...Current diagnosis COPD/Emphysema. Patient XX was diagnosed with COPD in 2009. COPD is a progressive disease with presence of airflow obstruction, which may be cause by chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Emphysema is a pathological condition caused by the destruction of alveolar walls and a consequent permanent enlargement of the alveolar sacs. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), a diagnosis of COPD is made based on the patient’s signs and symptoms, medical and family history, and results of diagnostic tests. Common signs and symptoms of COPD include cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and chest tightness. Most patients are older than 50 years. They present with major complaints of severe dyspnea and require the use of accessory muscles...
Words: 2978 - Pages: 12
...Respiratory Diseases at a Closer Glance Respiratory Diseases at a Closer Glance Emphysema, like any other disease, affects millions of people all around the world. Researchers each year conduct more studies to better understand these diseases and how treat them. Researchers look at what populations are most vulnerable, if the environment plays a role, and how the community either promotes prevention or worsens conditions. First, it is important to understand what this disease is, the etiology, transmission, how outside factors affect it, and ultimately, why men are more vulnerable than women. Emphysema, which is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affects the respiratory system. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two diseases that fall under COPD (Demirjian, 2012, para. 1). The most common known cause of emphysema is from cigarette smoking due to the pollutants in tobacco. Studies show that while cigarette smoking is the major cause, other possible causes are air pollutants, chemical irritant exposure, chronic bronchitis, and genetics (Zelman, 2010, p.197). The pollutants in tobacco release chemicals from within the lungs that cause damage to the alveoli. As time passes, this continues to do more damage to the alveoli. The chemicals that cause the alveolar walls to break down also cause the lungs to lose elasticity which prevents them from inflating and deflating correctly. Since the lungs are not able to deflate as normal, they fill over time with carbon...
Words: 1475 - Pages: 6
...development through the life stages p5 physical and psychological changes associated with ageing. menopause. The menopause is caused by a change in the balance of the body's sex hormones. In the lead-up to the menopause, oestrogen levels decrease, causing the ovaries to stop producing an egg each month. Oestrogen is the female sex hormone that regulates a woman's periods on average woman reach the menopause at the age of 52, some woman experience the menopause in their 30s or 40s . when woman have the menopause under the at of 45 it is called a premature menopause. as the woman is starting the menopause she might get really heavy or could be light periods. also The frequency of a woman periods may also be affected. woman may have one every two or three weeks, or you may not have one for months at a time. when a woman is going through a menopause they have mostly emotionally and physical symptoms. for example when woman are going through the menopause a woman would experience hot flushes night sweats which may cause lack of sleep palpitations headaches tiredness mood changes such as depression and anxiety. lose interest in having sex with their partners self conscious If you experience the menopause suddenly, rather than gradually, your symptoms may be worse. Symptoms will usually last between two and five years before disappearing, although they can last longer. m3 the menopause can cause an affect on the woman's self confidence...
Words: 3049 - Pages: 13
...approach to COPD prevention will need to address the complexity of COPD. Advances in the understanding of the natural history of COPD and the development of strategies to assess COPD in its early stages make prevention a reasonable, if ambitious, goal. Prevention can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary (Rennard, Drummond, 2015). The term COPD is used to describe certain diseases that partially block airflow in the lungs. The most common kinds of COPD include: Emphysema and Chronic bronchitis and other diseases. Emphysema can cause damage to the alveoli that cannot be cured; this is the tiny air sacs of the lungs where oxygen is put into your blood. With emphysema your lungs become less able to take in good air and get rid of carbon dioxide. Chronic bronchitis occurs when the airways in the lungs become swollen; this causes more mucus than normal to be made in the lungs. The swelling and increased mucus can cause the airflow to become partially blocked. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema often occur together. Other diseases that may cause long-term airflow problems in the lugs include asthmatic bronchitis, which is also called chronic asthma, and cystic fibrosis. Smoking or being around smokers causes the most cases of COPD. The more you smoke, the more you cause irreversible damage to your lungs. Children of heavy smokers can also have an...
