When breathing starts to become difficult...

COPD is primarily caused by long-term tobacco consumption, passive smoking and high air pollution. However, occupational exposure to dusts and a genetic predisposition may also be an underlying cause. COPD's main symptoms are wet coughing, increased production of mucus in the respiratory tract and increased breathlessness. Since coughing is a very nonspecific symptom associated with a number of other illnesses (and is even downplayed as a "smoker's cough"), those suffering from COPD often visit their doctor at a late stage. Especially in people who lead a sedentary life, a shortage of breath (dyspnea) rarely gets noticed immediately. They usually notice their difficulties in breathing while climbing the stairs and needing to take breaks.

Some patients may develop pathological malnutrition or cachexia, which is characterized by an excessive loss of adipose tissue and muscle mass. As a result of the narrowing of the airways and the disturbance of the pulmonary function, the patient's respiration becomes heavier and more strained. In order to ensure a sufficient breath, the breathing rate increases by using the auxiliary respiratory muscles, which include the abdominal, neck and chest muscles.

The heavy breathing and extensive inflammatory responses increase the basal metabolic rate. This can lead to a pulmonary cachexia if the energy required by the body cannot be covered. Thus begins a downward spiral; muscle mass and strength decreases and the susceptibility to infection rises, which in turn worsens the symptoms. To make matters worse, the skeletal muscles shrink, not only due to lack of nutrition, but they are also negatively affected by the cortisone used in anti-inflammatory therapy. On average, cachexia occurs in approximately 20 to 35 percent of COPD patients, reaching as high as 70 percent during the advanced stages of the disease. A regular evaluation of the patient's nutritional status is essential in improving their prognosis and quality of life. Patients can benefit greatly from the use of the
seca mBCA as it allows for the accurate measurement of their body's composition in terms of fat, muscle and water.

The seca mBCA is non-invasive, patient-friendly and quick, with results available in just a few seconds. In addition to our stationary seca mBCA 515, the mobile seca mBCA 525 can be used to evaluate the nutritional status of immobile patients or during house visits. Our seca mBCA's precise measurements can help recognize signs of cachexia at an early stage. The scales can therefore prompt the start of adequate treatment to keep the symptoms from worsening.

Image 1 © “curto” / Fotolia.com