Asthma and Patient
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible debilitating disease of the airway that is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is rising. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is treatable but currently there is no known cure and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. COPD causes reduction in airflow during the ventilation cycle due to the loss of air way elasticity, narrowing of the airways, chronic airways inflammation and over active mucous production (Frace, 2008). Known risk factors for development of COPD include tobacco use (including second hand smoke), air pollution, dust and exposure to chemicals used in the production of coal, cotton and grain. There are many complications of COPD, the most common are pneumonia, pneumothorax, cor pulmonale, atelectasis, and in severe cases there maybe respiratory insufficiency and failure (Bare, Cheever, Hinkle, & Smeltzer, 2010).
Nursing management for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease begins with assessment; gathering information from the patient including detailed medical history, present symptoms and evaluate findings of diagnostic tests. Symptoms vary with each patient, but may include chronic cough, clubbing of the fingers, chest tightness, weight loss, cyanosis, difficulty breathing with a higher rate of respirations and difficulty sleeping (Weber, 2008). It is common for patients suffering from difficulty breathing to use their accessory muscles to promote more efficient breathing which in turn causes weakness and fatigue. Patients further along in the disease process often are barrel-chested with kyphosis due to over inflation of the lungs caused by the inability to fully exhale (Bare, Cheever, Hinkle, & Smeltzer, 2010).
In diagnosing a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease many different test are
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible debilitating disease of the airway that is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is rising. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is treatable but currently there is no known cure and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. COPD causes reduction in airflow during the ventilation cycle due to the loss of air way elasticity, narrowing of the airways, chronic airways inflammation and over active mucous production (Frace, 2008). Known risk factors for development of COPD include tobacco use (including second hand smoke), air pollution, dust and exposure to chemicals used in the production of coal, cotton and grain. There are many complications of COPD, the most common are pneumonia, pneumothorax, cor pulmonale, atelectasis, and in severe cases there maybe respiratory insufficiency and failure (Bare, Cheever, Hinkle, & Smeltzer, 2010).
Nursing management for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease begins with assessment; gathering information from the patient including detailed medical history, present symptoms and evaluate findings of diagnostic tests. Symptoms vary with each patient, but may include chronic cough, clubbing of the fingers, chest tightness, weight loss, cyanosis, difficulty breathing with a higher rate of respirations and difficulty sleeping (Weber, 2008). It is common for patients suffering from difficulty breathing to use their accessory muscles to promote more efficient breathing which in turn causes weakness and fatigue. Patients further along in the disease process often are barrel-chested with kyphosis due to over inflation of the lungs caused by the inability to fully exhale (Bare, Cheever, Hinkle, & Smeltzer, 2010).
In diagnosing a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease many different test are
References: Bare, B., Cheever, K., Hinkle, J., & Smeltzer, S. (2010). Textbook of medical-surgical nursing (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Doenges, M., Moorhouse, M., & Murr, A. (2007). Nurse’s pocket guide: Diagnoses, prioritized interventions, rationales (11th ed.) Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company Frace, M. (2008, July). Understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Med - Surg Matters, 17(4), 8-10. Retrieved April 2, 2010, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source. (Document ID: 1629171571). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1629171571&sid=10&Fmt=3&clientId=83181&RQT=309&VName=PQD Gulanick, M., & Myers, J. (2007). Nursing care plans: Nursing diagnosis and intervention (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby & Elsevier LeMone, P., Lillis, C., Lynn, P., & Taylor, C. (2008). Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of nursing care (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Weber, J. (2008) Nurses’ handbook of health assessment (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins