COPD

Question 1

What is COPD?

Answer 1

• Characterised by airflow OBSTRUCTION
• Progressive in its severity
• Not fully reversible
• Umbrella term for bronchitis, emphysema and chronic asthma

Question 2

COPD symptoms

Answer 2

• Thicker mucus (traps cilia and can’t move it)

Question 3

What is Bronchitis?

Answer 3

• Chronic disease where the bronchi become inflamed
• Inflammation causes more mucus to be produced, narrows airways and makes it difficult to breathe
• Increased sputum production

Question 4

What is Emphysema?

Answer 4

• A condition where the alveoli become inflamed
• Alveoli lose their elasticity and expand, losing their ability to contract properly
• Air sacs can rupture, creating on big sac and reducing surface area for gas exchange - BULLAE
• Air becomes trapped on exhalation and breathing becomes difficult
• Can leads to atelectasis

Question 5

What is Asthma?

Answer 5

• Episodic increase in airway obstruction
• Reversible (with inhalers) - Chronic is under the COPD umbrella
• Inflammation and bronchoconstriction
• Breathless
• Wheeze

Question 6

Causes of COPD?

Answer 6

• SMOKING - 90%
• Occupational exposure (textile, coal mining, lead paint)
• Genetic link? Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency

Question 7

Diagonosis of COPD

Answer 7

• Detailed patient history
• Clinical signs - BOE, cough, increased sputum
• Spirometry
• CXR

Question 8

COPD treatment

Answer 8

• Smoking cessation
• Pulmonary rehab - exercise, education, diet, lifestyle mods
• Sputum clearance - positioning, manual techniques, PD, AD, adjuncts
• Meds - Inhalers, steroids, vaccines