Words: 1146 - Pages: 5
...Nursing Care Plan The patient is , a 72 year old man who has been admitted for dyspnea or shortness of breath. reported that he has been coughing for the past week and his coughing has accompanied sputum discharge. His past medical history includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. He used to smoke but has stopped since a year ago for economical reasons as well as it is also bad for his asthma. His bowel movements have also been irregular since his admission. He also reported that he is feeling depressed and fearful about the future. Further examination revealed that he has crackles in his left lower lobe with diffuse expiratory wheezing throughout his chest. Chest percussion also revealed his left lower lobe to be dull. Needs / Problems Goals Interventions Evaluation Dyspnea or shortness of breath Use the visual analog scale (VAS) to make an objective assessment of dyspnea. The VAS is a 100-mm vertical line with end points of 0 and 10. zero is equated with no dyspnea and 10 is equated with the worst brethlessness the client has experienced ( & , 2004) Dyspnea is difficult to quantify and to treat (Potter & Perry, 2004). Interventions need to be individualized for each patient, and more than one therapy is usually implemented. The underlying process that causes or worsens dyspnea must be treated and stabilized initially. Three additional therapies have to be implemented: pharmacological measures, physical techniques,...
Words: 1787 - Pages: 8
...Inflammation damage causes Emphysema, which produces loss of elasticity of the lung tissues that are essential for breathing. COPD is broken down into four main stages with the first being mild, then moderate (stage 2) , now on to severe (stage 3) , and finally ending with very severe. In the mild stage a lot of people go on with their normal daily routines because they only present with a small cough and dyspnea, which they refer to as common cold like symptoms. In this case they are most commonly prescribed with short-acting bronchodialtors such as albuterol, and given the advice to stop smoking if they are, although most symptoms are barely noticeable and more than often go untreated. The next stage is now going to be moderate where dyspnea begins to steadily worsen as...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...progressive lung disease that makes it hard for someone to breath by limiting the airflow of oxygen in and out of the lungs. COPD is a deteriorating disease that worsens as time goes on that affects over 12 million people in the United States (U.S.). It is characterized by inflammation and severe limitation of airflow in and out of the lungs. COPD is an umbrella term used to describe a group of breathing conditions. Most people age 40 and older with a history of smoking (either current or former smokers) are more likely to suffer from COPD, although in some cases one out of six people with COPD have never smoked. (GICOPD 2001) The most common types of COPD are Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, and Emphysema. Many people diagnosed with COPD may have two types Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema while a few may only have Asthma. COPD is the third most common cause of death in the United States. Of the major causes of death in the U.S., it is the only to have risen in numbers since the year of 2007 while the leading causes (Heart Disease and Cancer) numbers have slightly gone down. COPD is also the second leading cause of disability in the U.S. In 2010, the cost to the nation for COPD was projected to be approximately $49.9 billion, including $29.5 billion in direct health care expenditures, $8.0 billion in indirect morbidity costs and $12.4 billion in indirect mortality costs. ((COPD) Fact Sheet 2014) In a set of normal functioning lungs, air is inhaled and travels through the trachea...
Words: 1644 - Pages: 7
...24, 2011 Emphysema and COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition when the cells lining the lungs swell to a point at which they restrict air flow. COPD has doubled over the past two decades, and is the nation’s fourth cause of death in the United States. Because of the blocked air passages, it causes a strain to the heart. COPD increases the blood pressure in the lungs called pulmonary hypertension, and can make the heart enlarge. Emphysema is a lung disease that is classified as COPD. Emphysema causes irreversible lung tissue damage. Emphysema involves permanent damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs that are destroyed and lose the ability to stretch. This leads to insufficient exchange of gases. Carbon dioxide stays in the lungs and has less room for oxygen. As a result, the body does not get the oxygen that is needed, and this causes difficulty in breathing. COPD and emphysema are preventable. In North American tobacco use is the primary cause of COPD, but air pollution, asthma, and respiratory infections also play a role (Thibodeau and Patton pg. 477). However, emphysema does have an inherited disorder called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. This is a substance that is made in the liver and is released in the bloodstream. It helps protect the lungs against damage from other chemicals in the blood. Having alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency means that the patient does not enough, and the lungs can become easily damaged. COPD and emphysema are not contagious...
