Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Essay

Introduction degenerative obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is a lung ailment that is characterized by a saturnine blockage of air flow from the lungs ( World health Organisation (WHO) website, nd). This report will examine the realises, symptoms and discourse of COPD. It will discuss current statistics on COPD and slightly of the current tr use upments available. treble sources were used including websites, leaflets and government documents.Over 440,000 throng in Ireland ar position to have COPD ( Living with COPD website, nd). By 2020, it is predicted to be the third leading cause of death worldwide (Living with COPD website, 2013). A recent COPD audit in europium discovered that 50% of sufferers will die or be readmitted to hospital within a 3 month period (Living with COPD website, 2013). Approximately 1400 people die every year from the condition (Oireachtas website, 2013). Ireland has one of the luxuriouslyest incidents of death in Europe from COPD (Living wit h COPD website, 2013). COPD is an irreversible lung disease which causes permanent lung damage. In COPD, the airflow to the lungs grow narrower and blocked and breathing dumbfounds difficult (COPD Support website, nd). COPD is an umbrella term for continuing Bronchitis and Emphysema (Living with COPD website, nd).CausesThe single biggest cause of COPD is smoking. 80-90% of people with the condition have COPD repayable to smoking. (COPD Support website, 2009). Other causes are air pollution, exposure to fumes or dust particles at work, passive smoking, recurring respiratory infections in premature life and a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (National Heart, Lung and fund Institute website, nd).Diagnosis and SymptomsA breathing test called Spirometry is used to examine COPD (COPD FOUNDATIONWebsite, nd). The test measures how well a soul utters. In Ireland, annoy to Spirometry Tests is not available nationwide and tests must be carried out in hospit al (Oireachtas website, 2013). Early diagnosis can greatly slow ingest the condition (National Health Service website, 2012).Often COPD is diagnosed after a person has anexacerbation of the condition (American Thoracic website, nd).An exacerbation of COPD means thesymptoms have become more severe. It is mainly caused by an infection in the lungs and hospitalisation is take which leads to diagnosis of the condition ( American Thoracic website, nd).Symptoms of COPD include wheezing, persistent cough out with mucus that will not go away, breathlessness completing universal tasks and difficulty taking deep breaths (American Lung Association website, nd). Symptoms typically start to make out from the age of 40 years onwards (Living with Copd website, 2013). Long term complications associated with COPD include, cant over loss and swallowing issues known as Dysphagia (Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation, 2012). Swallowing issues can rig out as the patient can often breathe when eating, which causes food to attain the lungs. This can lead to reflux, indigestion problems, difficulty in finishing meals and lung infections (Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation, 2012).StagesThere are 4 breaker points of COPD Mild, Moderate , Severe and rattling Severe (End Stage) (COPD International website, nd).Mild The person whitethorn have gauzy breathlessness and whitethorn or may not have a cough but is unaware they have COPD (COPD International website, nd).Moderate bastard carrying out day to day tasks, may or may not have denounce cough with mucus. At this stage the condition is ordinarily diagnosedas symptoms become more severe (COPD International website, nd).Severe COPD greatly affects the quality of life, physical activity is limited, exacerbations of COPD are much more frequent (COPD International website, nd).Very Severe/End Stage At this stage oxygen is required continuously, any exertion at all is difficult. Chronic Respirat ory Failure and/or Heart Failure and death occurs (Kenny,T 2011).This familiarity would enable a Healthcare Support Worker to identify the archaean signs of the condition, have an add-ond awareness of a patient with a persistent cough, frequent colds or chest infections and encourage the patient to seek medical checkup help for a diagnosis.TreatmentsStopping smoking is critical in treating COPD, as giving up smoking greatly prevents the condition worsening. Inhalers are generally used to control and relieve symptoms of COPD. Short-Acting Inhalers are used to alleviate breathlessness, long Inhalers which work over 12 hours to relieve symptoms, and Steroid Inhalers as well attention breathing (British Lung Foundation website, nd). Oxygen Therapy is used in severe COPD. Patients may require oxygen for day to day tasks, when sleeping or in some cases, 24 hours a day. Oxygen is available in tanks, crystal clear form or oxygen concentrators (COPD Support website, nd).Pulmonary Reha bilitation Programmes in addition plays a vital role in the treatment of COPD (Oireachtas website, 2013). In Ireland, programmes are normally ran over 20 sessions, with patients attending two to three measure a week. Group numbers are limited to a uttermost of 15 people. The programme consists of Exercise, Nutrition to increase fitness levels and pedagogics to increase the patients awareness of the condition (Health Service Executive website, 2013). COPD patients have been shown to gain hugely from Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes, improving quality of life, reducing hospital admissions and increase survival chances (Oireachtas website, 2013).A person with COPD uses 10 times the energy to breathe than a person without the condition. It is important to replace lost calories, maintain fish and also to protect the immune system against colds and flus (American Lung website, nd). Foods high in both energy, sugar and fat such as heat up foods, full fat dairy products and readym ade meals are recommended to encourage weight gain. however it is important that a healthy diet is alsomaintained (COPD Education website, nd). Supplement drinks are often recommended to increase calorie intake amidst meals. If swallowing issues occur, soft foods such as soups and stews are recommended and patients are encouraged to eat several smaller meals throughout the day (COPD Education website, nd). With this knowledge a HealthCare Worker would ensure that meals are small but nutrient at regular intervals . A HealthCare Support Worker would also consider how meals are prepared as softer, more manageable foods may be required.ConclusionThis report has examined the causes, symptoms and treatments of COPD. This report discussed current statistics regarding the condition and some of the treatments available. From researching this report it is clear that more public awareness of COPD in Ireland is inherent to highlight the link between COPD and smoking.COPD needs to feature st rongly in Anti-smoking campaigns to promote this awareness, which would enable early diagnosis and treatment.