Chronic Obstructive disease

PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS TEMPLATE

DISEASE: Mrs White is suffering from acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ensuing from a respiratory infection.

DEFINITION: COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is such ailment that causes difficulty in breathing engendering coughing that brings about mucus largely, succinctness of breath, wheezing, tightness of chest, and other symptoms.

AETIOLOGY: Continuing contact to lung irritants that harm the lungs and the respiratory tract usually is the origin of COPD. Deviated from normal inflammatory responses to toxic particles of the respiratory tract and lungs ensues in COPD. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition may rarely be a factor in causing COPD.

In the United States, cigarette smoke is the most common irritant that induces COPD. COPD can also be caused by pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke, especially if the smoke is inhaled.

Our subject, Mrs White, has been smoking since she was 17 and smoked between 20 and 25 cigarettes a day until the diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema ten years back. Thus, the main culprit in the etiology of COPD in Mrs. White is smoking.



PATHOGENESIS: The main risk factor for COPD is tobacco smoking, however there may be contribution of other breathed in toxic particles and gases. In the lungs of all smokers, this causes an inflammatory response. Numerous types of anatomical wounds, encompassing loss of lung elastic recoil and fibrosis and tapering of minute airways result in COPD. (Spurzem & Rennard, 2005) Two other processes, other than inflammation, are also significant in the pathogenesis of COPD; a disproportion in the lungs of proteinases and antiproteinases, and oxidative stress.

CLINICAL FEATURES: A combination of indicators of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and reactive airway disease generally presents patients with COPD.

(Please consult to the last pages of assignment)

COURSE OF DISEASE: The earliest symptom of COPD is daily ...