Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

1785 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Copd case study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the result of the obstruction of the airways and of the air out of the lungs as you exhale. Not only is this condition usually permanent with attacks (called exacerbations when the attacks become worse, even life-threatening) occurring over long periods of time (hence the word “chronic” in the name of the condition), it can also become more serious with each attack. COPD is usually caused by three conditions that over time that wreak havoc on the respiratory system. These conditions are: chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. However, chronic asthma is not as likely to cause COPD as the chronic bronchitis and emphysema (which the chronic bronchitis and emphysema sometimes are BOTH found in an individual suffering from COPD). All of the conditions that I have mentioned that cause the COPD will eventually lead to damage to your airways and it will mess with the normal oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange that occurs in your lungs.

Chronic asthma, even though this condition is not one of the main conditions that lead to COPD, can still lead to that condition. Chronic asthma, if treated, can lessen the severity of the attacks and the obstruction of the airways, and usually these attacks will not cause damage within the lungs and the airways of the body and the obstructions are even completely unblocked. However, if these chronic attacks go untreated, the airway obstruction caused by the inflammation of the chronic asthma will then become “fixed” and will then become permanent. So if a person suffering from chronic asthma ignores the shortness of breath and inflammation that accompanies this condition, and they don’t treat it, they will be more susceptible to developing COPD.

...

... middle of paper ...

...A person with COPD can take good care of themselves and live a pretty normal life. While it is harder for a person with COPD to do day to day things, there are ways they can train their body and get by. Since this condition can be life threatening, and the attacks can be very scary, talking to their doctor can always help them deal with what is happening in their own body. They can give them advice and options that can make dealing with COPD a lot better on them physically and mentally.

Works Cited

http://www.medicinenet.com/chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_copd/article.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copdchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/copd/DS00916

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/tc/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-overview?page=3

Show More
Related

  • Case Study of a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    The presented case is of a patient named R.S. who has a smoking history of many years, which can be directly tied to his development of chronic bronchitis, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) specified as Type B. It is estimated that in 90% of chronic bronchitis or “blue bloaters”, cigarette smoking is the major cause. Chronic bronchitis involves persistent and irreversible airway obstruction, due to the constant inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, leading to hypertrophy and hyperplasia of bronchial glands. The latter exposes the individual to higher risks of bacterial infections; often colonization of organisms such as Streptococcus or Staphyloccocus pneumoniae can be exhibited. This is due to the lost or impaired function of mucociliary clearance action which results from the replacement of certain sections of ciliated columnar epithelium by squamous cells in the bronchi. (Copstead &Banasik, 546-547)

    Read More

  • Acute Exacerbation in Copd

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    This exacerbation of her COPD revealed the need for inhaler re-education. This education holds more importance due to her exacerbation that possibly could have been prevented with proper inhaler use. An education plan should be developed to assess her readiness to learn and to map out a schedule of sessions. Several sessions over an extended period of time with continuous re-evaluations is essential. Research has shown that this approach has better long term outcomes (M., Duerden & D., Price, 2001).

    Read More

  • The Use of BiPAP on COPD Patients

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    Previous research used noninvasive ventilation to help those with COPD improve their altered level of consciousness by allowing the alveoli to be ventilated and move the trapped carbon dioxide out of the lungs. When too much carbon dioxide is in the blood, the gas moves through the blood-brain barrier and causes an acidosis within the body, because not enough carbon dioxide is being blown off through ventilation. The BiPAP machine allows positive pressure to enter the lungs, expand all the way to the alveoli, and create the movement of air and blood. Within the study, two different machines were used; a regular BiPAP ventilator and a bilevel positive airway pressure – spontaneous/timed with average volume assured pressure support, or AVAPS. The latter machine uses a setting for a set tidal volume and adjusts based on inspiratory pressure.

    Read More

  • Essay On Copd

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symptoms worsen faster for people with COPD that go undiagnosed and untreated. It is important if someone is experiencing symptoms of COPD that they get tested right away. (Copdfoundation.org)

    Read More

  • Nursing Case Study: Chronic Obstructive Disease

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases that block airflow and make it hard to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common types of COPD (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2016, p 557). Primary symptoms include coughing, mucus, chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2016, p.557). COPD develops slowly and worsens over time if not treated during early stages. The disease has no cure, but medication and disease management can slow its progress and make one feel better (NIH, 2013)

    Read More

  • Caring for Children with Cystic Fibrosis

    2008 Words  | 5 Pages

    Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a life-altering event. During this time, life is not only difficult for the patient, but also for their loved ones. Families must learn to cope together and to work out the best options for the patient and the rest of the family. Although it may not be fair at times, things may need to be centered on or around the patient no matter what the circumstance. (Abbott, 2003) Sacrifices may have to be made during difficult times. Many factors are involved when dealing with chronic illnesses. Coping with chronic illnesses alter many different emotions for the patients and the loved ones. Many changes occur that are very different and difficult to get used to. (Abbott, 2003) It is not easy for someone to sympathize with you when they haven’t been in the situation themselves. No matter how many books they read or people they talk to, they cannot come close to understanding.

