Task4  Note-taking

        Listen to a passage “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” twice. While listening, you are to take notes according to the cues given below.

1. The number of people affected by COPD around the world:

           More than 200 million.      

2. The two most common forms of COPD:

     Emphysema and chronic bronchitis.   

3. The causes of COPD:

Smoking, air pollution and genetics 

4. Some early warning signs of COPD:

cough, increasing mucus productionand difficulty breathing 

5. Ways to slow the progress of COPD:

Stop smoking, exercise,medicines, oxygen treatment or operations 

Textbook:

                           Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, affects more than 200 million people around the world. The World Health Organiation says at least 5 million people died from it in 2005. 90 percent were in developing countries.

COPD is the new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These are two most common forms of it, and many people with COPD have both of them. People with COPD often have swelling that causes the airways to narrow. And they often produce more mucus than normal. This oily substance protects the airways, but too much of it blocks them.

Smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Nonsmokers an get the disease from breathing other people's tobacco smoke.

Air pollution can also cause the disease. Miners and others who work around some kinds of dust and chemicals are at higher risk. And children who repeatedly suffer lung infections have a greater chance of developing the disease as adults. Genetics may also play a part.

Doctors can perform a quick breathing test with a machine called a spirometer that can help diagnose COPD. But experts say people are often not tested or treated correctly for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients may not consider a continuous cough serious enough to seek medical attention. Or doctors may , misdiagnose it as asthma or another infection.

Some of the early warning signs are a cough that will not go away and an increase in mucus production. Another sign is difficulty breathing after minor activity like walking up stairs.

There are ways to slow the progress of the disease. The most important thing is to stop smoking. There are medicines that can reduce inflammation and open air passages. Also, exercise is often advised. If the disease is severe, a doctor may order oxygen treatment or even operations to remove damaged lung tissue.