The hacking cough, echoing through the cubicals at work is most likely a viral bronchitis infection, so stand back and cover your airways. It's not just about not wanting your bronchial passages inflamed for the next six weeks. If you are a smoker, that six weeks can stretch into something like the rest of your life.
Repeated bouts of bronchitis is connected with the development of any type of several chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases of the lungs. Smokers develop this narrowing of the the windpipes in greater numbers than non-smokers no matter how many times they experience bronchitis.
How Dangerous is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is expected to be “killer number three,” worldwide by 2020, as a result of the increased number of smokers and the shift in populations from agricultural areas to the cities. The 2007 economic toll of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the US ran over $42 billion.
Although the primary cause of COPD is tobacco smoking, this is not the only cause. Occupation can play a big part in the likelihood of developing the tell-tale bark. Inhalation of industrial dusts, fumes, and chemicals while working can promote the airflow obstruction as well.
Smokers that work in mining, welding, or textile industries have much higher risks of developing the condition overall.
While the hacking cough is a auditory symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the actual diagnosis is made with spirometry. This test measures the force and volume of an exhale after a large inhale. In COPD, the amount of air expelled is less than normal for a person the same age and gender and physical characteristics.
The severity of the disease is obtained by combining the degree of breathlessness experienced, the extent of exercise limited by breathing difficulty, and the spirometry results.
How to Get Rid of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has no cure. It is treatable through the use of a variety of drugs and some behavior modification. The first line of treatment is smoking cessation. Breathing treatments and rescue inhalers reduce symptoms. Supplemental oxygen, surgery, and pulmonary rehabilitation are used as needed to manage COPD.
Infections are the cause of at least half of the disease's acute flare ups. Influenza and pneumonia vaccinations are preventative measures against exacerbations. Long acting anticholinergics, corticosteroids and theophylline are used to reduce flare ups.
Even with aggressive, pro-active treatments, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease slowly gets worse over time. Avoiding coworkers with the barking cough is a good move if you suffer from COPD.
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References:
NIH
National Cancer Institute
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