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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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COPD statisticsChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable and treatable disease characterized by limited airflow due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. It is not completely reversible, is ongoing and is usually caused by significant exposure to toxic particles or gases.

COPD has previously been labeled as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While the symptoms are similar, COPD should be considered its own disease state. 

Symptoms of COPD can result in: 

  • Decreased appetite and malnutrition 
  • Difficulty with chewing and swallowing due to fatigue 
  • Altered ability to taste due to chronic mouth breathing 
  • Mental status change due to excessive CO2 production 
  • Loss of respiratory muscle strength 

Preventing COPD

There are several preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of COPD.

Preventative measures

  • Smoking cessation
  • Reducing exposure to occupational dusts, fumes, gases and all pollutants 
  • Influenza and pneumonia vaccination 
  • Physical and respiratory exercise 
  • Education and self-management 
  • Early identification and diagnosis 

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Diagnosing COPD

There are no markers for COPD, so spirometry is the gold standard for confirming airflow limitations.

How it works

  • Spirometry measures how well the lungs function by measuring the amount of forcefully exhaled air (FEV)
  • There is a predication based on several factors including age, gender, height and ethnicity

Performing the test

  • The test is performed once without administering a bronchodilator and then again after administration
  • These results are used for determining disease presence and severity

Interpreting the results

  • Mild COPD is 80% of predicted FEV 
  • Moderate COPD is equal to 50 – 80% of FEV 
  • Severe COPD is equal to 30 – 50% of FEV 
  • Very severe COPD is less than 30% of predicted FEV 

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Treating COPD

Symptoms can be managed by the increased use of bronchodilators, steroids
and, occasionally, antibiotics.

Maintenance

COPD status is primarily maintained. The goals of maintenance are to: 

  • Prevent exacerbation
  • Improve quality of life 
  • Reduce symptoms 
  • Improve health status and exercise tolerance 

Pharmacologic therapy

Pharmacologic therapy can:

  • Reduce COPD symptoms
  • Reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations
  • Improve health status and exercise tolerance

Treatment Products

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Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420180/

https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(17)30191-3/pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5812767/

http://www.nonin.com/documents/WhitePaper_COPDReadmissionReductionProgram.pdf

https://www.americannursetoday.com/reducing-readmissions-copd-patients/

https://westmedinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/COPD-Readmission-Reduction-Program-9-8-2017-Squeezed.pdf

http://www.lung.com

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