    Read More

  • COPD Case Study

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...r illness causes them (). Service users expect respect and sensitivitiy as well as competent treatment and practical support. Nurses must be willing to engage with patients with effective therapeutic communication as well as demonstrating the 6 C’s (). It is evident that nutritional and fluid intake is important for COPD sufferers. It is a long term condition, so enabling people with the condition to self manage and to be educated about the importance of their health choices (By implementing a nursing model or theory and following the cycle of ASPIRE, it would seem impossible for the primary carer to not treat Mr B holistically. Every aspect of his life is affected by his COPD and by evaluating and backing up the care plan with evidence based practice, being in partnership with Mr B every step of the way, he would be able to get the help he needs.

    Read More

  • A Discussion of Emphysema and COPD

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Carone M, D. C. ( 2007). Clinical Challenges In COPD[e-book]. (Oxford: Clinical Pub) Retrieved March 24, 2014, from (EBSCOhost).

    Read More

  • Breathlessness: Impacts, Interventions and Outcomes

    2281 Words  | 5 Pages

    Whilst looking at the impact that breathlessness can have on patient the author will look at the physical, psychological and social health implications and how this can affect the overall (holistic) quality of life for these patients. Often these three areas overlap and the physical implications of breathlessness can have a direct effect on the patient’s social health, financial ability to provide for themselves and others, which in turn affects the person physiological well-being or vice versa.

    Read More

  • Dyspnea Essay

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the long-term breathlessness is usually caused by obesity or being unfit. Other is asthma that is not controlled properly. Moreover, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is not temporarily damage to the lungs usually caused by prolonged of smoking.

    Read More

  • Essay On Emphysema

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the common diseases in the respiratory system that many people around the world face is emphysema or also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a chronic lung condition where the alveoli or air sacs may be damaged or enlarged resulting in short of breath (Mayo Clinic, 2011). If emphysema is left untreated, it will worsen causing the sphere shaped air sacs to come together making holes and reduce the surface area of the lungs and the amount of oxygen that travels through the bloodstream, blocking the airways of the lungs (Karriem- Norwood, 2012). The most common ways a patient can get emphysema are by cigarette smoking or being exposed to chemicals, dust or air pollutants for a long period of time. Common physical exams reveal a temperature of 100.8 Fahrenheit, 104 beats per minute, a blood pressure of 146/92, and a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per min (Karriem- Norwood, 2012). (see appendix A.1,A.2, A.3, A.4 for complete proof.)

    Read More

  • COPD Pathophysiology

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in this assignment will be referred to as COPD; it is a term for collective chronic lung conditions

    Read More

  • Issues With Managing Chronic Illness

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chronic illness issues can include managing their illness, the cost of taking care of the illness, etc. Many people who suffer from a chronic illness suffer a lot trying to manage their illness on a daily basis. According to a website called NCOA.org, “About 80% of older adults have one chronic disease. 68.4% of Medicare beneficiaries have two or more chronic diseases and 36.4% have four or more. Chronic diseases can affect a person’s ability to perform important activities, restricting their engagement in life and their enjoyment of family and friends”

    Read More

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

    3105 Words  | 7 Pages

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable disease that has a detrimental effects on both the airway and lung parenchyma (Nazir & Erbland, 2009). COPD categorises emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are characterised by a reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow but forced emptying of the lungs (Jeffery 1998). The disease has the one of the highest number of fatalities in the developed world due to the ever increasing amount of tobacco smokers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014). Signs and symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease include a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnoea and predisposing risk factors (Edelman et al., 1992). The diagnosis of COPD is predominantly based on the results of a lung function assessment (Larsson, 2007). Chronic bronchitis is differentiated from emphysema by it's presentation of a productive cough present for a minimum of three months in two consecutive years that cannot be attributed to other pulmonary or cardiac causes (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Viegi et al., 2007). Whereas emphysema is defined pathologically as as the irreversible destruction without obvious fibrosis of the lung alveoli (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Veigi et al., 2007).It is common for emphysema and chronic bronchitis to be diagnosed concurrently owing to the similarities between the diseases (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014).

    Read More

  • Chronic Bronchitis Essay

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hinkle, Janice, and Kerry Cheever. “Management of Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease." Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing, 13th Ed. Philadelphia: Lisa McAllister, 2013. 619-630. Print.

    Read More

More about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Open Document