Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Case Study
Pathophysiology Discussion Paper: COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Clinical Definition
This lung disease is clinically defined as a chronic obstacle of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible (WHO, 2014). This chronic lung disease is commonly associated with constant inflammatory response within the lung airways minimizing gas exchange (Romme, McAllister, Murchison, Beek, Petrides, Price, MacNee, 2013). Many individuals with COPD disease commonly have chronic bronchitis and emphysema which are all associated and commonly caused by cigarettes and/or the usage of tobacco products (WHO, 2014).
Clinical Manifestations
Common noted manifestations are physical and physiological changes accompanied by breathlessness (Brooke, 2013). Breathlessness is one of the most common sign and symptom that clients subjectively claim to sense with COPD (Brooke, 2013). Clients claim early signs of COPD is feeling breathlessness inside but not presenting too much difficulty while breathing (Brooke, 2013). Physical changes include inactivity, weakness of skeletal muscles, and disability (Brooke, 2013). Because of inactivity, breathlessness, and disability COPD clients are less likely to participate in social activities which leads to physiological changes such as …show more content…
The presence of airway obstruction is measured by a spirometry (Quanjer & Ruppel, 2011). This machine tests how long it takes for the client to fully empty their lungs, therefore if there is fair amount of airway obstruction the client will take a longer time emptying their lung capacity (Quanjer & Ruppel, 2011). Further tests such as a chest radiography and blood tests will be done to first view the damage on your lungs, if any, and second to view the gas levels in your blood (Quanjer & Ruppel,
Clinical Definition
This lung disease is clinically defined as a chronic obstacle of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible (WHO, 2014). This chronic lung disease is commonly associated with constant inflammatory response within the lung airways minimizing gas exchange (Romme, McAllister, Murchison, Beek, Petrides, Price, MacNee, 2013). Many individuals with COPD disease commonly have chronic bronchitis and emphysema which are all associated and commonly caused by cigarettes and/or the usage of tobacco products (WHO, 2014).
Clinical Manifestations
Common noted manifestations are physical and physiological changes accompanied by breathlessness (Brooke, 2013). Breathlessness is one of the most common sign and symptom that clients subjectively claim to sense with COPD (Brooke, 2013). Clients claim early signs of COPD is feeling breathlessness inside but not presenting too much difficulty while breathing (Brooke, 2013). Physical changes include inactivity, weakness of skeletal muscles, and disability (Brooke, 2013). Because of inactivity, breathlessness, and disability COPD clients are less likely to participate in social activities which leads to physiological changes such as …show more content…
The presence of airway obstruction is measured by a spirometry (Quanjer & Ruppel, 2011). This machine tests how long it takes for the client to fully empty their lungs, therefore if there is fair amount of airway obstruction the client will take a longer time emptying their lung capacity (Quanjer & Ruppel, 2011). Further tests such as a chest radiography and blood tests will be done to first view the damage on your lungs, if any, and second to view the gas levels in your blood (Quanjer & Ruppel,