Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is a major contributing factor of worldwide deaths (Olendorf, 1999). What causes it to be a main factor of worldwide deaths? The objective of this paper is to address the disease COPD and to evaluate research studies related to this disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects nearly sixteen million people in the United States alone (Olendorf, 1999). It is also a wide-ranging name for additional correlated diseases, such as, chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Olendorf, 1999).

Background

COPD is defined as difficulty breathing caused by irreversible damage to the lungs (Olendorf, 1999). The harm that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes to the lungs cannot be reversed (Mayo, 2010). Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD that inflames the bronchial tubes; which are tubes that transport air to the lungs (Essig, 2008). This produces numerous amounts of mucus and causes excess coughing (Essig, 2008). Emphysema causes inflammation in the alveoli; which are tiny air sacs in the lung (Mayo, 2010). This can destroy several of the walls and resilient fibers, restricting the air that can reach the lungs (Mayo, 2010).

Disease Description- Pathophysiology, Signs & Symptoms

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops over time (Editorial Staff, 2010). Cigarette smoking is the main and number one cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Mayo, 2010). Long term smokers are more probable to develop this disease (Essig, 2008). Other, less prevalent irritants can cause COPD, such as, second hand smoke (Mayo, 2010). Exposure to chemicals and gases in a work environment, and in rare cases a genetic defect can also be a cause (Es...

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... & Boyden, K. (1999). Chronic obstructive lung disease. In The gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (Vols. 2 C-F, pp. 719-722). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research.

7. Rosychuk, R J, Voaklander, D C, Senthilselvan, A., Klassen, T P, Marrie, T J, & Rowe, B H (Nov 2010). Presentations to emergency departments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Alberta: a population-based study. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, 12, 6. p.500 (9). Retrieved November 30, 2010, from General OneFile via Gale:

http://find.galegroup.com/

8. Schriber, A. (2009, October 9). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Retrieved

November 15, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov

9. Voelker, R. (2007). New tool helps primary care clinicians with diagnosis and treatment of COPD. The Journal of American Medical Association, 298(24), 2855-2856. Retrieved from http://jama.ama-assn.org/

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