COPD II Flashcards
What does COPD include?
- emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
* chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of theairways
What are the main symptoms of COPD?
- -increasingbreathlessness, particularly when you’re active
- a persistent chestycoughwith phlegm– some people may dismiss this as just a “smoker’s cough”
- frequentchest infections
- persistent wheezing
What are the causes of COPD?
happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed
What are the treatments of COPD?
- slow down progression
1. stopping smoking– if you have COPD and you smoke, this is the most important thing you can do
2. inhalersand medicines – to help make breathing easier
3. pulmonary rehabilitation–a specialised programme of exercise and education
4. surgery or alung transplant– although this is only an option for a very small number of people
How can you prevent COPD?
avoid smoking
What are less common symptoms of COPD?
- weight loss
- tiredness
- swollen anklesfrom a build-up of fluid(oedema)
- chest painandcoughing up blood– although these are usually signs of another condition, such as achest infectionor possiblylung cancer
What are the causes of COPD?
- Smoking
- Fumes and dust. at work
- Air pollution
- Genetics
What substances have been linked to COPD?
- cadmium dust and fumes
- grain and flour dust
- silica dust
- welding fumes
- isocyanates
- coal dust
How do genetics influence COPD?
more likely to develop COPD if you smoke and have a close relative with the condition, which suggests
some people’s genes might make them more vulnerable to the condition
What deficiency can cause COPD?
1 in 100 people with COPD hasa genetic tendency to develop the condition, called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
What is alpha-1-antitrypsin?
substance that protects your lungs
What can a GP do to help diagnose COPD?
- ask you about your symptoms
- examine your chest and listen to your breathing using a stethoscope
- ask whether you smoke or used to smoke
- calculate yourbody mass index (BMI)using your weight and height
- ask if you have a family history of lung problems
What other tests can be done?
- Spirometry
- Chest X ray
- Blood tests
What is spirometry?
- breathe into a machine called a spirometer after inhaling a medicine called abronchodilator, which helps widen your airways
- 2 measurements: the volume of air you can breathe out in a second, and the total amount of air you breathe out
Why are blood tests done?
- low iron level(anaemia)
- ahigh concentration of red blood cells in your blood(polycythaemia).
- alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
What further tests may be done?
•anelectrocardiogram (ECG)– a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart
•anechocardiogram–anultrasound scanof the heart
•apeak flow test– a breathing test that measureshow fast you can blow air out of your lungs, which can help rule out asthma
-a blood oxygen test – a peg-like device is attached to your finger to measure the level of oxygen in your blood
•aCT scan–a detailed scan that can help identify any problems in your lungs
•a phlegm sample – a sample of your phlegm (sputum) may be tested to check for signs of achest infection
What are the two main types of inhalers used in treatment?
- Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers
2. Short acting bronchodilators
What are long acting?
- beta-2 agonist inhalers –such as salmeterol, formoterol and indacaterol
- antimuscarinic inhalers–such as tiotropium, glycopyronium and aclidinium
What are short acting?
- beta-2 agonist inhalers –such assalbutamoland terbutaline
- antimuscarinic inhalers–such as ipratropium
What are steroid inhalters?
- still becoming breathless when using a long-acting inhaler, or you have frequent flare-ups (exacerbations)
- containcorticosteroid medicines, which can help to reduce the inflammation in your airways
What are theophylline tablets?
-type of bronchodialtor taken twice a day
-Side effects:
•feeling and being sick
•headaches
•difficulty sleeping(insomnia)
•noticeable pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeats(palpitations)
What are mucolytics?
- a persistent chesty cough with lots of thick phlegm. (makes phlegm thicker)
- carbocisteine 3-4 times a day
When are steroid tablets used?
-Bad flare up short course
-LT side effects:
•weight gain
•mood swings
•weakened bones(osteoporosis)
When would you be prescribed antibiotics?
-sign of chest infection:
•becoming more breathless
•coughing more
•noticing a change in the colour (such as becoming brown, green or yellow) and/or consistency of your phlegm (such as becoming thicker)
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
-2 or more group sessions a week for at least 6 weeks.
A typical programme includes:
•physical exercise training tailored to your needs and ability– such aswalking, cycling and strength exercises
•education aboutyour conditionforyou andyour family
•dietary advice
•psychological andemotional support
What is nebulised medicine?
- severe cases of COPD if inhalers have not worked
- machine is used to turn liquid medicine into a fine mist that youbreathe inthrough a mouthpiece or a face mask - enables a large dose of medicine to be taken in one go
What is rofumilast?
- symptoms have suddenly become worse at least 2 times over the past 12 months and already using inhalers
- Side effects of roflumilast include
•feeling and being sick
•diarrhoea
•reduced appetite
•weight loss
•headache
What is LT oxygen therapy?
oxygen at home through nasal tubes or a mask at least 16hr a day
