medical respiratory conditions Flashcards
describe COPD and its characteristics
COPD= chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-it is a common, preventable and treatable disease that is characters tided by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation
in relation to COPD, what does a limitation of airflow mean?
it means that is is difficult to exhale fully
-spirpmetry shows a reduced ratio of FEV1:FVC - key for diagnosis
what structural changes can chronic inflammation lead to?
narrowing of the small airways, decreased elastic recoil, parenchyma destruction (sites of exchange)
-this leads to a diminished ability of the lungs to stay open during expiration
what 2 conditions is COPD associated with?
1.chronic bronchitis - inflammation and narrowing of the airways and mucous production
2. emphysema - break down of the alveolar membranes
what are examples of factors that can influence the development and progression of COPD?
-smoking
-exposure to pollutants
-age
-sex - women tend to have more severe disease
-infections
-lung growth and development
what is an alpha antitrypsin deficiency (AATD)?
a deficiency that affects the production of alpha 1 antitrypsin - which plays a crucial role in protecting the lung from damage caused by enzymes released by WBC’s
-these enzymes can destroy alveolar walls if not properly regulated by AAT
what are the most common symptoms of COPD?
-shortness of breath
-cough - intermittent or chronic cough
-sputum prediction - not present in all patients
-wheezing and chest tightness
-fatigue, weight loss and muscle loss
what is hyperinflation in COPD?
refers to the abnormal increase in the volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of normal exhalation - this occurs because people with COPD have narrowed or obstructed airways making it difficult to exhale
what are the 2 types of hyperinflation in COPD?
-static
-dynamic
define static hyperinflation
-refers to the increase in lung volume that remains constant over time - ie there is an abnormal increase in the amount of air left in the lungs after exhalation which doesnt change much with activity
define dynamic hyperinflation
the increase in lung volume that happens during physical activity eg exercise
- eg if a person with COPD exercises, their airways might become more obstructed, leading to more air being trapped in the lungs during each breath
what are morbidities?
morbidities refer to the presence of one of more diseases or health conditions in a person
what morbidities is COPD associated with?
- cardiovascular disease
- skeletal muscle dysfunction
-metabolic syndrome
-osteoporosis
-lung cancer
-depression and anxiety
what are COPD exacerbations?
-episodes where the symptoms of COPD worsen significantly compared to the usual state
- eg increased breathlessness, coughing, changes in sputum , wheezing etc
what important test is required to diagnose COPD?
lung spirometry - the presence of a FEV1/FVC less than 0.7 confirms the presence of airflow limitation
what is FVC?
the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from your lungs after taking the deepest breath possible, as measured by spirometry
what is FEV1?
forced expiratory volume in 1 second
-measures the volume of expired air over the first second of an FVC measure
-healthy lungs will exhale more than 80% of the FVC in the first second
describe GOLD stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 and stage 4 values in relation to FEV1/FVC values
-GOLD stage 1 (mild) - FEV1 will be less than 80%
-GOLD stage 2 (moderate) - FEV1 between 50 and 80% predicted
-GOLD stage 3 (severe)- FEV1 between 30-50% predicted
-GOLD stage 4 - very severe - FEV1 less than 30%
define bronchiectasis
the term used for the permanent dilation of 1 or more bronchi
