COPD

Causes

Complications

Occupational exposure

cigarrette smoke exposure

Indoor air pollution

Outdoor air pollution

Lung cancer

High BP

Heart problems

Depression

Increased risk of respiratory infection

Pathophysiology

Airways in your lungs become inflamed and thicken

-Tissue where oxygen is exchanged is destroyed
-flow of air in and out of lungs decreases

Results in less oxygen distributed to body tissues and increased levels of Carbon dioxide

Tests

Assessment

Treatments

-at home noninvasive ventilation therapy
-surgery
-oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation programs
-quitting smoking

medications include:
-short acting bronchodilators (albuterol)
-corticosteroids
-long acting bronchodilators
-methylxanthines
-and combination drugs

-Chest X-ray
-CT scan
-Arterial blood gas analysis
-pulmonary function test

Assess for:
-barrel chest
-wheezing during normal breathing
-decreased breath sounds or abnormal breath sounds