COPD Reflective Essay
COPD include renal damage, malnutrition, muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and anemia. (McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 1267).
Signs and Symptoms
Patients suffering from COPD commonly experience symptoms of dyspnea on exertion that may eventually progress to marked dyspnea at rest. This represents a key feature of emphysema. Also, patients report experiencing episodes of acute cough with limited sputum production and the patient often appears thin. Moreover, tachypnea with prolonged expiration is observed and the individual resorts to using accessory muscles to aid with ventilation. The chest takes on a rounded or “barrel chest” appearance due to the increase of the anteroposterior (AP) diameter. Additionally, percussion reveals a characteristic hyperresonance. Lastly, in order to increase lung capacity and ease breathing, COPD patients tend to lean forward with the arms placed on their knees when in a sitting …show more content…
Generally speaking, diagnosis is confirmed by spirometry, which is considered the “gold standard” for COPD assessment and diagnosis as it represents the most objective and standardized method of measuring airflow limitation. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and the ratio of the two (FEV1/FVC) are the primary spirometric measurements used for diagnosis. (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Radiographic studies (CXR), serum white blood cell (WBC) count, and arterial blood gases (ABGs) should be included in the diagnostic workup. Radiographic studies are useful in revealing a flattening of the diaphragm and over-distention of the lung fields. The use of high-resolution CT scans is preferred over radiographs. However, this method is more costly. Lastly, laboratory values such as arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements can also be used as they may reveal varying degrees of hypoxemia with or without hypercapnia. (McCance & Huether, 2014).
Signs and Symptoms
Patients suffering from COPD commonly experience symptoms of dyspnea on exertion that may eventually progress to marked dyspnea at rest. This represents a key feature of emphysema. Also, patients report experiencing episodes of acute cough with limited sputum production and the patient often appears thin. Moreover, tachypnea with prolonged expiration is observed and the individual resorts to using accessory muscles to aid with ventilation. The chest takes on a rounded or “barrel chest” appearance due to the increase of the anteroposterior (AP) diameter. Additionally, percussion reveals a characteristic hyperresonance. Lastly, in order to increase lung capacity and ease breathing, COPD patients tend to lean forward with the arms placed on their knees when in a sitting …show more content…
Generally speaking, diagnosis is confirmed by spirometry, which is considered the “gold standard” for COPD assessment and diagnosis as it represents the most objective and standardized method of measuring airflow limitation. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and the ratio of the two (FEV1/FVC) are the primary spirometric measurements used for diagnosis. (Buttaro et al., 2013).
Radiographic studies (CXR), serum white blood cell (WBC) count, and arterial blood gases (ABGs) should be included in the diagnostic workup. Radiographic studies are useful in revealing a flattening of the diaphragm and over-distention of the lung fields. The use of high-resolution CT scans is preferred over radiographs. However, this method is more costly. Lastly, laboratory values such as arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements can also be used as they may reveal varying degrees of hypoxemia with or without hypercapnia. (McCance & Huether, 2014).