Cerebrovascular and Ventilatory Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

TL;DRAbstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease primarily affecting the pulmonary system, most commonly resulting from prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke. While systemic respiratory disturbances in COPD are apparent, the chemical regulation within the brainstem and at the carotid bodies is unclear. Furthermore, the role that cerebral blood flow contributes to respiratory disturbances is poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated peripheral vascular impairments in COPD, which may have further implications for exercise –hyperemia. Oxidative stress serves as a plausible mechanism leading to vascular impairments, and the overall increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. This collection of studies set out to define the ventilatory and cerebrovascular responses to acute alterations in PCO2 and PO2 in COPD patients, and the relationship to oxidative stress. A secondary focus was to characterize both cerebral and peripheral blood flow during exercise. The thesi

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