Respiratory conditions - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Flashcards
COPD is a disease of the?
Lungs
COPD is characterized by?
chronic obstruction of the lung’s airflow which interferes with normal breathing.
COPD is not fully?
Reversible
Two types of COPD?
- chronic bronchitis
-Emphysema
Aetiology of COPD
-Long term exposure to harmful gases and particles:
-smoking
- harmful chemicals in the work environment
Epidemiology of COPD
- affects 3.7 million people in the UK
- Fifth leading cause of death
- COPD is second most common type of lung disease.
Chromic bronchitis is characterized as a?
productive cough over three months of a year for two consecutive years.
signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis?
-Wheezing
- pursed lip breathing
- chronic cough
- Barrel chest
-Dyspnea
-Prolonged expiratory time
- bronchitis - increased sputum
- Digital clubbing
-overweight
-cyanotic
-elevated hemoglobin
-peripheral edema
-Ronchi and wheezing
Treatment of chronic bronchitis
-Salbutamol (6 mins)
-Ipratropium bromide
- 02 (88-92% target)
- steroids (hydrocortisone )
- monitor using a capnography
pt may have o2 alert card
Emphysema is a?
Long-term progressive disease in the lungs that primarily cause shortness of breath through alveolar destruction.
Signs and symptoms of emphysema?
-Easily fatigued
- Frequent respiratory infections
- use of accessory muscles to breath
Orthopneic
-cor pulmonale (late in disease)
-thin appearance
-Severe dyspnea
-Quiet chest
Pathological diagnosis of emphysema
Permanent enlargement and destruction of the airspace distal tp the terminal bronchi.
X-ray on emphysema patients.
Hyperinflation with flattened diaphragms
pts with emphysema can get barrel chests.
when does a barrel chest happen?
When the lungs become hyperinflated with air (like a balloon). This is due to them working harder.
