COPD-Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease: A Case Study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Description Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases also known as lung cancer is a condition of slow irreversible progressive airway obstruction which gets worse over time. This includes several obstructive diseases of the lungs, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and pneumoconiosis. The outcome varies with the

There are no cure for this disease. However, there are different treatment to prevent further deterioration of the lungs function in order to improve the quality of life of the patient by increasing capacity of their physical activity. One of the main severe complication a patient with COPD can develop is exacerbation. Increased breathlessness, increased sputum volume and purulent sputum are the signs and symptoms of exacerbation. Early detection of the signs of exacerbation can help keep the condition of the patient from worsening. The treatments of COPD mainly aims at controlling the symptoms of exacerbation such as taking inhalers. Patients who are over the age of 35 and ex-smokers with chronic cough and bronchitis are recommended to have spirometer (NICE, 2004). This is because it is possible to delay or prevent patients from developing severe case of COPD is identified before they lose their lungs functions. Oxygen therapy is another treatment for COPD as the patients with this condition has high

I will analyse the prevalence of the condition and what the potential causes may be. My interests have been directed to pre hospital care and community lead treatment packages, which are potentially available to the patient, as this is the acute environment, which I will have contact with in my employment as a paramedic. The initial reading was to understand COPD as a chronic condition, what is COPD? and its prevalence in the population. The (World health organisation, 2000), states that one in four deaths in the world are caused by COPD. In 2010 (Vos T Flaxman etal, 2012), says globally there were approximately 329 million, which is 4.8% of the population who are affected by this chronic condition, In the UK (NICE, 2010), have estimated that 3 million people suffer from COPD, with more yet to be diagnosed. This information about the amount of people living with this condition was surprising, as I little knowledge of its existence. During the early 1960’s (Timothy Q. Howes, 2005), says the term COPD had been designated as a single term unifying all the chronic respiratory diseases. Since then the term COPD, has been sub divided in to three umbrella areas, Bronchitis, Emphysema and Chronic asthma, which are separate conditions, which I have been previously aware of as their individual conditions. The 58 year old patient who we visited,

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is major leading cause of morbidity and mortality in United States. There are some risk factors for COPD like age and smoking and other illnesses, often leading COPD patients to present with multiple coexisting comorbidities. COPD exacerbations and comorbidities plays a major role in the overall severity in individual’s health. The management and the medical intervention in COPD patients with comorbidities need a holistic approach. All of the health care specialists in COPD management need to work together with professionals specialized in the management of the other chronic diseases in order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to COPD patients with multiple diseases. A patient M. A. 72 years

In order to treat this disease, smokers need to participate in smoking cessation which involves the most important step, to stop smoking. Medications to help treat COPD include bronchodilators, such as inhalers, which relax muscles around the air way. Inhaled steroids can reduce air way inflammation and help prevent exacerbations. Lung therapies include oxygen therapy which will help increase blood oxygen. If severe enough, surgeries such as lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplants, and a bullectomy may be

• COPD is a heterogeneous disease with varying risk factors that may impact airflow differently3 o o Cigarette smoking is the most common cause, but air pollution and asthma can also cause COPD

There are many still in the stages of testing but should come along soon. One of these in study are endobronchial devices which is in phase three trials and are valves inserted into the bronchi. These depend on inter-lobar fissures and are only for those with heterogeneous emphysema. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists are also in study. They are molecularly different than other bronchodilators and also reduces the side effects these other drugs bring about. Gene therapy is another thing being proposed for treatment. This trial seems like it will be ongoing and may never reach the market because it is very dangerous to the patient. These along with many others could increase the effects of COPD on many in the future.

COPD is an irreversible progressive lung disease that makes it harder for people to breath. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (2015), COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

The most crucial part in any treatment plan for a COPD patient is to stop smoking. By continuing to smoke after a COPD diagnosis could cause your symptoms to worsen and the treatment plan to fail. Medications are another way to treat symptoms and complications. Some of the medications are used on a regular basis or on an as needed basis (PRN). Another treatment is lung therapy, which are often used for moderate to severe cases of COPD. Surgery is also an option for people who the medication has not sufficiently helped or people with severe forms of emphysema. Surgery could be a lung transplant and lung volume reduction

HOW IS IT TREATED? The goals of COPD treatment are: 1. to prevent further deterioration in lung function; 2. to alleviate symptoms; 3. To improve performance of daily activities and quality of life. The treatment strategies include: 1. quitting cigarette smoking; 2. taking medications to dilate airways (bronchodilators) and decrease airway inflammation; 3. vaccination against flu influenza and pneumonia; 4. regular oxygen supplementation; and 5. Pulmonary rehabilitation. Quitting cigarette smoking: The most effective and important treatment for COPD is to quit cigarette smoking. Patients who continue to smoke will have rapid deterioration in lung function in comparison to those who quit. The aging process itself can cause a very slow decline in lung function. Cigarette smoking can result in a

The most important treatment is to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and your doctor will assist you with the program that can help you to quit, and avoid other lungs irritants. There are also medications that can help to relieve your symptoms like bronchodilators depending on the severity of your COPD, as there is short acting and long acting bronchodilators. These bronchodilators are used through inhaler which helps to deliver the medicine into your lungs. If your COPD is severe and flare up more often the Pulmonologist (doctor who studies and treats the disease of the lungs) may combine Glucocorticosteroids (steroid) with your bronchodilator inhaler. Diets and exercises also plays major roles in the treatments of COPD, meanwhile, you may be restricted from eating certain foods or eating less, or frequently to prevent symptoms to flare up. Moderate exercise can also be suggested to strengthen the muscle of your lungs and to increase your overall

are treated with medications such as bronchodilators, systemic corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, and antibiotics. Oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, managing complications by immunization, and surgery are all treatment options as well. 7 Although there are many treatment options, the most effective available treatment for COPD is smoking cessation.6 The symptoms of COPD can be similar to other types of medical conditions such as cold,

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also known as COPD is a group of progressed lung disease that makes it hard for you to breath. The main disease that lead to COPD is bronchitis and emphysema. Emphysema is known to slowly destroys air sacs in your lungs which interfere with outward breathing. Bronchitis is inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes in which mucus builds up in which carry the air from and to the lung. The symptoms are not major nor extreme. At first, they start off mild and don’t really cause any pain. First some people may experience coughing and shortness of breath and think that they are coming off with a cold. Once COPD progresses it can become increasingly hard to breath. At this point many go to the doctor in

The risk factors of COPD include genetic factors as well as environmental causes. The chief risk factor for COPD is smoking; which also includes people exposed to enormous amounts of secondhand smoke. However, there are certainly other causes that can increase the risk of a person developing the disease such as dust and chemicals. Long term exposure to their fumes, vapors or particles can also cause the swelling of lungs (Eisner et al., 2010).

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. COPD includes extensive lungs diseases such as emphysema, non-reversible asthma, specific forms of bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis. This disease restricts the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Ways in which these limitations may occur include the loss of elasticity in the air sacs and throughout the airways, the destruction of the walls between air sacs, the inflammation or thickening of airway walls, or the overproduction of mucus in airways which can lead to blockage. Throughout this paper I am going to explain the main causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to reduce COPD.