Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Essay

As the number of smokers are rapidly increasing recently, the number of patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is also gradually increasing. It is one of the most common chronic diseases and is considered to be one of the five leading diseases following heart disease, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS worldwide (GOLD, 2004). Smoking is the main cause of COPD. However, long term exposure to chemical fumes and air pollution could also cause COPD. This essay is all about how COPD affects individual, family and society as a whole across their lifespan. Also, it discusses the role of a nurse in caring patients with COPD.

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 disease (COPD) is in the top five principal cause of death in the U.S. The disease is an abnormal inflammatory reaction in the lungs with limited airflow. COPD characteristically arises around the age 35. Smoking continues to be the main source of COPD, but is not the only known root cause. In many studies, smoking explanations for at least three fourths of COPD cases ("Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | University of Maryland Medical Center," n.d.). Stopping smoking has been known to improve lung capabilities and help to prevent death from COPD. Genetic conditions and introductions to airborne toxins, irritants and gasses are correspondingly involved in the growth of the illness. A complete treatment plan could comprise of lifestyle changes, one or more medications, patient education, oxygen therapy respiratory rehabilitation, and surgery ("Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | University of Maryland Medical Center," n.d.).

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.

COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is one of the most common lung diseases. Thousands of people are diagnosed every year, and it recently moved up to the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer. This paper will discuss disease pathology, the most common and recently discovered diagnostic tests, as well as treatment options. It will also address end of life care.

One of the biggest causes of COPD is a cigarettes smoking. Habitual smoking can inflame the linings of the airways in the lungs and can make the

I work as a respiratory therapist and treat patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is a leading cause associated with developing COPD. As a professional working in the healthcare field, I have been fortunate and educated about the dangers and consequences linked to cigarette smoking. I have treated and have experience with individuals who have smoked and developed COPD. Also, as an educator, I have tried to help individuals quit smoking to improve overall health. As an educator, I view smoking as an addiction to the drug nicotine and managing cravings will help individuals quit smoking.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an ailment defined by irreversible airway limitation. COPD is an umbrella term covering emphysema, in which there is destruction and enlargement of the lung alveoli, chronic bronchitis, characterized by chronic cough and phlegm production, and small airways disease, a condition in which airways are narrowed.2 Cigarette smoking is responsible for most cases of COPD and is responsible for 90% of the risk for developing COPD.3 Patients who do not smoke can also develop COPD via recurrent infections, exposure to fumes or pollution, and second hand smoking.2 Genetic factors have been found to increase the risk of developing COPD, most notably Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, which is present in 1to 2% of COPD patients.2 COPD currently affects more than 10 million Americans and holds a spot as the fourth leading cause of death.2 The National Health Interview Survey reports the

All over the world, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very significant and prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality, and it is increasing with time (Hurd, 2000; Pauwels, 2000; Petty, 2000). Due to the factor of COPD being an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease, the epidemiology (Pauwels, Rabe, 2004) is about 60 to 85 % with mild or moderate COPD remaining undiagnosed (Miravitlles et al., 2009; Hvidsten et al., 2010).

A 66-year-old female patient, M.K., was admitted to an outlying hospital for exacerbations of respiratory failure. M.K. also has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) along with chronic respiratory failure, bronchiectasis, tobacco use for 15 years, and other pulmonary diseases. Breathing techniques to assist with the effects of COPD is the focus of my teaching plan. COPD is associated “with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response of the airways and lungs to noxious particles or gases that is primarily cause by cigarette smoking” (Kaufman, 580).

The longer you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater the risk. Of course, it is not just cigarette smokers who are at risk for COPD – those who smoke pipes, cigars, and marijuana are as well. Other risk factors are having a job that exposes you to dust, chemicals, and other irritants, genetics (though this is uncommon, as the genetic deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin is rare), and age (symptoms usually begin in people age thirty-five to forty, as COPD is a slow-progressing disease). If you are diagnosed with COPD, you may not need a specialist – your Primary Care Physician will most likely be the one to treat

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth-leading cause of death in the world and serves as a steadily growing healthcare problem resulting in severe morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that by the year 2020, COPD will develop into the third-leading cause of death, resulting in 5 million deaths per year, and become the fifth-leading causing of disability worldwide. The progression of understanding regarding COPD and its components has steadily expanded over the past 200 years. Knowledge of the pathogenesis, course, prognosis, and new approaches to

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 1.2.1 Definitions and Terminology --------------------------- There are no universally accepted terminology or definition for the group of conditions characterised by airways obstruction that is completely reversible (Snider, 1996). There are several problems that have to be considered. The first results from the use of the term ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’ (COPD), which is considered inaccurate since this is not truly a disease but a group of diseases. The second relates to the British preference for the terms ‘chronic bronchitis’ and ‘emphysema’, which although describing two conditions with an apparently more precise

In the United States, COPD is the third leading cause of death. It is a progressive lung disease causing difficulty breathing with onset occurring in middle aged adults and history of smoking or smoke exposure being the primary risk factor. Based on the GOLD Guidelines for COPD