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Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease Analysis

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Disease that makes it hard to exhale all the air in the lungs, and when the airways becomes narrow that cause the air to come out slower is considered Obstructive airway disease. In addition patient with obstructive airway disease find it difficult to breathe while increased activity or exertion. Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, and Cystic Fibrosis are some of the obstructive airway disease. In details, COPD is a group of conditions characterized by obstruction to airflow in the lungs. Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, and emphysema are condition of COPD. Smoking is the common cause of COPD. “persons with COPD are unable to maintain normal blood gases by increasing their breathing effort. Hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and cyanosis develop, reflecting an imbalance between ventilation and perfusion”(Porth, 2011, p. 582). …show more content…

The pharmacologic treatment of COPD includes bronchodilators. Medication such Albuterol, levalbuterol, and ipratropium, are bronchodilator that comes in inhalant or liquid form that you add in to nebulizer. These medications relax the muscles around your airways. Anti-inflammatories are also used to help reduce the swelling and mucus production inside the airways. “Drugs used to treat asthma and COPD include drugs to block inflammation and drugs to dilate bronchi”(Karch, 2013, p. 941). Oxygen therapy is use as additional therapy for COPD patients. Managing the exacerbations includes treatment such as antibiotic, because bacterial or viral infection can cause exacerbation. Flu and Pneumococcal vaccination is also recommended to COPD

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