Osteoporosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat - Respiratory Doctor - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a medical condition with chronic pulmonary manifestations resulting in impaired ventilation. Airflow obstruction progresses with abnormal inflammation of the lungs due to noxious gases and particles. The disease will gradually reduce the lung ventilation function.
Over time, the disease will get worse, making normal daily activities such as walking, exercising become difficult. In addition, the patient has obvious symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, frequent cough, phlegm in the neck, fatigue.

The cause of the disease is smoking too much. Cigarette smoke has a strong oxidizing power and stimulates an inflammatory response that leads to the destruction of lung structures under the action of protein-degrading enzymes.

In addition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also affected by other factors such as: breathing air pollution, air pollution, environmental waste. Prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals.

Research has shown that osteoporosis has a close relationship in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Both osteoporosis and fractures are very common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
When you have COPD, the patient will have a decrease in bone density and a decrease in bone quality, leading to a decrease in strength as well as an easy fracture. In addition, the disease will also pose a risk of surgical complications and complications after surgery.
Other common clinical risks of patients with COPD are also the causes leading to osteoporosis, such as: smoking, advanced age, low weight, sedentary. In addition, poor lung function, pneumonia, vitamin D deficiency are also causes of osteoporosis. In addition, an important reason that many patients use corticosteroid-containing drugs in the treatment of COPD arbitrarily is also the cause of osteoporosis. Therefore, when the patient is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is necessary to have regular check-ups to detect and evaluate osteoporosis as well as the risk of fracture at an early stage.

If timely prevention of the development of osteoporosis will help doctors have an appropriate treatment plan for established osteoporosis, thereby also improving the health situation of COPD patients, preserving lung function. and ultimately provide a better prognosis for these patients.

The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the long-term smoking of the patient, so it is imperative to quit smoking and not live in an environment with tobacco smoke as the first principle in the treatment process.
Quitting smoking is difficult for patients because they have to give up a long-standing habit. Therefore, this requires the active cooperation of the patient himself to facilitate as well as help the doctor to best treat the patient. Very few cases need to use drugs to quit addiction.
Treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Because this is a chronic disease with irreversible damage to the lung structure, the patient will have to be treated for life, not completely cured.
In addition to the mandatory cessation of exposure to secondhand smoke, patients and their families need to follow these principles:
Use medications exactly as directed by your doctor and get an annual flu vaccine if your doctor recommends it.

Visit your doctor at least twice a year. If symptoms appear to get worse, you need to see a doctor immediately for timely treatment. Create a living space that is airy (well ventilated), clean, and dust-free. Light exercise and exercise to improve health, depending on your health status, with the following principles: Gentle, regular, results suitable for effective breathing exercises. Eat foods rich in nutrients, vitamins, drink lots of water, vegetables and fruits Eat slowly, chew well, avoid using foods or drinks that cause bloating or have stimulants. If you find any abnormalities such as difficulty breathing, thick sputum, you should quickly go to the nearest medical facility to be checked.