Managing COPD Flashcards
What is COPD?
Airflow Obstruction- Chronic Bronchitis
Hyperinflation- Emphysema
What are the two major symptoms of COPD
- Breathlessness
2. Cough and recurrent chest infection
How to COPD affect the rest of the body?
Loss of Muscle mass
Weight loss
Cardiac disease
Depression, anxiety etc
What do you suspect with COPD (symptoms)?
- Age 35 years or more
- Current or former smokers
- Chronic cough
- Exertional Breathlessness
- Sputum production
- Frequent “winter” Bronchitis
- Wheeze/chest tightness
What would you expect to find in a patient with COPD on examination.
Chest expansion
Prolonged expiration/wheeze
Describe Respiratory Failure inCOPD
- Tachypneoa (fast breath)
- Cyanosis
- Use of accessory muscles
- Pursed lip breathing
- Peripheral Oedema
When is COPD measured in spirometry.
FEV1/FVC <0.7
What are the baseline tests for COPD?
- Spirometry- record absolute and % predicted value
- Chest X Ray
- ECG
- Full blood count
- BMI- weight(kg)/ height
- Alpha 1 Antitrpsin deficiency
What are the non-pharmacological management of COPD
- Smoking cessation
- Vaccinations
- Pulmonary
- Nutritional assessment
- Psychological support
How does smoking tobacco contribute to emphysema?
releases reactive oxygen species (free radicals)
What does the release offree radicals cause when smoking?
- IL-B
- LTB4 (Inflammatory molecule)
- TNF (tumour necrotising factor)
What o free radicals cause?
-Invaction of antiprotease
(functional alpha 1 anti trypsin deficiency
What happens when there is a deficincy in alpha 1 antitrypsin?
Increase in neutophil elastase (enzyme)
How many people die each year from COPD each year?
30,000
Whats the difference in breathless in COPD and asthma?
COPD= Progressive and persistent Asthma= Intermittent and variable
