Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease€¦ · Web viewChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease. It worsens over time and makes it hard to breathe. As the disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease PROGNOSIS

Allie Laslie

University of KENTUCKY CIS 111

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

INTRODUCTION

This purpose of this manual is to explain everything you need to know about Chronic

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This manual explains what COPD is, the signs

and symptoms, and treatment options for those diagnosed with COPD. This manual

allows the reader to become more familiar with the disease and to determine treatment

options that are available.

Please talk to your medical doctor if you think you are at risk for COPD.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Allie Laslie

University of Kentucky, Pre- Nursing Student

[email protected]

What is COPD?Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease. It worsens over time and makes it hard to breathe. As the disease worsens, shortness of breath ultimately leads to loss of energy and makes every day activities increasingly difficult.

How does COPD develop?As air travels into your lungs, it moves through two large tubes called bronchi. Inside your lungs, these tubes divide, like branches of a tree, into smaller tubes called bronchioles. They finally end in tiny air sacs called alveoli.

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As you inhale, the air you breathe (oxygen) passes into your blood vessels and moves through your blood stream. At the same time, carbon dioxide is being exhaled.

Your lungs rely on the natural elasticity of the bronchial tubes and air sacs to force air out of your body. COPD causes them to lose their elasticity and over expand, which leaves some air trapped in your lungs when you exhale.

SymptomsCOPD symptoms occur over time. Symptoms often don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred. Signs and symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath Wheezing Chest tightness Chronic cough Lack of energy Weight loss Swelling of ankles, feet, or legs

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CausesThe leading cause of COPD is tobacco smoking. 20 to 30 percent of chronic smokers develop COPD. However, COPD often occurs in people who have prolonged exposure to irritants such as secondhand smoke, pipe smoke, air pollution, and workplace exposure to dust, smoke, or fumes.

Risk Factors Asthma and Smoking

o People who suffer from asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease, while smoking have an much higher risk of getting COPD.

Ageo COPD develops slowly over the years. Symptoms are likely to start

around 40 years of age. Genetics

o Alpha-1-antitrypsin is an uncommon genetic disorder that leads to COPD in some cases.

Complications Respiratory infections

o People with COPD are more likely to catch colds, the flu, and pneumonia. Any respiratory infection can make it difficult to breathe and could cause further damage to lung tissue.

Heart and Lung problems o Like smoking, COPD can increase your risk of developing lung cancer

and heart disease, including heart attack. Depression

o Difficulty breathing can keep you from doing activities that you enjoy. Dealing with this illness can lead to development of depression.

Diagnosis To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, discuss family history, and discuss any exposure you’ve had to irritants. Your doctor may order various tests to aide in diagnosing your condition. Tests may include:

Lung Function Testso Measure amount of air you can inhale and exhale

Chest X-ray o Can show lung problems, signs of heart failure or emphysema

CT Scan o Screens for lung cancer and emphysema

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Laboratory testso Determine cause of symptoms and rule out other conditions

Lung Function Test

TreatmentThe most vital step in any treatment plan for COPD is to stop smoking. Many people have mild forms of this disease, therefore, the best therapy is to end smoking. However, quitting smoking can be hard. Talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement products and medications that may help.

Oxygen TherapyBecause there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood, you may need supplemental oxygen. There are several devices available to deliver oxygen into your lungs. The length of oxygen therapy varies. Some people with COPD use oxygen only while sleeping. Others use oxygen all the time. Oxygen Therapy can improve the quality of life. It is the only therapy for COPD that is proven to extend life. There are various types oxygen therapy.

1. Compressed Oxygen Gas Cylindersa. Fairly inexpensive (insurance coverage)b. Easy to use c. Extremely heavy

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d. Not easily movable e. Required refills f. Fire hazardous g. Take up a lot of space

There are a few pros to compressed oxygen gas cylinders. The main one being that they are inexpensive and usually covered by insurance. However, they are extremely heavy

and take up a lot of space. This leads to limited mobility and freedom.

2. Liquid Oxygen a. Takes up less spaceb. Very expensive c. Cannot be stored more than a week

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Liquid Oxygen allows people to live their daily lives without having to haul around a heavy oxygen tank. Liquid oxygen, however, is very expensive. It cannot be stored for

more than a week because it will evaporate. The tanks must often be refiled, which means scheduled deliveries. The process of using Liquid Oxygen is known to be increasingly

difficult.

3. Portable Oxygen Concentrators a. Inexpensiveb. Takes up less spacec. No refillsd. Electrical power

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A Portable Oxygen Concentrator is an electrical medical device that takes air from the room you’re in. There is a built-in flow meter that allows the prescribed rate to be set.

They’re dependent on electrical power. This will allow you to travel anywhere and live your daily life without having to worry about running out of oxygen.

References

Ahmadi, Z., Sundh, J., Bornefalk-Hermansson, A., & Ekström, M. (2016). Long-Term

Oxygen Therapy 24 vs 15 h/day and Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Disease. Plos ONE, 11(9), 1-11.

Begany, T. (2008). Research Shows the Benefits of Supplemental Oxygen in COPD.

Pulmonary Reviews, 13(2), 14.

Cetinkaya, P. D., Özkan, S. A., Erer, O. F., Halil, H., & Yalnız, E. (2014). The Efficacy

of Long Term Oxygen Therapy in COPD. Turk Toraks Dergisi / Turkish

Thoracic Journal, 15(1), 9-17

Edwards, M. (2005). Caring for patients with COPD on long-term oxygen therapy.

British Journal Of Community Nursing, 10(9), 404-410.

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Hall, T. (2016). Home oxygen therapy assessment for COPD patients discharged from

hospital: Respiratory NP Model of Care. Australian Journal Of Advanced

Nursing, 33(4), 17-25.

Katsenos, S., Charisis, A., Daskalopoulos, G., Constantopoulos, S. H., & Vassiliou, M. P.

(2006). Long-Term Oxygen Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

The Use of Concentrators and Liquid Oxygen Systems in North-Western Greece.

Respiration, 73(6), 777-782.

Parmar, S., & Raines, P. (2015). Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prescriber, 26(22), 12-21.

Stoller, J. K., Panos, R. J., Krachman, S., Doherty, D. E., & Make, B. (2010). Oxygen

Therapy for Patients With COPD. Chest, 138(1), 179-187.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease€¦ · Web viewChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease. It worsens over time and makes it hard to breathe. As the disease