People are diagnosed every year with diseases that affect the respiratory system. One specific disease that can affect the respiratory system is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; commonly referred to as COPD. Currently over “64 million people have COPD and it is the third leading cause of death worldwide” (WHO, 2013). Several factors cause the disease and symptoms are hard to detect in earlier stages. COPD can shorten a person’s life span and cause immeasurable physical disabilities, as well as, emotional lifestyle changes, but can be preventable if people would not smoke. Treatment and management options are available for individuals living with COPD. Many people can live a normal life if the disease is caught early enough and
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With COPD, “lung function declines slowly but steadily, until there's a sudden worsening of symptoms. That is when the disease speeds up lung damage” (DeNoon, 2005). There are five stages of the disease. Stage zero being the most moderate and stage four being the end stage and fatal. The most common symptoms are chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath also known as dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chest tightness, changes in color and amount of mucus and frequent respiratory infections with fever. The first stage is called stage zero and usually is only associated with strenuous activity or exercise. Many people do not even realize they have the condition and continue with bad habits like smoking or working in conditions that are aggravating the condition. At this stage management and treatment would be successful and a relatively normal life can be lived. The next stage is called stage one. At this stage one many people still do not know they have COPD and they get extremely winded and short of breath walking or hurrying across level surfaces or small inclines. “There’s not usually a cough or mucus” (Jovinelly, 2014). At this stage many people think that it is the effects of aging and still do not realize that there is a serious underlying condition and problem. Stage two is where a person will get winded walking and …show more content…
Simple adjustments to a patient’s life such as improved diet and illness education go a long way in improving state of mind. The main step in treatment and management is stopping smoking and staying away from any conditions that cause lung irritation. There are many lifestyle changes that someone with COPD will have to undergo. Eating nutritious food and keeping up caloric intake will prevent weight loss and lower immunity when presented with other health conditions. Medicines are a major course of treatment. The types of medications usually introduced to patients are bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids. Bronchodilators will open the airways and relax muscles so that the patient can breathe. When a person takes the bronchodilators in combination with glucocorticosteroids this will reduce airway inflammation. This is usually prescribed to persons at stages with advanced COPD. Keeping up vaccinations is very important to prevent infections of the airways such as Pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia. Also preventing any type of virus and sickness is important because most people may suffer from lower immune systems. Getting a flu shot to prevent influenza is a recommended yearly vaccine as well. Different types of therapy to include pulmonary
With COPD, “lung function declines slowly but steadily, until there's a sudden worsening of symptoms. That is when the disease speeds up lung damage” (DeNoon, 2005). There are five stages of the disease. Stage zero being the most moderate and stage four being the end stage and fatal. The most common symptoms are chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath also known as dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chest tightness, changes in color and amount of mucus and frequent respiratory infections with fever. The first stage is called stage zero and usually is only associated with strenuous activity or exercise. Many people do not even realize they have the condition and continue with bad habits like smoking or working in conditions that are aggravating the condition. At this stage management and treatment would be successful and a relatively normal life can be lived. The next stage is called stage one. At this stage one many people still do not know they have COPD and they get extremely winded and short of breath walking or hurrying across level surfaces or small inclines. “There’s not usually a cough or mucus” (Jovinelly, 2014). At this stage many people think that it is the effects of aging and still do not realize that there is a serious underlying condition and problem. Stage two is where a person will get winded walking and …show more content…
Simple adjustments to a patient’s life such as improved diet and illness education go a long way in improving state of mind. The main step in treatment and management is stopping smoking and staying away from any conditions that cause lung irritation. There are many lifestyle changes that someone with COPD will have to undergo. Eating nutritious food and keeping up caloric intake will prevent weight loss and lower immunity when presented with other health conditions. Medicines are a major course of treatment. The types of medications usually introduced to patients are bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids. Bronchodilators will open the airways and relax muscles so that the patient can breathe. When a person takes the bronchodilators in combination with glucocorticosteroids this will reduce airway inflammation. This is usually prescribed to persons at stages with advanced COPD. Keeping up vaccinations is very important to prevent infections of the airways such as Pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia. Also preventing any type of virus and sickness is important because most people may suffer from lower immune systems. Getting a flu shot to prevent influenza is a recommended yearly vaccine as well. Different types of therapy to include pulmonary