Respiratory Disease Paper
Lisa N.
HCS/245
University of Phoenix

Understanding COPD
COPD (short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is an obstructive lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. COPD is a disease that involves inflammation and thickening of the airways. It also involves destruction of the tissue of the lung where oxygen is exchanged. Obstruction in COPD means that the flow of air in and out of the lungs is less than it should be. When that happens, less oxygen gets into the body tissues, and it becomes harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. As the disease gets worse, it becomes more difficult to remain active due to shortness of breath. Sometimes referred to as either chronic bronchitis or emphysema, most people will have symptoms of both conditions, so health professionals prefer to call the disease COPD. However, some doctors think that chronic bronchitis may be present even though a person does not have the airway obstruction characteristic of COPD.

The seriousness of COPD. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the US. It causes serious long-term disability and early death. At this time there is no cure for COPD. More than 11 million people are known to have COPD and up to 24 million may have the disease due to some not even knowing it. The number of people dying from COPD is growing. Deaths due to COPD in women are higher than in men. COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced because people do not know the early warning signs. Sometimes people think they are short of breath or less able to do the things they are used to doing because they are "just getting old". But shortness of breath is never normal. The good news is that COPD can be found early and there is much that can be done to treat and help manage the disease.
The causes of COPD. Smoking is the major cause of COPD. The poisons in cigarette smoke can weaken the lungs' defense against infections, narrow air passages, cause swelling in air tubes and destroy air sacs. About 80-90% of all COPD is caused by cigarette smoking. Pollution in the air and irritating fumes and dusts, especially on the job, can also cause COPD. A small number of people have a rare form of COPD called alpha-1 deficiency A protein made in the liver. It helps protect the body's organs, especially the lungs, from the harmful effects of other proteins. AAT deficiency occurs if the AAT proteins aren't the right shape and therefore can't get into the bloodstream to do their job. This leads to an increased risk of lung diseases, like COPD. related emphysema. This form of COPD is caused by an inherited lack of a protective protein in the blood.
What Are the Symptoms of COPD? Signs and symptoms of COPD include: Chronic cough, shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea), frequent respiratory infections, blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis), fatigue, producing a lot of mucus (also called phlegm or sputum), and wheezing. Many people don't experience symptoms of COPD until later stages of the disease. If you experience any of these symptoms, or think you might be at risk for COPD, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as possible. Early detection of COPD is key to successful treatment.
How Is COPD Diagnosed? If you are at risk for COPD or have symptoms of COPD, you should be tested through spirometry. Spirometry is a simple test of how well your lungs work. For this test, you blow air into a mouthpiece and tubing attached to a small machine. The machine measures the amount of air you blow out and how fast you can blow it. Your doctor will also ask for a complete health history and do a health exam. They may also want you to have a chest x-ray and/or other tests, like an arterial blood gas test.
How Is COPD Treated? If you are a smoker, quitting smoking will slow the progression of the disease. Take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor. These are usually inhalers that can open your airways and keep them from getting swollen. Some may be taken with a nebulizer, a machine that changes liquid medicine into a fine mist which makes it easier to inhale deep into the lungs. If your COPD is severe, oxygen therapy may be used to help with shortness of breath. This may be needed all day and all night or only part of the time. Be sure to understand how to safely use oxygen. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that teaches you about COPD, how to exercise, how to manage your disease and provides support and counseling. In some rare cases, surgery may be recommended for people with very severe COPD. It is important to speak to your doctor about whether or not you should consider a clinical trial as a treatment option. Some people find relief from their symptoms and improved quality of life by accessing complementary therapies.
How does this disease effect society? An estimated 715,000 hospital discharges were reported in 2010; a discharge rate of 23.2 per 100,000 population. COPD is an important cause of hospitalization in our aged population. Approximately 65% of discharges were in the 65 years and older population in 2010. A Lung Association survey revealed that half of all COPD patients (51%) say their condition limits their ability to work. It also limits them in normal physical exertion (70%), household chores (56%), social activities (53%), sleeping (50%) and family activities (46%). In 2010, the cost to the nation for COPD was projected to be approximately $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct health care expenditures, $8.0 billion in indirect morbidity costs and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs.
Support. The American Lung Association has a free online community called the Lung Connection Community for individuals who are living with lung diseases and their caregivers. Individuals register to join the community. Members can choose their level of participation and engagement. This online forum is a place for members to discuss how lung disease is affecting them and share their life experience with their peers.
Conclusion
The lungs are different from most of the other organs in your body because their delicate tissues are directly connected to the outside environment. Anything you breathe in can affect your lungs. Since the lungs of people who have COPD are already compromised, it is important that you try to reduce exposure to anything that could make your COPD worse or cause a Worsening or a "flare up" of COPD.flare-up. Taking certain steps to protect your overall health will also help protect your lungs from certain viruses and infections that could make you very sick.

References:
American Lung Association. COPD (2015). www.lung.org