Disease Profile Copd Essay

Words: 2583
Pages: 11
Open Document
DISEASE PROFILE
Date Assigned to Patient: 9/14/2011
Name of Major Medical Diagnosis: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Definition: COPD is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. "Progressive" means the disease get worse over time. It can cause coughing that produces large amount of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms.

Etiology: Most cases of COPD occur as a result of long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways.
In the United States, the most common irritant that causes COPD is cigarette smoke. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke also can cause COPD, especially if the smoke is inhaled.
Breathing in secondhand smoke, …show more content…
Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to treat COPD. Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit.
Other treatments for COPD may include medicines, vaccines, pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab), oxygen therapy, and surgery. Your doctor also may recommend tips for managing COPD complications.
The goals of COPD treatment include: * Relieving your symptoms * Slowing the progress of the disease * Improving your exercise tolerance (your ability to stay active) * Preventing and treating complications * Improving your overall health
Specialists Involved
To assist with your treatment, your family doctor may advise you to see a pulmonologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating people who have lung disorders.
Medicines
Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators relax the muscles around your airways. This helps open your airways and makes breathing easier.
Depending on how severe your disease is, your doctor may prescribe short-acting or long-acting bronchodilators. Short-acting bronchodilators last about 4 to 6 hours and should be used only when needed. Long-acting bronchodilators last about 12 hours or more and are used every day.
Most bronchodilators are taken using a device called an inhaler. This device allows the medicine to go right to your lungs. Not all inhalers are used the same way. Ask your health care
Show More

Related Documents: Disease Profile Copd Essay

Essay on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors that greater your chance of developing coronary heart disease and heart attack. Major risk factors are those that research has shown significantly increase the risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Risk factors are divided up into modifiable and non-modifiable as outlined below. Patient Profile My patient on 03/31/2011 was M.M., who is a 55 year old Caucasian male who presented to UMC on 03/26/2011 with a chief…

Words 1011 - Pages 5

Essay on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Publishing Asia Pty

skills in helping patients learn to care for themselves. However, patient education mostly concerned patients who are already committed to their health care. Non-adherent patients warrant special attention; their acceptance of their disease, perceptions about disease and treatment, motivation, and autonomy should be specifically addressed. French nurses could benefit from more training, and could be aided by psychologists. Ambulatory services could also be developed for patient education in France…

Words 5886 - Pages 24

Health History for Health Assessment Essay

currently works in hospital settings, he also had a titer done for all of the above diseases as further certification that he was indeed vaccinated on February 1, 2010. Current problems can be explained by a patient’s immunization history, or by their lack of immunizations. It is important to have them updated if patient hasn’t received all or if they are just needing a tetanus shot. They help prevent diseases that are harmful if not life threatening. The patient is up to date on all common immunizations…

Words 3941 - Pages 16

Gerontology and Older Adults Essay

Related course objectives: 1.1~1.4 2 **Gerontological Nursing  Gerontology: study of aging; a branch of science that deals with the aging population and problems of aging people; multidisciplinary  Geriatrics: focuses on medicine, deals with diseases, disabilities of old people  Gerontological Nursing: core of aging people and emphasizes the promotion of the hiquest quality of life and wellness including social, emotioan andmental aspectrs 3 Growth of Gerontological Nursing  18C: Florence…

Words 8953 - Pages 36

Pathogram: Chronic Respiratory Failure Essay

Chronic Respiratory Failure Shelby Lynch Date of Care: 03/19/2013 Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 340: Critical Care |Assessment |Medical/Nursing Diagnoses |Treatment | |Brief review of the patient |Medical Diagnoses: |Therapeutic Modalities…

Words 7636 - Pages 31

Myocardial Infarction and Patient Essay

Cardiac Case Study Lindsay Schmidt GTCC Complex Health Concepts NUR 213 Crittenden, Booher, Brendley, & Teal January 23, 2014 Case Study: Cardiac Catheterization Client Profile: Robert Wilson is a 55 year old male with a history of angina, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, COPD, and sleep apnea. He comes to the physician’s office complaining of worsening shortness of breath. His skin tone is grey, and his angina is worsening. Previously stable, he now does not get relief from rest or nitroglycerin…

Words 6187 - Pages 25

Essay on Case Study

PART ONE Medical-Surgical Cases 1 1 Cardiovascular Cardiovascular Disorders Case Study 1 Heart Failure Difficulty: Beginning Setting: Emergency department, hospital Index Words: heart failure (HF), cardiomyopathy, volume overload, quality of life X Scenario M.G., a “frequent flier,” is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF). She was discharged from the hospital 10 days ago and comes in today stating, “I just had to come to the hospital today because I…

Words 33991 - Pages 136