Patients with Chronic Obstruction of the Pulmonary Disease - Essay Example

COPD, an abbreviated word meaning chronic obstruction of the pulmonary disease is in itself a gradual disorder, disease that worsens with time. It is more often than not caused by cigarette smoking, either as a result of past history of heavy smoking or persistent act of the same. Among other causative factors like air pollutants and irritants, chemicals and dust particles, a cigarette smoking is the principal causing factor of COPD.There are awful consequences of this condition as it not only leads to serious mucous-coughs but also exhibits cut breath, tightening of the chest, and gasping of air, among other fatal conditions. To understand this condition, it is vital to revisit the mechanism of gaseous exchange as a process keeping in mind the paths through which the gases inhaled or exhaled flow through (Mason-Whitehead, 2008, pp.54). Physical examinatonn is the process by which a researcher uses their senses to gather and collect data that is objective to the research that they are doing. It is a very important step in the treatment and caring of COPD patients. For this process to be successful, the researcher has to have good assessment skills that will ensure that the physical examination is successful. Before the beginning of the research, the researcher has to define the normal findings so that incase an abnormal findings occur, the researcher is fast in noticing. The history of the patient that is being examined is also very important (Mason-Whitehead, 2008, pp.64). There are four main approaches to physical assessment. This is inspection, percussion, palpation and ausculatation. Inspection approach is one of the preliminary stages for this assessment and involves patients being checked in an overall manner so that the health care professional can detect any abnormalities. This process is very critical and should never be skipped as it ensures that a strong base is set for the assessment. Palpation is the process where the professional uses his/her hand to make an inspection on the patient. This has one major limitation that the professional has to be very experienced in the palpation process otherwise wrong results would be given. Percussion follows and the professional taps the area that is affected to hear the sounds that comes out. It also needs a lot of experience. Auscultation s the process where the stethoscope and listens to the various sounds that are made by the affected parts. This has one major advantage that it does not require a lot of knowledge and experience to write (Guido, 2010, pp.25). A research done by Edmunds to find out the effectiveness of various physical assessments was done in 2007. The main aim of the research was to find out the best approaches to use in physical assessments. The research found out that there were very many setbacks for this assessments and that there were many corrections that are needed in this field. The main correction that needs to be done are on the palpation stages. This is because most of the professionals performing this action are not qualified for this and as a result, they give out wrong information. The most important communication skill that the research proposes is best for physical assessment is assertiveness and proper listening skills. This ensures that the professional detects different conditions that are affecting the patients (Price, 2004, pp.56). Communication skills are also vital to the treatments of COP. Being assertive is one of the communicative skills that are necessary for the health professional to have During the inspection of inhalation of air by the patient, the gaseous mixture accompanied by the aforesaid pollutants pass through to the wind pipe downward to the bronchiole tubes. They then continue through to the tiny air sacs called the alveoli where they connect with the blood capillaries. At this point, there is ultra- exchange of the gases and oxygen diffuses across the thin alveoli walls into the blood stream through the capillaries (Price, 2004, pp.56). A person experiencing this appalling condition will have difficulty in achieving the success of the said process. He or she faces significantly less blood flow, either in or out of the system. This is attributed to such aspects as airways and air sacs having lost their elasticity, destruction of the walls between alveoli walls, or even inflammation or blockage of the alveoli. The other factors could be courtesy of the blockage of the entire airways or perhaps the alveoli secreting more mucus than expected. Studies have shown that this condition exhibits itself in two forms, that is, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The former further exhibits two forms, which are acute and chronic forms. COPD is a physical condition, which not only brings with it the above conditions but also poses social consequences such as sigma and social segregation. Stigma labels people as undesirable, out of place, or fouled (Tomblin, 1996, pp.43). Improved exercise capability and increased physical activity are the proven ways, which could aid in the research and treatment of this condition as it relieves patients with severe conditions. This happens in the sense that patient X with severe COPD condition has reduced exercise capability and consequently faces higher chances of death