...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is commonly called COPD. COPD is a widely growing cause of disability and mortality in the world every day. COPD was the 6th leading cause for 4% of deaths in the world in 1990 and by 2020 it is projected to increase to 7% and move up to the 3rd cause for deaths in our world. (Lundback, 2003) Causes of COPD can include exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutions, occupational hazards, infections and also with the leading cause of cigarette smoking. With the correct treatment it can be lived with. COPD is a preventable and treatable disease with some effects that may aid to severity in some patients and is not reversible. This is a lung disease that leads to harder breathing. There are two forms of COPD including Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis and Emphysema. Its pulmonary component is characterized by the limit of airflow that is not reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to gases. Airflow is limited because of a mixture of small airway disease, parenchymal destruction or emphysema, and in many cases because of increase in the airway response or asthma. After witnessing a grandmother with COPD having trouble breathing on her own after 2 weeks out of heart surgery and still on the ventilator only through an incision in her neck now, I see the severity of COPD first hand. The risk of getting COPD varies in many ways including genetics, tobacco smokers...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Bertha Mitchell September 16, 2014 HCT 101 Professor Joe Gravely COPD an acronym that we hear a lot. But what is it? What causes it? Is there a cure? By medical definition COPD stands for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which refers to a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult. (Walsh) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is known to cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both are It is commonly caused from smoking cigarettes. Both can severely damage It can cause a person life threatening problems; heart failure, wheezing, coughing, are just a few. COPD can destroy the airway by becoming inflamed and swollen. In addition a person can experience episodes of coughing up mucus, which will cause the alveoli to weaken and loose elasticity. . There are three types of inflammation that are common with COPD: panacinar, ceniacinar, and distal acinar emphysema. Out of the three panacinar emphysema is the most severe, rendering most people unable to work. They experience severe coughing throughout the day and are more susceptible to contract infections. Ceniacinar is not as severe. Most people are able to work, but still will experience episodes of uncontrollable coughing. Distal acinar emphysema is quite rare. COPD is a progressive disease which will worsen over time. COPD is a major cause of disability, and it's the third leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, millions...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease that affects 14 percent of our population that is over the age of 40 years old (Casey, 2016). COPD happens when airflow is decreased, or limited, which impairs the gas exchange in the alveoli, which are the sacs within our lungs. This is considered a progressive disease that continues to get worse over time and this disease makes it hard for a person to breathe (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, n.d.). This illness can produce wheezing, mucus and chest tightening. This paper will discuss some of the factors that could cause COPD and three health promotion ways to help manage and control some of the symptoms while educating the patient and their family. Factors that cause...
Words: 1159 - Pages: 5
...study is on a patient by the name of LaToya. LaToya is a fifty-one year-old black female. She was admitted to the medical-surgical department where I work, with a diagnosis of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She has a 66 pack-year history, meaning she smoked the equivalent of 365 packs of cigarettes for 66 years, and occasional drug and alcohol use. LaToya is divorced and lives alone in an older apartment building. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that limits your airflow. COPD may include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Chronic bronchitis is the production of increased mucus caused by inflammation. Bronchitis is considered chronic if you cough and produce excess mucus most days for three months in a year, two years in a row. Emphysema is a disease that damages the air sacs and/or the smallest breathing tubes in the lungs. COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe and the symptoms will get worse over time. Most cases of COPD occur as a result of long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. One of the greatest challenges for LaToya is to stop smoking. According to the Center for Disease Control (2012), the most important step a smoker can take after getting a COPD diagnosis is to quit. Not only will it make breathing easier, but it will cut down on the risk of severe exacerbations...
Words: 3632 - Pages: 15
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD; Emphysema) Pathophysiology Abakyereba Kwansemah June 4, 2014 Abstract D.Z.is a 65-year-old man admitted to medical ward with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; emphysema). Past medical history (PMH) indicates hypertension (HTN), well managed with enalapril (Vasotec) past six years, diagnosis (Dx) of pneumonia yearly for the past three years. D.Z. appears cachectic with difficulty breathing at rest. Patient reports productive cough with thick yellow-green sputum. He seems anxious and irritable during subjective data collection. He states, he has been a 2-pack-a-day smoker for 38 years. He complains of (c/o) insomnia and tiredness. His vital signs (VS) are 162/84, 124, 36, 102° F, SaO2 88%. Admitting diagnosis is chronic emphysema with acute exacerbation. Admitting orders includes: diet as tolerated; out of bed with assistance; oxygen (O2) to maintain SaO2 of 90%; maintenance IV of D5W at 50 ml/hr.; intake and output (I&O); arterial blood gases (ABGs) in AM; CBC with differential, basic metabolic panel (BMP), and theophylline (Theo-Dur) level on admission; chest x-ray (CXR) q24h; prednisone 60 mg/day PO; doxycycline 100 mg PO q12h x10 days, azithromycin 500 mg IV piggyback (IVPB) q24h x2 days then 500 mg PO x 7 days; theophylline 300 mg PO bid; heparin 5000 units SC q12h; albuterol 2.5 mg (0.5 ml) in 3 ml normal saline (NS) and ipratropium 500 mg by nebulizer q4-6h;...
