Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Stoller claims that COPD has been the interest of many researchers recently. The disease caused about 2.5 million deaths in 2000 (Stoller, 2012).
Normally, there are two lungs in the chest. Lobes are sections that make up lungs. Ribcage protects the lungs. They remove carbon dioxide from the body and bring oxygen into it. The nose and the cough are the ways in which lungs protect themselves. People breathe in air through the mouse or nose (Thoracic.org, 2015).
Then the air moves down the trachea. The epiglottis controls food and prevents it from entering the trachea. Choking and coughing spasm are the results of food entering the trachea. Bronchi are the breathing tubes of the trachea. Bronchioles are smaller tubes of bronchi. Attached to breathing tubes are alveoli. Normal lungs have 300 million alveoli. The diaphragm is the most effective muscle in the breathing process. The process in which the diaphragm moves down is called inhalation. The process which takes place when the diaphragm relaxes is called exhalation. When people breathe in, such muscles as the diaphragm, the scalene muscle and other muscles located between the ribs are active (Thoracic.org, 2015).
Speaking about the pathology of emphysema, elastin breakdown should be noticed. In most cases, cigarette smoke is the main cause of the COPD. Oxidative stress is another process in the COPD’s pathogenesis. As to the pathology of chronic bronchitis, the increased size and number of the goblet cell should be stressed, since it can lead to mucus secretion (Stoller, 2012).
Certain symptoms often indicate possible COPD. There is a number of them. Thus, a proclivity to respiratory infections is among the most common symptoms of COPD. Shortness of breath caused by physical activity, chronic cough, and wheezing are also among the symptoms. Other symptoms are decreased strength of muscle, weight loss, leg swelling, and blue-tinged lips (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2012).
Patients with COPD should be educated on the risk factors of the disease. Patients’ education is a key factor to effective treatment, as patients should understand risk factors and their consequences. Treatment of COPD also requires team approach. Therefore, home health nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and others are needed for effective treatment. One of the aspects of patients’ education is realizing the need for smoking cessation. It brings many benefits to the patients with COPD. One of the benefits is improvement in symptoms. Nowadays it is comparatively easy to give up smoking since there are many strategies for smoking cessation available (Stoller, 2012).
As to the treatment itself, there are many types of it. Here belong bronchodilators, corticosteroids, mucokinetic agents, immunization, antibiotics, and others. Bronchodilators are considered the most effective in COPD treatment. Bronchodilators relax muscles, which causes the improvement of lung emptying. For patients with stable COPD, inhaled corticosteroids are often used. Speaking about the immunization, it is very effective with influenza and that is why it is strongly recommended (Stoller, 2012).
For some patients with COPD, surgery is also an option. As a rule, those are patients with severe emphysema. There are three surgical options with severe emphysema. They are lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplant, and bullectomy (Mayoclinic.org, 2016).
Reference List
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (2012). Diagnosis. [online] Available at: https://copulmonarydisease.wordpress.com/diagnosis/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2016].
Mayoclinic.org. (2016). Treatment - COPD - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20204923 [Accessed 15 Aug. 2016].
Stoller, J. (2012). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). [online] Clevelandclinicmeded.com. Available at: http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/pulmonary/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2016].
Thoracic.org. (2015). American Thoracic Society - Anatomy and Function of the Normal Lung. [online] Available at: https://www.thoracic.org/copd-guidelines/for-patients/anatomy-and-function-of-the-normal-lung.php [Accessed 15 Aug. 2016].
