COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also known as COPD, is one of the third leading cause of death in the United States (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute [NHLBI], 2013a). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015) approximately 15 million Americans are affected by COPD, with a morbidity rate of 6.8 million. Data from the CDC from 2011 states that 6.3% of the U.S population suffer from this disease; Florida has the COPD prevalence rate of 7.1% with the highest percentage going to Kentucky with a rate 9.3% as summarized by the COPD foundation (2015). CDC calculated the cost of having COPD as $32.1 billion in 2010 and they expect it to rise to $49 billion by 2020, all for a disease that could be prevented. Additionally CDC has stated the mortality rate has decreased in men in the United States from 57.0 per 100,000 to 47.6 per 100,000 from 1999 to 2010. However, regarding the rate for women, there has not been much change during the same time period. The rate shifted from 35.3 per 100,000 to 36.4 per 100,000 (CDC, 2014).

The topic is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It is an umbrella term used for respiratory disorders such as chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a serious condition that restricts airflow to the lungs and is not fully reversible. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia. More than 1 in 20 Australians over 55 have COPD and is also the fifth leading cause of death. There is also a rate of 1,008 per 100,000 of the population aged 55 and over being hospitalized for the condition. The rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared with non-indigenous Australians are 2.5 times as high (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016). There is no cure however; the management can slow the disease progression and is therefore crucial to the quality of life of patients.

R.W. appears with progressive difficulty getting his breath while doing simple tasks, and also having difficulty doing any manual work, complains of a cough, fatigue, and weight loss, and has been treated for three respiratory infections a year for the past 3 years. On physical examination, CNP notice clubbing of his fingers, use accessory muscles for respiration, wheezing in the lungs, and hyperresonance on percussion of the lungs, and also pulmonary function studies show an FEV1 of 58%. These all symptoms and history represented here most strongly indicate the probability of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a respiratory disease categorized by chronic airway inflammation, a decrease in lung function over time, and gradual damage in quality of life (Booker, 2014).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, is a relatively common chronic illness that is treatable, however there is currently has no cure. COPD is an illness that encompasses two major illnesses these illnesses are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both of these illnesses wreak havoc on the lungs of the affected person by causing mucus to build up in the bronchioles henceforth reducing the effectiveness of the alveoli which impairs gas exchange. According to the American Lung Association, “COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 11 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but an estimated 24 million may have the disease without even knowing it” (American Lung Association [ALA], n.d.). As this data from the American Lung Association shows, in the United States alone we may have a total of 35 million people (almost one tenth of the American population) living with COPD. QSEN, which stands for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, has developed six competencies related to nursing care. These competencies are Patient-Centered Care, Teamwork and Collaboration, Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Safety, and Informatics. These aforementioned QSEN competencies break down how nurses should be treating patients and working with the health care team.

Have you ever known a person who smokes and has a hard time doing every day activities, due to difficulty of breath, or constantly coughing. He or she may have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. COPD is a progressive and treatable lung disease that causes shortness of breath due to obstruction of air way (COPD, 2013). Progressive means that is gradually gets worse over time. It is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Causes,2014). Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, which causes mucus build up (Davis,2016). Emphysema is when the air sacs get enlarged (Smoking, 2016). Since the disease does not have a cure yet it is important to know pathology (path of disease), epidemiology (who is effected in a population), ethology (who is effected genetically), manifestation (symptoms), treatment, and outcome.

History of Present Illness: Mr. Magnuson is a very pleasant 77-year-old gentleman who was previously seen in this office by Elvira Aguila, MD for COPD and hypoxic respiratory failure. He is here today for routine followed up. He was last evaluated in January 2015. Since that time, he states that his dyspnea is worse. He feels that it is related to the weather. He does state that he works around the house, although he does have significant functional limitations because of shortness of breath. His wife also confirms that he is able to do less and less. He has a stable, minimal cough. He is using 4L of oxygen at night as well as, as needed throughout the day. He continues to smoke three to four cigarettes on

COPD is a disease that depletes a person of air. This disease is the fourth top cause of death in the United States. COPD describes several lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma, and other forms of bronchiectasis. There is no average case, as every case is different from the next. This disease is long term but treatable.

Millions of individuals suffer and die from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) each year in our nation. Currently, there is no cure for COPD; therefore, the most beneficial goal for these patients is to provide enhanced quality of life that includes limited admissions to the hospital setting and decreased exacerbations. Management of this disease process through proper patient education and multidisciplinary collaboration improves a COPD patient’s ability to maintain a healthier state of life as well as decrease their chance of a costly hospital readmission (Chamberlain, Lau, Siracuse, 2017).

COPD symptoms are often similar symptoms of other lung diseases and conditions, so it's best to consult a doctor as soon as you discover something that may indicate you have early symptoms of COPD. This article is intended only to provide basic and introductory information about COPD symptoms to non-medical readers.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to portray dynamic lung sicknesses including emphysema, constant bronchitis, unmanageable (non-reversible) asthma, and a few types of bronchiectasis. This malady is described by expanding shortness of breath (What is COPD?). Many individuals botch their expanded shortness of breath and hacking as an ordinary piece of maturing. In the early phases of the infection, you may not see the side effects (What is COPD?).

Several tests have been a part of diagnosing COPD for many years, including the most common, Spirometry. Spirometry is a lung function test that measures the total volume of air that the patient can expel from the lungs after maximum inspiration. Although this test is successful in helping diagnose COPD, it has been said to be overlooked more and more in primary care. Spirometry testing is essential, along with thorough examination and history taking, to avoid missed or late diagnoses. Healthcare workers responsible for conducting and interpreting

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) is a chronic disease of the lungs that makes it hard for gas exchange to occur in the body. Cigarette smoke is the main cause of COPD, although other lung irritants can contribute to the disease. Some examples of irritants include pollution in the air, chemical fumes, or excessive dust or particle inhalation. Breathing is very difficult for a person with COPD, and there are a few reasons why. The air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) get damaged and lose elasticity. Airway walls become thickened and inflamed. Excess production of mucus clogs the airways. COPD is a collective term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Signs and symptoms of the disease include frequent cough with excessive mucus production,

The Lung Pulmonary Function Test measures the amount of air that is inhaled and exhaled with each breath, it also measures the amount of oxygen that blood receives from the lungs. A Chest X-Ray tests the lungs for emphysema, which can be further diagnosed as COPD. A CT Scan can also be used in order to detect emphysema and determine if you’re eligible for surgery. This scan can also show different types of lung cancer that may have developed. The Arterial Blood Gas Analysis is another form of testing that can be used to diagnosis this disease. This test measures how well your lungs bring in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. In order to check for an Alpha-1 deficiency, a Laboratory Test can be performed. Although there are many forms of diagnosing this disease, there is no actual cure. However, there are many ways to reduce the symptoms which include medicines that can help with specific symptoms, an increase of physical activity, prevention of flare-ups, quitting smoking and inhalation of other harmful substances, and pulmonary

Keith Orton, 61 year old male, has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a not fully reversible lung disease characterised by post bronchodilator limitation of expiratory airflow by comparison with lung volumes , interfering with normal breathing. COPD is used as an umbrella term to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Disorders such as tracheal tumour, cystic fibrosis, obliterative bronchiolitis and respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease, that can restrict expiratory airflow are excluded from the COPD definition. However, these disorders may be present in a patient diagnosed with COPD, but whether they are associated is unknown.

COPD comprises of chronic bronchitis or emphysema or the combination of these two pathological conditions. Chronic Bronchitis is described as the occurrence of a cough and increased sputum production for as a minimum of three months in each of two sequential years, which is not necessarily