Lung Disease Case Study

Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to the symptoms of other diseases and conditions.

Diagnosing COPD is multifactorial, as stated previously, an all-encompassing nursing assessment and patient history must be conducted. When these processes are finalized, and subjective evidence points towards COPD, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis with objective data. The definitive way to do this is by conducting pulmonary function testing (PFT); specifically, spirometry. On top of diagnosing, spirometry, is also pertinent for staging the patients COPD (Corbridge,et al., 2012). In addition to these facets, there are several other radiologic and laboratory tests that are helpful in determining the severity of COPD; they are not so much diagnostic, as they are informative.

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

Etiology: COPD is caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke.

In Chronic bronchitis (blue bloaters) the following is normally found within the following patients: obesity, experiencing frequent coughing with expectoration, upon auscultation you can hear coarse rhonchi and wheezing. Patients may have signs of right heart failure (i.e., cor pulmonale), such as edema and cyanosis, however this can be miss diagnosed since these are also signs of congestive heart failure (CHF). One crude bedside test for distinguishing COPD from CHF is peak expiratory flow. In patients with Emphysema (pink puffers) patients will show the following signs or symptoms: may be very thin with a barrel chest, they will have little or no cough or expectoration, breathing may be assisted by pursed lips and use of accessory respiratory muscles; they may adopt the tripod sitting position. The chest may be hyper resonant, and wheezing may be heard; heart sounds are very distant. Overall appearance is more like classic COPD exacerbation. The damage to the lungs caused by emphysema is not reversible but is

It is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking. A diagnosis of COPD should be considered in any patient over the age of 40 who has symptoms of cough, sputum production, or dyspnea, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease. A chronic intermittent cough is the earliest symptom. As the disease progresses, the cough is present every day. Sputum may or may not be produced. Symptoms are progressive. COPD can be classified as mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, depending on the severity of the obstruction. (Brunner & Suddarth p.569) H.M has expected findings of a patient with mild to moderate

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

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is diagnosed with a number of different tests. First, the doctor will perform a physical examination. Then depending on what the doctor finds with the physical exam, will choose different tests to confirm findings. These tests could be: pulmonary function test (PFT) which includes a spirometer; chest x-ray; electrocardiogram (EKG); computerized tomography (PT) scan; sputum analysis; exercise stress test; arterial blood gas analysis (ABG); pulse oximetry; and/or blood work.

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

COPD is a chronic inflammation of the airways leading to fixed airflow obstruction and restricted gas exchange. The term COPD includes two basic respiratory pathologies: chronic bronchitis and emphysema (GOLD, 2006) that are described below. The condition is not reversible and may progressively worsen with time (NICE, 2010).

COPD is a condition which involves the respiratory system, thus the airway delivery system between inspiration of oxygen through the nose or mouth through to the alveoli and back again until exhalation occurs as a passive mechanism post inhalation. Therefore there are many structures and mechanisms involved with COPD. These will be discussed.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette

COPD is a collective name which is used to describe a number of conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is an abnormal condition of the respiratory tract, characterised by persistent and excessive productive cough, which reflects the mucous hypersecretion within the airway. The abnormalities include hypertrophy (increase in volume of an organ or tissue) and hyperplasia (increased cell production in a normal tissue or organ) of submucosal glands associated with mucous hypersecretion (Stellman,

At the onset of COPD, you may see no symptoms at all. However as time goes on symptoms start out mild and get more severe as the disease progresses. Signs of COPD include, coughs that produce more than normal mucus. Shortness of breath is one too look for while doing physical activates and tightness and a tightness of your chest as well. As with any disease everyone does not display the symptoms or show signs that they have it this varies from person to person. Symptoms to be aware of is

Some of the laboratory testing used to identify COPD are arterial blood gas and increased hematocrit levels. Arterial blood gas testing will reveals hypoxemia and hypercarbia due to the retention