Words: 1511 - Pages: 7
...Respiratory Disease Paper Lisa N. HCS/245 University of Phoenix Understanding COPD COPD (short for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is an obstructive lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. COPD is a disease that involves inflammation and thickening of the airways. It also involves destruction of the tissue of the lung where oxygen is exchanged. Obstruction in COPD means that the flow of air in and out of the lungs is less than it should be. When that happens, less oxygen gets into the body tissues, and it becomes harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. As the disease gets worse, it becomes more difficult to remain active due to shortness of breath. Sometimes referred to as either chronic bronchitis or emphysema, most people will have symptoms of both conditions, so health professionals prefer to call the disease COPD. However, some doctors think that chronic bronchitis may be present even though a person does not have the airway obstruction characteristic of COPD. The seriousness of COPD. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the US. It causes serious long-term disability and early death. At this time there is no cure for COPD. More than 11 million people are known to have COPD and up to 24 million may have the disease due to some not even knowing it. The number of people dying from COPD is growing. Deaths due to COPD in women are higher than in men. COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced because people do not know...
Words: 1162 - Pages: 5
...that we hear a lot. But what is it? What causes it? Is there a cure? By medical definition COPD stands for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which refers to a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult. (Walsh) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is known to cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both are It is commonly caused from smoking cigarettes. Both can severely damage It can cause a person life threatening problems; heart failure, wheezing, coughing, are just a few. COPD can destroy the airway by becoming inflamed and swollen. In addition a person can experience episodes of coughing up mucus, which will cause the alveoli to weaken and loose elasticity. . There are three types of inflammation that are common with COPD: panacinar, ceniacinar, and distal acinar emphysema. Out of the three panacinar emphysema is the most severe, rendering most people unable to work. They experience severe coughing throughout the day and are more susceptible to contract infections. Ceniacinar is not as severe. Most people are able to work, but still will experience episodes of uncontrollable coughing. Distal acinar emphysema is quite rare. COPD is a progressive disease which will worsen over time. COPD is a major cause of disability, and it's the third leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, millions of people are diagnosed with COPD. . The main reason for this high percent is because nearly half of women currently living with...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
...4000 chemicals and 60 known carcinogenic chemicals causing heart and lung disease to include emphysema. The ingredients found in a cigarette smoke that not contain poisonous gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, Methanol (wood alcohol), Acetylene (fuel used in welding torches), and ammonia are very harmful to a person’s health. There are three components or main ingredients of cigarettes called Nicotine, Tar, and Carbon Monoxide. The addictive component is called Nicotine. Absorbed into the blood, in 10 seconds it affects the brain causing the smoker to feel good by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters and causes the blood pressure, adrenaline, and hearts rate to surge. After the rush is over the body feels sluggish thus it craves the chemicals that made it feel good earlier which causes the additive behavior of the person. Tiny hairs in the lungs called cilia are used to protect the lungs from dirt and infection, but once tar is introduced to the cilia it sticks to the hairs and prevents the cilia from protecting the lungs. Tar coats the walls of the lungs and entire respiratory system, narrowing the bronchial tubes that transport air and reduce the elasticity in the wall of small air sacs in the lung and break into larger and less efficient air sacs hindering the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide producing the disease Emphysema of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) group damaging the lungs. Found in vehicle...
