COPD

causes

tobacco smoking

exposure to fumes from cooking or heating in a poorly ventilated home

Environment- what do you breath everyday

Alpha-1 deficency

complications

Respiratory infections- people with COPD are more likely to catch the flu of pneumonia

heart problems

Lung cancer.

High blood pressure in lung arteries

Depression.

pathophysiology

starts with damage to the airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs. Symptoms progress from a cough with mucus to difficulty breathing. The damage done by COPD can't be undone.

assessments

Lung (pulmonary) function tests. These tests measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale, and whether your lungs deliver enough oxygen to your blood.

Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray can show emphysema, one of the main causes of COPD .

CT scan.

Arterial blood gas analysis.

Laboratory tests

labs and x rays

x rays - chest x ray to look for emphysema

labs-spirometry, you blow into a large tube connected to a small machine to measure how much air your lungs can hold and how fast you can blow the air out of your lungs.

more labs

Pulse Oximetry.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

Hematocrit.

Blood Test.

Serum Electrolytes.

Sputum Culture.

Human B-type Natriuretic Peptide.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Levels.

treatments

Bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are medications that usually come in inhalers — they relax the muscles around your airways.

Inhaled steroids

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Combination inhalers.

Oral steroids.

Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors.

Theophylline.

Antibiotics.

medications

click to edit

Bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are medications that usually come in inhalers — they relax the muscles around your airways.

Inhaled steroids.

Combination inhalers.

Oral steroids.

Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors.

Theophylline.

Antibiotics.

click to edit