Week 1 Flashcards
COPD
A preventable disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive
COPD Characteristics
Difficulty breathing
SOB
Activity limitations
Skeletal muscle dysfunction
RHF
Secondary polycythemia
Depression
Altered nutrition
COPD Common in Canada?
Population 35 and older - 9.4% (2 million Canadians)
What causes COPD?
- Tobacco Smoke
- Occupational chemicals and dusts
- Infection
- Heredity
- Aging
Physiological changes with COPD
- Chronic inflammation in airways, lung bronchi/alevoli
- Airflow obstruction from mucus and secretion build up
Bullae
Large air spaces in the parenchyma
Blebs
air spaces adjacent to pleurae
Why do ppl with COPD develop pulmonary hypertension?
Pulmonary arteries vasoconstrict from hypoxemia, and thickening of vascular smooth muscle occurs. From loss of alveolar walls surrounding capillaries, pulmonary circulation pressure increases
Systemic changes from COPD
Cachexia (loss of skeletal muscle mass - sarcopenia)
Muscle weakness
Anemia
Anxiety
Depression
C-reactive protein increase
Clinical manifestations with COPD
Cough
Sputum
Dyspnea
Diminished breath sounds
Hypoxemia
Clinical manifestations of asthma
<40 years
Not casual smoking but can be a trigger
Intermittent and variable symptoms
Infrequent sputum
Allergies often
Stable disease course with exacerbations
What FEV1/FVC ratio establishes the diagnosis of COPD?
Less than 70%
How are pulmonary function tests (PFTs) conducted?
Spirometer is used
Age, sex, height, and weight are entered into the PFT computer to calculate the predicted values
Patient takes deep breath and exhales hard and fast as long as possible
Computer calculates achieved vs wanted
FVC
Amount of air that can be quickly and forcefully exhaled after maximum inspiration
FEV1
Amount of air exhaled in the first second of FVC; valuable clue to severity of airway obstruction
FEV1/FVC
Ratio of value for FEC1 to value for FVC; useful in differentiating obstructive and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction
PEFR
Maximum airflow rate during forced expiration; aids in monitoring bronchoconstriction in asthma
Cor pulmonale
Hypertrophy of the right side of the heart, with or without HF, that results from pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is caused primarily by constriction of pulmonary vessels in response to alveolar hypoxia in COPD
Why is it important to identify whether a client has a purulent or nonpurulent exacerbation of COPD?
Because this assists in determining the need for antibiotic therapy (purulent needs)
What causes AECOPD?
Airflow obstruction
Exposure to allergens
Cold air
Pollutants
H influenza, S pneumoniae