The respiratory system is a group of organs that work together to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide as you breathe. When you breathe in, oxygen-rich air goes down your windpipe and into small tubes located in your lungs. These tubes are called bronchial tubes or airways. They branch off into numerous tinier and thinner tubes known as bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are small, round air sacs called alveoli, which are surrounded by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. When air enters the alveoli, oxygen moves through the capillaries and into the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide moves from the capillaries into the alveoli so you can breathe it out.
Your respiratory system ages as you do, and these functions gradually decline over time. Similar to the other muscles in your body, the muscles that support your breathing become weaker. The weakening of these muscles can prevent you from inhaling and exhaling enough air. As a result, you may start breathing more shallowly to compensate, especially if you’re ill or in pain. Your lungs also become stiffer as you get older, causing them to expand and contract less easily. This can make it even more difficult to breathe. Additionally, certain changes occur in the nervous system that make coughing less effective. When you can’t clear the mucus from your lungs through coughing, large amount of particles can accumulate in the airways.
所有这些与年龄相关的变化都会导致对呼吸道感染的敏感性增加，例如肺炎和流感。您可能还会注意到运动的耐力较弱或进行强烈运动的能力降低，例如跑步和骑自行车。但是，即使您的年龄，您也应该能够在没有太多麻烦的情况下进行正常活动。
在健康的人中，这些与年龄有关的变化很少导致症状。重要的是，肺部与年龄相关的变化使心脏和肺部疾病的作用增加，尤其是由于吸烟的破坏性作用而引起的。
If you’re having more serious problems with your breathing, such as constant coughing and wheezing, you may have a condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases, includingemphysemaandchronic bronchitis。这种情况通常是由于吸烟或暴露于二手烟而引起的。但是，随着时间的流逝，暴露于其他肺刺激物（例如空气污染和化学烟雾）也可能有助于COPD的发展。
患有COPD的人呼吸困难，因为较少的空气流入和流出气道。这可能是出于以下一个或多个原因而发生的：
- 肺，气道和空气囊失去了弹性。
- The walls between the air sacs are destroyed.
- The walls of the airways thicken and become swollen.
- 气道比平常产生的粘液更多，这可能会堵塞气道。
COPDcan severely limit your ability to engage in the types of physical activities you enjoy. It can even limit your ability to perform basic daily tasks, such as showering or cleaning the house.
COPD的常见症状包括：
- persistent cough that produces a lot of mucus
- 呼吸急促，尤其是在运动期间
- 呼吸时的声音
- 胸部紧绷
这些症状并不是衰老过程的自然部分。因此，重要的是要看医生，如果您开始出现类似的症状。尽快接受治疗至关重要，因为COPD会导致严重的并发症。一旦疾病发展，您的症状可能会变得更糟。如果您遇到以下症状，则应立即去急诊室：
- difficulty talking or breathing
- 蓝色或灰色指甲或嘴唇
- lack of mental alertness
- 心跳非常快
Getting treatment at the first sign of COPD symptoms can significantly improve your outlook and overall quality of life. Though there is no cure for COPD, there are treatments that can help you to breathe better and remain more active. Treatment in the early stages of COPD can even slow down the progression of the disease.
When you visit your doctor, they will first ask about your symptoms and perform a physical examination. They may also order a chest X-ray or CT scan of your lungs. These imaging tests can show signs of COPD and help your doctor rule out other possible conditions.
In most cases, however, your doctor will use a肺活量测定测试诊断慢性阻塞性肺病。在这个测试中,你的呼吸forcefully as you can into a mouthpiece attached to a spirometer. This is a handheld device that measures how quickly you can move air out of your lungs and how much air is expelled. As you age, the amount of air you can expel from your lungs decreases. However, the air you can expel is reduced even more in COPD. Your doctor will know the difference.
有时，您的医生可能会将您转介给被称为肺科医生的专家，以进行更广泛的测试。
If you’re diagnosed with COPD, your doctor will most likely give you medications to help with your breathing. These may include:
- 支气管扩张剂
- corticosteroids
- 抗焦虑药
- opioids
Your doctor will also recommend that you make certain lifestyle adjustments along with medical treatment. These lifestyle changes may include:
- quitting smoking
- avoiding secondhand smoke
- 吃大多数天然食品的饮食，例如蔬菜和水果
- 服用维生素和矿物质补充剂
- doing low- to moderate-intensity exercise at least three times per week
In severe cases of COPD, oxygen therapy or surgery may be needed.
COPDmost commonly occurs in people over age 40, but it’s not a natural part of aging. You should call your doctor right away if you’re experiencing symptoms of COPD. Brushing off possible signs of the disease is dangerous and can lead to further problems in the future.
尽管无法治愈COPD，但您可以通过尽早捕获和治疗它来帮助减少其效果。您还可以通过削减已知的来改善您的前景风险因素, regardless of your age.
Q:
我如何降低COPD的风险？
A:
You can lower your risk for COPD by not smoking cigarettes and staying away from secondhand smoke. If your job requires you to come in contact with chemicals, use respiratory protection. Examples industries include bakeries, textile manufacturing plants, and coal mining. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers准则for respiratory protection.
Timothy J. Legg博士，PMHNP-BC Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.