Thelansis

  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Many people suffer from this disease for years and die prematurely from it or its complications. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the world and further increases in its prevalence and mortality can be predicted in the coming decades. Chronic inflammation causes structural changes and narrowing of the small airways. Destruction of the lung parenchyma, also by inflammatory processes, leads to the loss of alveolar attachments to the small airways and decreases lung elastic recoil; in turn, these changes diminish the ability of the airways to remain open during expiration. The airflow limitation is best measured by spirometry, as this is the most widely available, reproducible test of lung function. The impact of COPD on an individual patient depends not just on the degree of airflow limitation, but also on the severity of symptoms. There is only an imper...