Words: 6939 - Pages: 28
...Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease in which airflow obstruction is not fully reversible [1]. It is mainly characterized by airflow limitation and is defined by its character of dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, symptoms that aggravate disease severity and disease exacerbation [29]. It includes emphysema, which is characterized by airspace enlargement and destruction of lung parenchyma, and chronic bronchitis [2]. It is a chronic, progressive inflammatory condition of the small airways and lung parenchyma resulted from elevated pulmonary macrophages, neutrophils, and CD8+ T cells. Proinflammatory mediators, including IL-8, MCP-1, and IL-1β, are elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and sputum samples obtained from patients with COPD [3-6]. Cigarette smoke is a major trigger of airways inflammation [7, 8] due to its concoction of many hundreds of toxic or otherwise bioactive substances, many of which may act in synergy [9]. Cigarette smoke has been identified as the most important risk for the development of COPD [10]. Smoking is the leading risk factor for compromised lung function stemming from COPD pathogenesis [11]. The exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is associated with emphysema. In addition to chronic lung inflammation, emphysema is known mainly for the complex pathogenesis associated with imbalance of proteolytic and antiproteolytic activites, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of lung structural cells [12]. Roflumilast is a...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also referred to as COPD is the name that identifies a group of lung diseases. These diseases consist of bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma. An individual can have COPD for years and not know it. When the disease is in the early stages the symptoms are not completely mature and are barely discernible. As the disease matures and progresses the symptoms become more noticeable. Although millions of individuals are living with COPD, this disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States; and smoking, second-hand smoke, air pollutants, occupational dust, chemicals, and genetics are factors that can cause the disease for which there is no cure; however numerous treatments are available to help live an active and healthy life (COPD Foundation, 2010). Many people who have COPD are undiagnosed with the disease. Undiagnosis could derive from several reasons, which may include no health insurance, afraid to seek medical attention, or belief that the symptoms are of another illness such as a cold that will not go away. However, most cases of COPD are undiagnosed because of a lack of education concerning the disease. Many communities and employers fail to educate the public concerning diseases like COPD.I was surprised to find that the Dobbins...
Words: 2779 - Pages: 12
...COPD COPD is a term used for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is an “obstructive disease”, meaning that airflow coming out of the lungs during exhalation is blocked. The blockage of airflow with COPD ,makes it very difficult for a person to breathe. Over time, COPD get progressively worse because doctors have not yet found a cure. COPD affects more Than 5% of the adult population, and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. 4 With COPD, a person will usually have two main medical conditions that limit airflow. These conditions are known as emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Emphysema causes the elasticity of the lung tissue to be lost. The alveolar walls between air sacs in the lung are damaged, and this causes them to lose their shape and become flimsy. Over time, this damage destroys the walls, leading to fewer, larger air sacs, rather than many, smaller air sacs like that of a normal lung. When this happens, the amount of surface available for gas exchange inside the lung is drastically reduced. With chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly irritated and inflamed. This condition causes the lining to thicken, and leads to a lot of thick mucus production forming in the airways, making it harder to breathe. With destruction of the lung parenchymal, and narrowing of the small airways, air becomes trapped due to the inability of the airways to remain open during expiration...
Words: 918 - Pages: 4
...Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for people with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. With COPD the airflow to the lungs is restricted (obstructed). COPD is usually caused by smoking. Symptoms include cough and breathlessness. The most important treatment is to stop smoking. Inhalers are commonly used to ease symptoms. Other treatments such as steroids, antibiotics, oxygen, and mucus-thinning (mucolytic) medicines are sometimes prescribed in more severe cases, or during a flare-up (exacerbation) of symptoms Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term which includes the conditions chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is the preferred term. • Chronic means persistent. • Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (the airways of the lungs). • Emphysema is damage to the smaller airways and air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. • Pulmonary means 'affecting the lungs'. Chronic bronchitis or emphysema can cause obstruction (narrowing) of the airways. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema commonly occur together. The term COPD is used to describe airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis. Furthermore COPD is an ongoing and a terminal disease that can have effect on patient daily living (Blackler et al. 2007). In this project, the topic chosen is Developing Self management plans to help people with COPD to control their condition. The key intervention innovating on is the development of COPD care checklist. This is due to how...
Words: 521 - Pages: 3
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Health and Physical Education Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease There are many kinds of chronic illness and each with it on characteristics, symptoms, causes, some chronic illness affect people of any age or ethnic background, and others are more likely to appear in a particular age or ethnic group. Some are present at birth while others develop later in life. Some chronic illnesses are caused by environmental factors such as exposure to pollutants. The definition of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the most common lung diseases which makes it difficult to breathe and causes damage to the lungs over many years, usually from smoking that leads to a combination of two diseases, Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. Chronic Bronchitis are airways which carry to the lings become inflamed and make a lot of mucus, and a long term cough with mucus. Emphysema involves destruction of the lungs over time, and the air sac are damaged and loses their stretch and less air gets in and out of the lungs. The lifestyles factors that leads to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is smoking, air pollution, genetics, age, occupational dust and chemicals. Smoking, COPD, and the immune system. “Although the immune system is designed to protect the body from harm, it may actually worsen the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” according to University of Cincinnati...
