Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency, Pt. 2
Return to Chronic Pulmonary Insufficiency, Pt. 1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – This condition is covered regardless of cause. The most common diseases associated with COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema involves damage to the walls of alveoli, or air sacs, in the lungs. The number of air sacs is diminished with the condition, which adversely affects the transfer of oxygen to the bloodstream. Expending of waste gasses, such as carbon dioxide, may be inhibited as well. Spirometry testing for COPD measures the amount of air an individual can exhale with force in one breath over one second. The lower the volume of air that one can expend, the more extensive the disease has become.
Chronic restrictive ventilatory disease – The diseases under this portion of the Listing are characterized by restricted function of lungs. Damage to the wall of the chest in some cases accounts for the condition. Those who suffer from restrictive ventilator disease may experience wheezing, chest pain, coughing, and general difficulty in breathing, especially after any strenuous activity. Because deep breathing is often problematic, sufferers often compensate by taking rapid shallow breaths. These conditions fall into two general categories – extrinsic and intrinsic disorders, based on whether the lungs, themselves, are compromised, or are affected by damage to areas outside the lungs. Spirometry testing involves inhaling as deeply as possible, then exhaling with force. The less air one can exhale, the more severe the condition.
