Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Your Name Professor Wilson RN Introduction to Nursing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is a respiratory disease characterized by airway obstruction, causing patients breathing difficulties. It is progressive and non-reversible. COPD patients are at risk of their symptoms becoming suddenly worse and thus needing admission to hospital. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease When you breath, air travels through tubes in your lungs called Bronchioles into millions of tiny sacs (Alveoli). In a healthy lung, the airways are open and the air sacs fill up with O2. Then gas exchange/CO2 comes quickly out. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD includes the following conditions. Emphysema is associated with damage of the air sacs and/ or collapse of the smallest breathing tubes in the lungs. Chronic Bronchitis is increased cough and mucus production caused by Inflammation of the airways. Bronchitis is considered chronic (or long-term). Refractory (non-reversible) asthma Some forms of bronchiectasis Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Factors increasing the risk for COPD Smoking is the most important factor in increasing the risk in developing COPD, but not all smokers develop COPD. Socio-economic status may be measured by occupational, education, income or other indices of social class. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Individual Factor Genes Age Gender Environment Factor Occupational dust and chemicals Indoor and Outdoor air pollution Infection Socio-economic status Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD Exacerbation When a patient COPD respiratory symptoms flare up and become much worse than usual. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Statistics 800,000 Patients are hospitalize each year in the U.S. for COPD. Women are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis twice the rate of men. In 2011 6.8 million women were diagnosed with COPD compared to 3.3 million in men. 65 million people world wide with COPD. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Treatment Use an inhaled medication. Attend pulmonary rehabilitation to help learn to manage symptoms. Exercise to improve strength and breathing. Quit smoking. Avoid pollution when possible. References Learn COPD (2016) Retrieved from www.COPD.com/about.copd Health Factsheet Socio-economic factors and COPD (2001 – 2006) Retrieved from www.metoffice.gov.uk/media The World Health Organization’s(2015 August) Accessed www.who.int/mediacentral/factssheets/fs315/en image1.jpeg image2.jpg image3.jpg image4.gif image5.png image6.jpg image7.jpg .