Pathological Changes In Copd

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COPD is a disease characterized by chronic airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation in COPD is usually progressive and is associated with an inflammatory response of the lungs (Haggerty, 2013). The pathological changes that indicate COPD include an increase in mucus producing cells, chronic inflammation in different parts of the lung, and structural changes that result from a persistent cycle of destruction and repair. Many parts of the lungs are affected, including the proximal and peripheral airways, lung parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature (Haggerty, 2013).The inflammatory response found in COPD is thought to be an extension of the normal inflammatory process. The oxidative stress and excess of of destructive …show more content…
Cardiac output is the volume of blood being pumped by the heart per minute and is the volume of blood being pumped by the heart rate (HR) multiplied by the stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped out from the ventricles per beat. Peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) is related to the diameter of the blood vessel and the viscosity of blood (Mann, 2013). The thicker the blood or smaller the radius of the blood vessel, the higher the resistance. Conversely, the larger the diameter of the vessel or thinner the blood, the lower the PVR. For hypertension to develop, there must be a change in one or more factors affecting peripheral vascular resistance or cardiac output (Mann, 2013). In addition, there must also be a problem with the body’s control systems that monitor or regulate …show more content…
These substances created blockages and narrow the coronary vessels in a way that reduces blood flow (Pierson, 2013). Atherosclerosis involves a repetitious inflammatory response to injury to the artery wall. Atherosclerosis begins as fatty streaks of lipids that are deposited in the intima of the arterial wall. These lesions commonly begin early in life. Not all fatty streaks later develop into more advance lesions. Genetics and environmental factors influence the progression of these lesions (Pierson, 2013). The continued development of atherosclerosis involves an inflammatory response, which beings with injury to the vascular endothelium. The injury may be initiated by smoking, hypertension, and other

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