COPD Flashcards
(41 cards)
what is COPD
abnormal chronic inflammatory response of airways to noxious particles or gases
past definitions of COPD
- chronic bronchitis
- emphysema
cardinal symptoms of COPD
- dyspnea
- difficulty breathing
- SOB
- limitations in activity
COPD significance
- 9.4% Canadians >35
- comparable gender prevalence
- higher among first nations
risk factors of COPD
- smoking
- occupational chemicals or dust
- air pollution
- infection
- aging
tobacco smoke and sympathetic nervous system
- increases HR
- peripheral vasoconstriction
- increases BP
- increases cardiac workload
tobacco smoke and the respiratory tract
- increased mucus production
- hyperplasia of goblet cells
- decreased ciliary activity
tobacco smoke and carbon monoxide
- decreased O2 carrying capacity
- increase HR
- impair psychomotor performance and judgement
passive smoking (environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke)
- decrease pulmonary function
- increase risk of lung cancer
- increase rate of mortality fro ischemic heart disease
respiratory tract infections
- recurring infections impair normal defence mechanisms
- reduce lung function
- pathological destruction of lung tissue
alpha - antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency
- genetic risk factor for COPD
- occurs in 1 and 5000
aging and emphysema
- loss of elastic recoil in lungs
- lungs are rounded and smaller
- number of functional alveoli decreases
- peripheral airways lose support
COPD defining features
- airflow limitations during forced exhalation due to loss of elastic recoil
- airflow obstruction due to mucus hyper secretion, mucosal edema and bronchospasm
process of respiratory inflammation
- inhalation of noxious particles
- mediators released cause damage to lung tissue
- airways inflamed
- parenchyma destroyed
COPD and supporting structures
- air goes in easy but remains in lungs
- bronchioles tend to collapse
- causes barrel-chest look
lung changes in COPD
- bronchioles lose their shape and become clogged with mucus
- alveoli walls are destroyed forming fewer larger ones
common characteristics of COPD
- mucus hypersecretion
- cilia dysfunction
- hyperinflation of lungs
- gas exchange abnormalities
CM of COPD
- develops slowly
- cough with sputum
- dyspnea
- underweight with adequate caloric intake
- anorexia
- chronic fatigue
- use of accessory muscle for breathing
- bluish-red skin colour
physical findings of COPD
- prolonged expiratory phase
- wheezes
- decreased breath sounds
- increased anterior-posterior diameter
COPD complications
- car pulmonale
- acute exacerbations
- acute respiratory failure
- peptic ulcer disease
- depression
- anxiety
car pulmonale
- hypertrophy of the right side of the heart
- results in pulmonary hypertension
- causes right sided HF
acute exacerbations
- worsening symptoms
- change signaled by; dyspnea, cough, sputum
- purulent (require antibiotics) or nonpurulent
- associated with poorer outcomes
- causes: infections, air pollution, cold air
acute respiratory failiure
- causes: exacerbations, cor pulmonale, discontinuing bronchodilator or corticosteroid meds
COPD spirometry findings
- reduced FEV1/FVC ratio
- increased residual volume