Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( Copd )

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,

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).

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.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable disease that has a detrimental effects on both the airway and lung parenchyma (Nazir & Erbland, 2009). COPD categorises emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are characterised by a reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow but forced emptying of the lungs (Jeffery 1998). The disease has the one of the highest number of fatalities in the developed world due to the ever increasing amount of tobacco smokers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014). Signs and symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease include a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnoea and predisposing risk factors (Edelman et al., 1992).

During the second week of my clinical rotation, I had the privilege of being with the respiratory department, as a result of that my research of the Continuity of Care topic will be based on the topic of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD patients are usually readmitted due to acute exacerbations also known as (AECOPD). (Laverty et al., 2015). In this paper, we explore the COPD discharge care bundles which have been developed by different authors. The care bundle consists of a short list of certain evidence-based practices to be utilized or implemented before discharge for all patients who have been admitted with COPD, based on reviewing national guidelines, evidenced based practices, expert opinion, other relevant literature, peer-reviewed journals and patient consultation. (Hopkinson et al., 2012).

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease better known as COPD is a term used to describe progressive lung diseases which includes the following: emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory (non-reversible) asthma, and some forms of bronchiectasis. Mainly caused from toxins in cigarette smoke. Other causes being air pollutants, chemicals fumes, and dust from work environments. COPD is the fourth most common cause of death in the United States. COPD has four stages of progression with no viable cure. The only relief persons who suffer from this condition is treatments to help manage the disease. Treatments used are determined by what stage you are in the progression of the disease.

Causes of COPD are, but are not limited to, tobacco smoke, occupational working exposure, outdoor and indoor pollutants, genetic factors and early life environmental factors. This disease has become the third leading cause of death in the United States of America. The only proven way to slow the progression is to QUIT smoking. Some studies have shown that giving a bronchodilator has reversed some lung function which benefits the patient. Symptoms of COPD include, but are not limited to, dyspnea upon exertion, chronic cough with or without phlegm, fatigue and weight loss. Some common characteristics of COPD are exacerbations and episodes of acute worsening. Exacerbations are commonly caused by viral and/or bacterial infections and pollution. Multimodal treatments are used and include

Based on the findings from the case study was R.S has been a smoker for many years. One of the most significant risk factors for determining COPD is cigarette smoking. In determining this we need to the amount he has smoked as well as how often he has smoked that lead to the chronic bronchitis. What that means is that the airway mainly the bronchi is inflamed. Since it is chronic, which is a specific condition has been occurring for many years. This kind of diagnosis can lead to the coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial vascular disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is progressively common amongst patients within the United States. The disease is more common in patients with a long smoking history. Inflammatory changes are largely responsible for the development and symptoms of COPD. COPD is typically managed according to classification of severity based on the GOLD guidelines. Anoro Ellipta is a new once daily FDA approved drug. It is a combination of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long-acting b2-agonist that should be considered in the management of COPD. Efficacy studies have proved Anoro Eliipta in preventing COPD exacerbations and show it is well tolerated amongst patients.

Although together chronic bronchitis and emphysema make up COPD and both affect respiratory system, these two diseases have different effects. Chronic bronchitis is a disease that irritates and makes the airways get inflamed. The body’s natural response to irritation in the airways is to produce more mucus. With the air ways inflamed and the excess mucus it becomes difficult to breath. On the other hand we have emphysema; emphysema affects the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli). The alveoli walls become damaged and can even be ruined; because of this many small alveoli reduce to big alveoli instead. This makes the gas exchange (oxygen into the body carbon-dioxide out) go down. Patients often suffer many symptoms before the visit a doctor and get a COPD diagnosis.

There are a number of clinical findings that can be consequences due to R.S. COPD. R.S. has developed chronic bronchitis also coined as typed B COPD or the blue bloater. A productive cough or an acute chest illness is common. The cough mostly is worse in the mornings and creates a small amount of colorless sputum. Wheezing may occur in some patients, predominantly during exertion and exacerbations (Mosenifar, 2014). Alterations in the airway involve chronic inflammation and swelling of the bronchial mucosa causing scarring with increased fibrosis of the mucous membrane. There is hypertrophy of the bronchial glands and goblets cell with an increase in bronchial wall thickness, which leads to an obstruction of airflow. Goblet cells and mucosal glands that experience hypertrophy cause a product of increased mucus that then combines with purulent exudate

Symptoms include those of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Signs of COPD include shortness of breath, a chronic, productive cough, wheezing, chest tightness, cyanosis of lips and nail beds, frequent respiratory infections, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. A chronic cough is the most obvious symptom of COPD as the body is trying to rid itself of the extra mucous that is produced from the

COPD is a progressive disease that makes it difficult to breath. Loss of elasticity, the destruction of the air sacs (emphysema), airways becomes thick and inflamed (chronic bronchitis), and/or increased mucus thickness that blocks the airways. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, however it can be caused by a long exposure to irritants to the lung, such as chemicals. COPD can be directly related to four different causes. COPD does not have a cure, it can only be managed.

COPD is a lung disease that makes a person hard to breath. This can cause damage to the lung over the years and this is usually caused from smoking. COPD is a mix of two diseases chronic bronchitis is the airway that carry air to the lung that causes the lung to inflame and make a lot of mucus. This can cause or block the airways that will make it hard to breath. Then there is emphysema where this is a healthy person, Tiny air sacs in the lungs and look like balloons. As the person breathe when inhaling and exhaling. Emphysema are air sacs that damage and lose their stretch. This will cause for less air to get in and out the lungs, in which it will make you feel out of breath.

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.