Patient Presentation with COPD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Patient Presentation with COPD - Essay Example COPD is partially irreversible and its symptoms are associated with hyper-responsiveness of the airways. The aforementioned conditions are recognized as a major disability causing a progressive chronic airway obstruction or narrowing that frequently occur as one entity. In the United Kingdom (UK), the prevalence of COPD affects both men and women more commonly in their fourth decade of life. Differential diagnosis of COPD includes asthma, congestive heart failure, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, obliterative bronchiolitis, and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Nonpharmacological and pharmacological management are considered in treating the patient. Other treatments include rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and ventilatory support. Patient Presentation with COPD A Brief Introduction: This paper discusses chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its significance in the family and community settings, its socio-economic and cultural background, past medical history, differential diagnosis, and current guidelines relating to pharmacological and nonpharmacological patient management. The analysis of psychosocial impact of COPD to the patient and her family as well as strategies for patient education, and the context of multidisciplinary care team are also will be discussed in the paper. Short Background on COPD: ... Nursing Assessment: Patient, JC, is a 76 year old female patient with a ten year history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). JC, white female, now 76 years old was 66 year old when diagnosed with COPD in 2002. In the United Kingdom (UK), the prevalence of COPD affects both men and women more commonly in their fourth decade of life (NICE, 2010). It is associated with high rate of mortality and significant healthcare system cost (Raherison and Girodet, 2009). Epidemiological studies note a close association between chronic bronchitis prevalence and low socioeconomic status (Viegi, et al., 2001). COPD is classically thought to be a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, even though in COPD patients, only one of the previously mentioned conditions is present (MayoClinic, 2011; CDC, 2011; and British Medical Journal, 2012). Sharma (2012) defined chronic bronchitis as persistent productive cough for more than three months each year in a period of two consecutive year s. The mucous glands in lungs of individuals with chronic bronchitis are enlarged, the airways are inflamed, and the bronchial walls are thickened with subsequent changes and loss of supporting alveolar connection, which results to narrowing and deformity of the lumen of the airway and eventually causes limitation of airflow (Sharma, 2012). On the other hand, emphysema, one of the causative agents of COPD is defined as an abnormal and permanent alveolar enlargement of the terminal bronchioles that results to destruction of the airspace wall (Sharma, 2012). The patient has her own home; she is married with two children and one grandchild. Prior to her diagnosis, the patient worked in an office for most of her working life. She was a known cigarette