is easy to cause death.

In patients with COPD, on the one hand, due to the contraction of the trachea and bronchi and the secretion in the lumen increases, obstruction of the airway and poor breathing easily occurs; on the other hand, due to the massive destruction of the small bronchi and alveoli, the ventilation function is obstructed; The above two aspects directly lead to the body’s hypoxia for a long time.

Oxygen inhalation can prevent further development of the disease and prolong life: Medical research shows that the life expectancy of COPD patients who insist on home oxygen therapy every day is significantly longer than that of COPD patients who have not received home oxygen therapy.

Oxygen inhalation can improve the immunity of the whole body and parts of the respiratory tract, reduce the occurrence of acute respiratory infection and avoid acute lung function and heart failure.

Statistics of medical data show that after COPD patients getting home oxygen therapy, the number of emergency medical visits and the average number of hospitalization days due to respiratory complications has been significantly reduced, at the same time, their condition is also mild, and medications are reduced, which can avoid long-term hospitalization, Accordingly, problems such as the economic burdens and the trouble of taking care of patients can be reduced.

Oxygen inhalation can improve the quality of life of patients. For instance, patents who originally have shortness of breath after some activity and patients who cannot take care of themselves , can go downstairs for themselves after a period of home oxygen therapy. The shortness of breath is relieved, the mental condition is improved, the activity ability is enhanced, and the quality of life is obvious improved.