Copd : Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

○ COPD, obstructive lung conditions like asthma, are commonly exacerbated by infection and led to respiratory illness and failure

As the number of smokers are rapidly increasing recently, the number of patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is also gradually increasing. It is one of the most common chronic diseases and is considered to be one of the five leading diseases following heart disease, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS worldwide (GOLD, 2004). Smoking is the main cause of COPD. However, long term exposure to chemical fumes and air pollution could also cause COPD. This essay is all about how COPD affects individual, family and society as a whole across their lifespan. Also, it discusses the role of a nurse in caring patients with COPD.

Have you ever known a person who smokes and has a hard time doing every day activities, due to difficulty of breath, or constantly coughing. He or she may have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. COPD is a progressive and treatable lung disease that causes shortness of breath due to obstruction of air way (COPD, 2013). Progressive means that is gradually gets worse over time. It is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Causes,2014). Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, which causes mucus build up (Davis,2016). Emphysema is when the air sacs get enlarged (Smoking, 2016). Since the disease does not have a cure yet it is important to know pathology (path of disease), epidemiology (who is effected in a population), ethology (who is effected genetically), manifestation (symptoms), treatment, and outcome.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases also known as lung cancer is a condition of slow irreversible progressive airway obstruction which gets worse over time. This includes several obstructive diseases of the lungs, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and pneumoconiosis. The outcome varies with the consequences with COPD. Approximately 12 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with COPD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is in the top five principal cause of death in the U.S. The disease is an abnormal inflammatory reaction in the lungs with limited airflow. COPD characteristically arises around the age 35. Smoking continues to be the main source of COPD, but is not the only known root cause. In many studies, smoking explanations for at least three fourths of COPD cases ("Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | University of Maryland Medical Center," n.d.). Stopping smoking has been known to improve lung capabilities and help to prevent death from COPD. Genetic conditions and introductions to airborne toxins, irritants and gasses are correspondingly involved in the growth of the illness. A complete treatment plan could comprise of lifestyle changes, one or more medications, patient education, oxygen therapy respiratory rehabilitation, and surgery ("Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | University of Maryland Medical Center," n.d.).

COPD is a disease that depletes a person of air. This disease is the fourth top cause of death in the United States. COPD describes several lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, refractory asthma, and other forms of bronchiectasis. There is no average case, as every case is different from the next. This disease is long term but treatable.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, is a slowly progressive inflammatory respiratory disease that affects the airways in the lungs. This makes it difficult for affected individuals to breath and get enough oxygen into their body. According to health statistics, COPD is the third leading cause of death and disability in the U.S.

It is very interesting how environmental factors and genetics can affect ones health. Throughout my experience as a nurse aid, I have observed that the use of inhalers have become very common in our society. I always questioned what health conditions cause the use of in halers other than asthma. Very surprisingly, people who don’t even smoke can be affected by just inhaling the smell around others who smoke. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the health conditions that are cause by inhaling environmental pollutants which can result in asthma as well. One may ask, what exactly is COPD? It is the type of pulmonary disorder such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis in which the upper airway is chronically obstructed. The condition

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. COPD includes extensive lungs diseases such as emphysema, non-reversible asthma, specific forms of bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis. This disease restricts the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Ways in which these limitations may occur include the loss of elasticity in the air sacs and throughout the airways, the destruction of the walls between air sacs, the inflammation or thickening of airway walls, or the overproduction of mucus in airways which can lead to blockage. Throughout this paper I am going to explain the main causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to reduce COPD.

In addition, COPD is progressively considered a systemic disorder with a great effect on cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease,

COPD is a condition which involves the respiratory system, thus the airway delivery system between inspiration of oxygen through the nose or mouth through to the alveoli and back again until exhalation occurs as a passive mechanism post inhalation. Therefore there are many structures and mechanisms involved with COPD. These will be discussed.

The majority of people with COPD are smokers or former smokers. The more and longer a person smokes, the higher the risk of developing COPD. Smoking is the primary cause of COPD but pollutants in the air such as secondhand smoke or dust and fumes can cause COPD. There is also a genetic predisposition that can lead to developing COPD. The prevention plan needs to revolving around these patients in order to appropriate target and treat the patients at higher risk for developing COPD. Many times, COPD is not diagnosed until it is in the advanced stages. This is typically due to the population not knowing the early warning signs. Many people attribute

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms of COPD patients are shortness of breath (SOB) that causes limiting of the patient’s activities and lack of energy, hard cough, massive sputum production, blue lips and fingernails (cyanosis), losing weight, fatigue, swelling in feet (edema), and wheezing. COPD is a disease caused by a long history of smoking cigarettes. COPD patients are more at risk for diseases such as heart disease, lung cancer, and other conditions and diseases. The two most common diseases related to COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Tobacco smoking is the main cause of COPD in developed countries because people are close to chemical fumes, dust, and smoke from fuel in poorly ventilated homes. Many

COPD is becoming prevalent disease within today’s society, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and Europe (Kaufman, 2013). It is defined as a:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is not one single disease but an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases that cause limitations in the air flow.