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Case Study One COPD
HCS 507
09/06/2014
Stephen Loughran, MSN-FNP, RN
Case Study One COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, non-reversible disease that makes breathing difficult. COPD is characterized by coughing, often productive; wheezing; shortness of breath; and chest tightness. The leading cause of COPD is cigarette smoking (National Institutes of Health, 2013). While 85 % of COPD patients are or were smokers, only 10-25 percent of smokers develop COPD, suggesting that a genetic predisposition may also be a factor (Warren, 2012). COPD is the third leading cause of death and major cause of disability in the United States (National Institutes of Health, 2013).
Pathophysiology of COPD
Two primary disease processes that contribute to COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The main difference between emphysema and chronic bronchitis is that in emphysema damage is to the walls of the air sacs in the lungs and in chronic bronchitis the damage is to the lining in the airways. Both conditions are generally caused by long term exposure to lung irritants, the most common of which is cigarette smoke. Other typical lung irritants contributing to COPD are air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust. The lung irritants cause inflammation; when inflammation is chronic, it causes scar tissue. Scar tissue in the airways decreases elasticity, air sacs are destroyed, walls of airways become thick and inflamed, and mucous production increases. The end result of damaged airways and excess mucous is decreased gas exchange and reduced lung capacity causing the symptoms of COPD (National Institutes of Health, 2013).
Patient History and Physical Examination
Mrs. Jones is a new patient who is a 56 year old Caucasian female. She has recently moved from Minnesota to Arizona. She has a history of COPD and seasonal allergies which she has been treating with Claritin 10mg and Albuterol MDI 2 puffs PRN. Mrs. Jones was a smoker, smoking two
HCS 507
09/06/2014
Stephen Loughran, MSN-FNP, RN
Case Study One COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, non-reversible disease that makes breathing difficult. COPD is characterized by coughing, often productive; wheezing; shortness of breath; and chest tightness. The leading cause of COPD is cigarette smoking (National Institutes of Health, 2013). While 85 % of COPD patients are or were smokers, only 10-25 percent of smokers develop COPD, suggesting that a genetic predisposition may also be a factor (Warren, 2012). COPD is the third leading cause of death and major cause of disability in the United States (National Institutes of Health, 2013).
Pathophysiology of COPD
Two primary disease processes that contribute to COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The main difference between emphysema and chronic bronchitis is that in emphysema damage is to the walls of the air sacs in the lungs and in chronic bronchitis the damage is to the lining in the airways. Both conditions are generally caused by long term exposure to lung irritants, the most common of which is cigarette smoke. Other typical lung irritants contributing to COPD are air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust. The lung irritants cause inflammation; when inflammation is chronic, it causes scar tissue. Scar tissue in the airways decreases elasticity, air sacs are destroyed, walls of airways become thick and inflamed, and mucous production increases. The end result of damaged airways and excess mucous is decreased gas exchange and reduced lung capacity causing the symptoms of COPD (National Institutes of Health, 2013).
Patient History and Physical Examination
Mrs. Jones is a new patient who is a 56 year old Caucasian female. She has recently moved from Minnesota to Arizona. She has a history of COPD and seasonal allergies which she has been treating with Claritin 10mg and Albuterol MDI 2 puffs PRN. Mrs. Jones was a smoker, smoking two