Words: 867 - Pages: 4
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible debilitating disease of the airway that is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is rising. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is treatable but currently there is no known cure and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. COPD causes reduction in airflow during the ventilation cycle due to the loss of air way elasticity, narrowing of the airways, chronic airways inflammation and over active mucous production (Frace, 2008). Known risk factors for development of COPD include tobacco use (including second hand smoke), air pollution, dust and exposure to chemicals used in the production of coal, cotton and grain. There are many complications of COPD, the most common are pneumonia, pneumothorax, cor pulmonale, atelectasis, and in severe cases there maybe respiratory insufficiency and failure (Bare, Cheever, Hinkle, & Smeltzer, 2010). Nursing management for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease begins with assessment; gathering information from the patient including detailed medical history, present symptoms and evaluate findings of diagnostic tests. Symptoms vary with each patient, but may include chronic cough, clubbing of the fingers, chest tightness, weight loss, cyanosis, difficulty breathing with a higher rate of respirations and difficulty sleeping (Weber...
Words: 1349 - Pages: 6
...Chronic Bronchitis HCS/245 02/01/15 Cheryl Meaux Chronic Bronchitis Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation, or irritation, of the airways in the lungs. Airways are the tubes in your lungs that air passes through. They are also called bronchial tubes. When the airways are irritated, thick mucus forms in them. The mucus plugs up the airways and makes it hard for you to get air into your lungs. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a cough that produces mucus or sputum, trouble breathing and the feeling of tightness in your chest (FamilyDoctor.org, 2014). This form of bronchitis is considered chronic because it can last for a long time. Cigarette smoking is most likely the reason for you getting chronic bronchitis also if you have been exposed for a long time to other things that irritate their lungs, such as chemical fumes, dust and other substances, can also develop chronic bronchitis (FamilyDoctor.org, 2014). If chronic bronchitis does not get the treatment needed it can turn into emphysema and the two diseases form together to be called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. It is common that the signs of Chronic Bronchitis can be ignored and most likely recognized when it worsens. The longer you wait to get treatment, the worse your lungs are get. After doing research, I found that Chronic Bronchitis alone is neither primary, secondary, nor tertiary but is actually described in each form. Primary prevention is accomplished by elimination of exposures that...
Words: 860 - Pages: 4
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Information on what is COPD COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. It is a common and serious chronic lung disease (2014, April 26). Over time, it gets worse due to the lack of air going into the lungs (2014, April 26). It makes it hard to breath. Smokers have a high risk of getting COPD. Other factors that lead to lung irritation are air pollution, chemicals fumes, smoke, or dust (2014, April 26). COPD has two main forms. COPD can generate from chronic bronchitis. It is a long term caught with mucous (2014, April 26). The second form is emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time (2014, April 26). COPD Symptoms: Symptoms typically worsen within time. Daily cough and sputum is one of the main symptoms. Other symptoms are shortness of breath, especially during physical activity. Wheezing, chest tightness, lack of energy, weight loss, frequent repertory infections, blueness of the lips or...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Angelia Alleyne HCS/245 May 4, 2015 Professor Lori Olson COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a long-term disease that causes breathing problems. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD, however, is a heterogeneous collection of diseases with differing causes, pathogenic mechanisms, and physiological effects. Therefore a comprehensive approach to COPD prevention will need to address the complexity of COPD. Advances in the understanding of the natural history of COPD and the development of strategies to assess COPD in its early stages make prevention a reasonable, if ambitious, goal. Prevention can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary (Rennard, Drummond, 2015). The term COPD is used to describe certain diseases that partially block airflow in the lungs. The most common kinds of COPD include: Emphysema and Chronic bronchitis and other diseases. Emphysema can cause damage to the alveoli that cannot be cured; this is the tiny air sacs of the lungs where oxygen is put into your blood. With emphysema your lungs become less able to take in good air and get rid of carbon dioxide. Chronic bronchitis occurs when the airways in the lungs become swollen; this causes more mucus than normal to be made in the lungs. The swelling and increased mucus can cause the airflow to become partially blocked. Chronic...
Words: 1146 - Pages: 5
...hundreds of fragile alveoli. How much more if you can consume 20 sticks of cigarette a day? Do you think you will still have functional lungs after five years of smoking? On the other hand, we all know that smoking is the major cause of most lung disorders. But do you that even if you`re a non-smoker you are still at risk for having lung problem? Yes, of course! You are at risk only if you are exposed to plenty of lung irritants such as passive smoke, factory smoke and other pollutants. Every one of us must be appreciative and be grateful to enjoy the privilege of having normal breathing pattern. It is difficult for a person who has a lung disease and it`s not an easy thing to live with. To have a healthy lungs are very important to life and function. If somebody has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, the breathing doesn’t always come easily. This was the reason of our patient to seek medical assistance because of experiencing shortness of breath (dyspnea) accompanied with hard cough. Thus, she with...
Words: 1210 - Pages: 5
