Management of COPD Flashcards
What is COPD?
Chronic bronchitis or emphysema
What is chronic bronchitis?
Airway obstruction (narrow airways)
What is emphysema?
Hyperinflation (damaged alveoli making gas exchange more difficult)
What caused the airway to narrow?
Mucus builds up
Airway muscles tighten
Airway lining swells up (inflamation)
What are symptoms of COPD?
Breathlessness
Cough
Recurrent chest infection
What is the most common reason why people develop COPD?
Tobacco smoke
Why does tobacco smoke cause COPD?
1) Nicotine and oxygen free radicals in tobacco acts on neutrophils causing them to degranulate and inactivates anti-proteases
2) Releases neutrophil elastase inactivates anti proteases and causes tissue damage
What does tobacco smoke do to neutrophils?
Causes them to degranulate and release elastase
What does tobacco smoke do to anti-proteases?
Inactivates them
What does COPD cause not within the respiratory system?
Loss of muscle mass
Weight loss
Cardiac disease
Depression
Anxiety
How do you diagnose COPD?
Relevent history (symptoms)
Look for clinical signs
Confirmation of diagnosis and assessment of severity
Other relevent tests
When would you suspect COPD?
35 years or more
Current or former smoker
Chronic cough
Exertional breathlessness
Sputum production
Frequent winter bronchitis
Wheeze
Chest tightness
What is the difference in age between COPD and asthma?
COPD is generally older than 35
Asthma is any age
What is the difference between the cough due to COPD and asthma?
COPD cough is persistent and productive
Asthma cough is intermitten and non-productive
What is the difference between smoking in COPD and asthma?
COPD smoking is almost invariable
Asthma smoking is possible
What is the difference in breathlessness between COPD and asthma?
COPD is progressive and persistant
Asthma is intermittent and variable
What is the difference in nocturnal symptoms in COPD and asthma?
COPD is uncommon unless in severe distress
Asthma is common
What is the difference in family history in COPD and asthma?
COPD is uncommon unless family members also smoke
Asthma is common
What is the difference in allergies between COPD and asthma?
COPD is possible
Asthma is common
What is typically seen in a COPD examination?
May be normal in early stages
Reduced chest expansion
Prolonged expiration/wheeze
Hyperinflated chest
Respiratory failure
What is the chest expansion like in COPD?
Reduced
What is the inflation of the chest like in COPD?
Hyperinflated chest
What is the expiration like in COPD?
Prolonged/wheeze
What are signs of respiratory failure?
Tachypneoa
Cyanosis
Use of accessory muscles
Pursed lip breathing
Peripheral oedema
What is tachypneoa?
Abnormally rapid breathing
What is the process of the COPD diagnosis?
Clinical history (cough, breathlessness, chest infections, winter bronchitsis)
Examination (may be normal, tachypneoa, wheeze, hyperinflated chest)
Spirometry (confirms diagnosis and assesses severity)
What is used to confirm the diagnosis of COPD and assess the severity?
Spirometry
When is spirometry obstructive?
When FEV1/FVC is less than 70%