Why pink puffer

Do you smoke or have you ever smoked cigarettes? Do you spend a lot of time with people who smoke? Do you get respiratory infections frequently?

COPD encompasses several diseases — mainly chronic bronchitis and emphysema — and is the fourth leading cause of death in America. If you experience COPD symptoms, talk to your doctor about spirometry testing; it is as easy as blowing up a balloon and can go a long way in helping you breathe better.

This simple, non-invasive test measures the amount of air you can breathe out in a short period of time, shows how well your lungs are working and helps your doctor determine the appropriate level of treatment, if necessary. A spirometry test is the only test that can confirm COPD. Early detection can help make managing the disease much easier. Other causes of COPD include second-hand or environmental smoke, asthma, prolonged exposure to dust and chemicals, frequent respiratory infections, or a rare genetic condition, according to the National Lung Health Education Program.

The best way to help prevent COPD is not to smoke. Although both affect the lungs, they are different conditions and need different treatments. Diminished breath sounds on auscultation: Hyperinflation of alveoli and destruction of alveolar architecture causes decreased airway resistance.

Copious sputum production : High amount of sputum produced by the goblet cells. See Pathogenesis above. Cough: Irritation of the cough receptors, by the mucous, in the smaller and the large airways. Wheezy on auscultation: Due to airway obstruction. Rhonchi is a gurgling sound that may be heard due to mucus hypersecretion in the airways.

N Engl J Med. Several studies have shown some link between bacterial colonization of the upper and the lower airways of patients and acute exacerbations of COPD. Furthermore, exacerbations seem to coincide with the rise in acute respiratory viral infections influenza, parovirus etc.

These neutrophils, along with other immune cells secrete proteases and other media that further inflame the airways and destroy bronchial epithelium , leading to a clinical exacerbation. It is the single most effective and important intervention in COPD. Inhaled anticholinergics e. Long-acting bronchodilators are preferred over short-acting ones because of fewer doses and improved symptom management. Inhaled corticosteroids are not used for the treatment of COPD exacerbations; however, have been used in the long-term treatment of COPD in a minority of patients with stable COPD who demonstrate frequent exacerbations and bronchodilator reversibility.

Systemic corticosteroids are recommended to be used during an acute exacerbation requiring hospitalization. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Oxygen therapy is frequently provided along with pharmacological interventions to treat underlying hypoxemia in COPD patients. By reducing hypoxia in the alveoli, pulmonary vasoconstriction is reduced.

Reducing pulmonary hypertension lowers right heart afterload, and improves right heart systolic function. Oxygen also reduces hypoxemia in the blood, which reduces the risk of developing polycythemia. The goal of pulmonary rehabilitation is to improve quality of life and daily functioning in COPD patients.

KevinDavitt Moderator. Alesandra Bevilacqua Admin. Thank you for sharing your findings with us. Wishing you well today! Barbara Moore Moderator. Lots of people still use these outdated terms because of what doc's have said to them many years ago.

This is truly a 'blast from the past'. Good to see this aged terminology again Are we showing our age??? I actually got the idea when a friend who just graduated RT school gave me all his RT books. All my books are dated from the s, so I needed some updated versions. And, believe it or not, there it was in all it's glory: blue bloater.

I was actually surprised to see it in a new edition. Site Moderator. I guess they keep it in for more of an historical perspective. All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions.

Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later comment 6 Reactions 0 reactions. Blue bloaters Blue bloater is a generalized term referring to a person who is blue and overweight. Pink puffers Pink puffer is a generalized term for a person who is thin, breathing fast and is pink. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis It is now understood that most people with COPD have a combination of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Sign up for emails from COPD. Comments 2 comments. Article Interpreting Oxygen Levels Reactions 0 reactions. Comments 18 comments. This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.