According to WHO (Jan 2015), 6% of global death is caused by COPD in 2012—that is more than 3 million deaths in 1 year. COPD is a life-threatening group of lung diseases that affects the passage of air into the lungs that makes breathing increasingly difficult. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two diseases that contributes to COPD (Porth 2011, p579). It is more common for a patient with COPD to present both emphysema and chronic bronchitis; however, it is still possible to have either of the two. The etiology, clinical findings, and management of COPD vary depending on what particular disease is being manifested.
Etiology
Emphysema is a lung disease that affects the area of the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanges takes place—the alveoli. A person with this disease will constantly have extra air in the lungs requiring extra effort to breathe. the major cause of emphysema is smoking as it stimulates movement of inflammatory cells into the lungs causing breakdown of alveolar wall compartments (Porth 2011, p580). When alveolar wall compartment ruptures, the surface area for gas exchanges decreases causing impaired delivery of oxygen to the body. Another cause of emphysema is a hereditary alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, which is common for younger person. Alpha 1-antitrypsin protects the lungs from inhaled irritants that can …show more content…
Dyspnea is the most significant symptom of a patient with emphysema. In the early stage of the disease, shortness of breath occurs during mild physical activity and as the diseases progresses shortness of breath is noticeable even while at rest. Porth (2015), mentioned that “pink puffer” is a mnemonic term to describe patient emphysema due to lack of cyanosis, use of accessory muscle, and pursed-lip breathing. With emphysema air gets trapped in the lungs causing expansion of the ribcage that leads to barrel chest appearance (p581). Reduction of lung sounds is a common findings with emphysema due to airflow
Etiology
Emphysema is a lung disease that affects the area of the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanges takes place—the alveoli. A person with this disease will constantly have extra air in the lungs requiring extra effort to breathe. the major cause of emphysema is smoking as it stimulates movement of inflammatory cells into the lungs causing breakdown of alveolar wall compartments (Porth 2011, p580). When alveolar wall compartment ruptures, the surface area for gas exchanges decreases causing impaired delivery of oxygen to the body. Another cause of emphysema is a hereditary alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, which is common for younger person. Alpha 1-antitrypsin protects the lungs from inhaled irritants that can …show more content…
Dyspnea is the most significant symptom of a patient with emphysema. In the early stage of the disease, shortness of breath occurs during mild physical activity and as the diseases progresses shortness of breath is noticeable even while at rest. Porth (2015), mentioned that “pink puffer” is a mnemonic term to describe patient emphysema due to lack of cyanosis, use of accessory muscle, and pursed-lip breathing. With emphysema air gets trapped in the lungs causing expansion of the ribcage that leads to barrel chest appearance (p581). Reduction of lung sounds is a common findings with emphysema due to airflow