Copd

Disease Entity

COPD:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a mixture of three separate disease processes. The diseases include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Progression of COPD is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory mucous that builds up in the lumens of small airways and the thickening of their walls. The walls become infiltrated by adaptive and innate inflammatory immune cells. The cause of COPD is usually the direct result of tobacco abuse. Some patients have COPD caused by alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis, air pollution, occupational exposure and bronchiectasis. COPD is diagnosed in patients by physical appearance, which may include barrel-chested in a result of increased air trapping. Digital clubbing may be noticeable in the patient’s digits, which includes altering the circular angle. Cyanosis may be present as a result of hypoxemia. Decreased and adventitious breath sounds. Ventilatory pattern may be increased due to use of accessory muscles, and prolonged expiratory time. Frequent paradoxical movement of the abdomen and pursed-lip breathing may also be present. The patient may have muscle atrophy due to decreased oxygenation to the tissues. A general way to determine if a patient has COPD is pulmonary function testing. Treatment of COPD is based on the patient’s general medical condition and the severity of the disease. Options usually include a combination of the following treatments. The first treatment is to stop smoking if this is the general cause. Medications used are a combination of short-acting bronchodilators, long-acting bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Home oxygenation may be required to correct hypoxemia and improve the physical and mental function of the patient. Studies have shown greater long-term survival of patients who receive home oxygen.

Pulmonary rehab programs may also help to improve exercise capacity, reduce the hospitalization rate and improve the overall quality of...