CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)



Table of Content

INTRODUCTION1

PART 1: RATIONALE1

PART 2: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CARE2

Epidemiology4

Etiology4

Symptoms and Signs5

Diagnosis6

PART 3: EVIDENCED BASED ANALYSIS6

Prognosis7

Treatment of Stable COPD8

CONCLUSION8

REFERENCES10

INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comprised mainly of three associated situation - chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. In each status there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruction usually is enduring and may be progressive over time. (Singh 2009:54)

While asthma characteristics obstruction to the flow of air out of the lungs, generally, the obstruction is reversible. Between "attacks" of asthma the flow of air through the airways normally is normal. These patients manage not have COPD(Rutgers 2000:12) However, if asthma is left untreated, the chronic inflammation affiliated with this disease can origin the airway obstruction to become fixed. That is, between attacks, the asthmatic persevering may then have abnormal air flow. This method is mentioned to as lung remodeling. These asthma patients with a repaired constituent of airway obstruction are furthermore advised to have COPD.

Often patients with COPD are marked by the symptoms they are having at the time of an exacerbation of their disease. For example, if they present with mostly shortness of wind, they may be mentioned to as emphysema patients. While if they have mostly hack and mucus output, they are mentioned to as having chronic bronchitis. In truth, it is better to mention to these patients as having COPD since they can present with a kind of lung symptoms. (Rabe 2007: 56)There is common overlap amidst COPD patients. Thus, patients with emphysema may have some of the characteristics of chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma and vice a versa.

 

PART 1: RATIONALE

To realise COPD, it assists to realise how the lungs work. The air that you respire proceeds down your windpipe into tubes in your lungs called bronchial tubes, or airways. The airways are formed like an upside-down tree with numerous branches. At the end of the parts are minute air sacs called alveoli (al-VEE-uhl-eye). (Petty 2006:3)In emphysema, the partitions between numerous of the air sacs are impaired, initating them to misplace their form and become floppy. This impairment furthermore can decimate the partitions of the air sacs, premier to less and bigger air sacs rather than of numerous minute ones. In chronic obstructive bronchitis, the coating of the airways is certainly annoyed and inflamed. This determinants the coating to thicken. Lots of broad mucus types in the airways, producing it hard to breathe. COPD is a foremost origin of disability, and it's the fourth premier origin of death in the United States. More than 12 million persons are actually identified with COPD. An added 12 million probable have the disease and don't even understand it. COPD evolves slowly. Symptoms often make poorer over time and can restrict your proficiency to manage usual activities. Severe COPD may avert you from managing even rudimentary undertakings like strolling, preparing nourishment, or taking care of ...