Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - A Forgotten Killer (Introducing Health Sciences)

This book discusses one effect of changing environments and lifestyles on the health of modern human populations: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a progressive lung disease that is caused by long-term exposure to particulate smoke or dust pollution. Damage to the lungs is irreversible, and the resulting reduction in the supply of oxygen to the body has wide-ranging effects on the individual's general health and mobility, and impacts upon all aspects of their life including work, family, and social participation.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - A Forgotten Killer uses a multidisciplinary approach to bring together an introduction to the science of respiratory function with aspects of the epidemiology, psychology, treatment and prevention of COPD.

The text is supported by a fully interactive DVD with videos and interactive exercises made in collaboration with respiratory practitioners at Sheffield University Medical School and Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital. The DVD includes the videos 'Living with COPD', 'Testing lung function in the respiratory clinic', and 'Exercise rehabilitation for COPD'. It also features an animation, 'Respiration and COPD', which enables the viewer to visualise the processes of gas exchange between the atmosphere and lungs, and the bloodstream and body tissue, in individuals with and without COPD.