than patient Y who has high exercise capacity (Tomblin, 1996, pp.43). Research has shown that reduced exercise aptitude is linked to increased risks upon admissions in hospitals for COPD and high respiratory mortality. On the other hand, reduced physical activity in these patients is due to the increased levels of markers that circulate in the body system and those that cause systemic inflammations due to fibrinogen and C- reactive protein (Tomblin, 1996, pp.46). To assess exercise capacity, one needs to establish the maximum distance walked on the 6MWT. This follows with the pulmonary function being assessed with the FEV1. The Body mass index, otherwise known as BODE, obstruction of the flow of air, exercise capacity and dyspnea are then determined by a multidimensional ten-point system of grading and this reveals the severity of the condition. Demographics and people’s lifestyle activities that can affect ones level of physical activity includes education status or levels, employment status, current smoking status, alcohol consumption, sleeping quality and his or her participation in regular vigorous activities as recorded or assessed by the physician or relevant medical personnel. Other areas of concern are how prednisone was used in the previous year and the general consumption of the supplemental oxygen (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.24). Statistical analyses are conducted on a daily basis as checklists for various patients are subjected to scrutiny and the daily activities performed taken down on record. To realize the degree of every day’s variation over the slotted period of fourteen days, each stepwise, the coefficient of the variations are calculated (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.34). As for the case of the said patient being prescribed for nebulizer, the practice though faced out with disapprovals from the resent research conducted, is however found to provide multiple dosage capacity, provides respiratory aerosols that are in wide range and offers high reproducible dosage cutting from puff to puff. It also leads to relaxation of the bronchial muscles, which could otherwise lead to stress. To administer this substance, there needs to be some pressure build up which leads to the withdrawal of the liquid from its reservoir. This pressure is caused by the force generated by the patient’s hand and the liquid is atomized. The atomized fluid is then sprayed for inhalation through the patient’s mouth. As it is evident, the percentage of oxygen in the air is twenty-one and this percentage is adequate to support all aerobic organisms on earth. It however occurs that this available oxygen could still not be available for persons with certain living ailments. Under this circumstance, oxygen needs to be supplied to these patients, otherwise known as supplemental oxygen. This is done in view of harnessing the utilizable form of the gas for these persons under the conditions such as COPD, which destroys the respiratory system (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.54). It occurs that the condition leads to inadequate oxygen delivery to the lungs and thus supplemented through oxygen therapy. This therapy not only improves the living standards of the patient but also increases their lifespan. Oxygen therapy can be administered through various ways and means. These include the nasal prongs, which can deliver up to forty percent, simple masking technique, which can oversee the delivery of up to fifty percent, and non- masking means, which could deliver up to a hundred percent. These high percentage delivery methods are however discouraged for patients with COPD as it leads to severe depression which could lead to such serious cases as respiratory failures (Booker, 2005, pp.111).. To prescribe this therapy to a patient, it is recommended that the clinician check on the oxygen saturation of the arterial blood. F found to be below eighty eight percent and the pressure below fifty-five millimeters of mercury, and then the therapy should be administered. The therapy is aimed at maintaining the oxygen concentration above ninety two percent (Booker, 2005, pp.101)... Oxygen is a very vital gas as far as all the metabolic reactions are concerned. It ensures availability of the adenosine triphosphate, which yield the energy needed to drive all the life processes. Cigarette smoking as conventionally known poses serious consequences on one’s health, whether asthmatic or not. The effects are as bad to active as it is to the passive smokers. For the asthmatic individuals, smoking adds more dire repercussions as it destroys lungs and this triggers asthma attack as the airways are blocked. Tobacco smoking destroys cilia that are on the airways lining and these structures function to trap the particles, smoke and dusts out of the air channels, thus cleaning the path. When destroyed, the dusts and the smoke particles will remain accumulated in the air channels leading to attack or increased chances of the same. Smoking also encourages the build-up of mucus in the airways, which can also trigger an attack (Lehne, 2007, pp.57). When a comparison is made between an adult and a child, both being asthmatic, the child stands a more risky condition as he or she has smaller air passageways to the adult’s hence more detrimental effect on the child. Asthmatic