Words: 557 - Pages: 3
...indicate that his chronic bronchitis is in late stagesPeople with chronic bronchitis tend to be around 30-40, and overweight. His test results will likely also include elevated interleukin-8 and CD8 T-lymphocytes and a thickened/inflamed bronchial wall, which causes pulmonary hypertension, which would eventually lead to cor pulmonale He may also have a medical history of airway infections. In fact, R.S. has pneumonia. 2. How would the consequences of the COPD of R.S. (identified in question 1) differ from those of emphysematous COPD? Just like chronic bronchitis, emphysema is a type of COPD and is associated with smoking. But there are other things to consider. Just because both have to do with decreased levels of oxygen in the blood doesn't mean they will manifest in the same way. In fact, the biological mechanisms are very different There are many ways to differentiate chronic bronchitis from emphysema. Emphysema patients are known as “pink puffers” because of their thin, frail appearance. This is because they have to work harder to breathe since the residual volume in their lungs is higher than normal. Their lungs are not as elastic, so their bodies will apply more effort and spend more calories just tobreathe. An example of this is the use of accessory muscles.Also, their breathing problem makes it difficult for them to eat enough food, so they end up eating less. This is why they appear thin. Also, they will breathe with pursed lips, and have a barrel chest. They even have...
Words: 910 - Pages: 4
...The Effects of Smoking Smoking is one of the most common vices that some people have. For smokers, it has already become a part of their daily routine. In fact, the number of smokers has been dramatically increasing every year. In this essay, I will be discussing more about smoking with the hope of convincing smokers to consider quitting smoking. According to a news by the Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations (FAO), the number of smokers has increased from 1.1 billion to 1.3 billion worldwide which is equivalent to an increase of about 1.5% annually. If we are to count the tons of tobacco sold annually, it would reach about 7.1 million (“Higher world,” 2004). Given that fact, it is very disturbing and disappointing to know that this bad habit is slowly spreading to almost seven billion people worldwide like an epidemic. However, let us try considering some of the reasons why they smoke. Seeing their older relatives or their parents smoke makes them consider starting smoking as well. As a result, most teenagers think that smoking makes them look matured. Another reason why they smoke is peer pressure. If one’s group of friends is a group of smokers, there is a high possibility that he will also be influenced by them for the sake of fitting in. Minors also tend to be excited to try something new such as smoking. Some also consider smoking as their way of relieving from their personal problems; it is where they pour out all their stress. Lastly, they use...
Words: 1358 - Pages: 6
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also referred to as COPD is the name that identifies a group of lung diseases. These diseases consist of bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory asthma. An individual can have COPD for years and not know it. When the disease is in the early stages the symptoms are not completely mature and are barely discernible. As the disease matures and progresses the symptoms become more noticeable. Although millions of individuals are living with COPD, this disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States; and smoking, second-hand smoke, air pollutants, occupational dust, chemicals, and genetics are factors that can cause the disease for which there is no cure; however numerous treatments are available to help live an active and healthy life (COPD Foundation, 2010). Many people who have COPD are undiagnosed with the disease. Undiagnosis could derive from several reasons, which may include no health insurance, afraid to seek medical attention, or belief that the symptoms are of another illness such as a cold that will not go away. However, most cases of COPD are undiagnosed because of a lack of education concerning the disease. Many communities and employers fail to educate the public concerning diseases like COPD.I was surprised to find that the Dobbins...
Words: 2779 - Pages: 12
...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, otherwise known as COPD, is a condition that limits airflow due to an inflammatory response of the lungs and airways to noxious particles or gases (Pirina et al). COPD is a broad disease that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, types of bronchiectasis, and asthma. This disease effects the smaller airways in the body, rather than the larger ones. COPD continues to grow and effect more and more people, and it is one of the most common causes of death in the world. The stethoscope and spirometer became the most important tools in diagnosing the disease and monitoring it once a patient is diagnosed. A spirometer measures the air capacity in the lungs by measuring the movement of air into and out of the...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
