Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Professor Wilson RN
Introduction to Nursing
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is a respiratory disease characterized by airway obstruction, causing patients breathing difficulties. It is progressive and non-reversible.
COPD patients are at risk of their symptoms becoming suddenly worse and thus needing admission to hospital.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
When you breath, air travels through tubes in your lungs called Bronchioles into millions of tiny sacs (Alveoli). In a healthy lung, the airways are open and the air sacs fill up with O2. Then gas exchange/CO2 comes quickly out.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD includes the following conditions.
Emphysema is associated with damage of the air sacs and/ or collapse of the smallest breathing tubes in the lungs.
Chronic Bronchitis is increased cough and mucus production caused by Inflammation of the airways. Bronchitis is considered chronic (or long-term).
Refractory (non-reversible) asthma
Some forms of bronchiectasis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Factors increasing the risk for COPD
Smoking is the most important factor in increasing the risk in developing COPD, but not all smokers develop COPD.
Socio-economic status may be measured by occupational, education, income or other indices of social class.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Individual Factor
Genes
Age
Gender
Environment Factor
Occupational dust and chemicals
Indoor and Outdoor air pollution
Infection
Socio-economic status
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD Exacerbation
When a patient COPD respiratory symptoms flare up and become much worse than usual.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Statistics
800,000 Patients are hospitalize each year in the U.S. for COPD.
Women are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis twice the rate of men.
In 2011 6.8 million women were diagnosed with COPD compared to 3.3 million in men.
65 million people world wide with COPD.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Treatment
Use an inhaled medication.
Attend pulmonary rehabilitation to help learn to manage symptoms.
Exercise to improve strength and breathing.
Quit smoking.
Avoid pollution when possible.
References
Learn COPD (2016) Retrieved from
Health Factsheet Socio-economic factors and COPD
(2001 – 2006) Retrieved from
www.metoffice.gov.uk/media
The World Health Organization’s(2015 August) Accessed
www.who.int/mediacentral/factssheets/fs315/en