children should therefore avoid tolerating the presence of smoke around them as this could lead them to paying a price beyond their control. Smokers should quit the practice, banish smoking in their vicinity, and keep their children away from such smoky environments (Lehne, 2007, pp.67). Personal hygiene encompasses the daily or routinely practices that are geared toward good health of an individual. It includes such practices as regular brushing of teeth, washing of hair, cleaning of the body using detergents, washing of the hands and applying of deodorants when necessary. These practices will check on the general lifestyle, which includes improved odor, checks on the bad breath, dental diseases, and other general diseases. Washing of the hands eliminates the harmful pathogenic organisms from harming us. The hands are ever in contact with the environment and the general facial lining including mouth and nose and these substances could find their way into the organs without our knowledge. Diseases such as common cold, salmonellosis, hepatitis A, staph infections among other infections are because of poor hygienic conditions, courtesy of negligence (Lehne, 2007, pp.67). Both the researchers and scientists, clinicians included have established a common ground that quality life is key to determining the usefulness of the various chronic illnesses. It depicts the personal and even social implications of the illness as it progresses and the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease. It also brings about understanding of the quality of life of the individuals in question. In this regard, quality of life is targeted in respect to health related quality of life. In their findings, it is found that a decrease in satisfaction of the physical activities is linked to the great physical disability. Treatment for this disease is not yet arrived at by the researchers but lifestyle changes could help boost the conditions to a more comfortable or bearable forms or rather reduce its progression. The treatment of this disease is geared towards relieving the patient of the symptoms, slowing down of the disease’s progress, improving his or her tolerance level, preventing the treatment implications and consequences and the general health conditions (Price, 2004, pp.32). In order to get such treatments, one is advised to see a pulmonologist who will examine the condition and administer the necessary therapeutically procedures. The lifestyle changes so talked about includes quitting of smoking, avoid lung irritants as one would avoid plague, and eat balanced diet to boost your nutrient and calorie uptake so as to curb such things as infections (Felner, 2008, pp.77). The doctor may at times prescribe short or long-term bronchodilators where the former acts on the patient for about four to six hours and the latter taking about twelve hours. The advantage of this bronchodilator is that it lets the medicine straight to the lungs. The prescription is however dependent on the severity of the condition (Felner, 2008, pp.87). Many a times, doctors are found to prescribe steroids to patients with COPD, this practice is useful as it helps those with symptoms that are worse or adverse. They help in the reduction of the air-channel inflammation. The other methods that can aid relieve the patients is the administration of vaccines. Flu shots and pneumococcal vaccines help to lower the risks of the associated complications of the disease (Booker, 2005, pp.121). Pulmonary rehabilitation is also important in that it helps those with chronic problems. It cuts across regular exercise, nutritional training and counseling, psychological training and disease management skills. Those in this rehabilitation program may include family doctor, a nurse, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, dietitians among other specialists (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.54). Oxygen therapy as discussed earlier is one other way of treating this condition and helps in a number of ways which includes provision of energy to perform tasks and displaying fewer symptoms, protects the lungs plus other organs from any form of damage, provides adequate sleep during the night and alertness during the day (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.54). If all these procedures fail to bear any formidable fruit, the patient might be recommended for surgical operation. This practice removes the affected organ or tissues from the lungs and thus helps the lungs to function better, resulting to improved breathing and better life. Lung transplant would be a good alternative for those with affected lungs if the COPD condition depicts severe threat (Gerrish & Lacey, 2006 pp.54). Lung transplants have their negative effects as far as compatibility is concerned. The lung from the donor is introduced to the recipient and many risks such as infections could set in. the fatal implication is that the recipient could die if a rejection of the organ occurs. In case this condition sets in as a victim, it is recommended that the patient seek medical guidance where the doctor can then prescribe antibiotics to check on the condition and other available drugs, like steroids, which will check on the breathing difficulty and eventual recovery from the lifelong stresses of COPD. Bibliography. . ALLIGOOD, M. R., & MARRINER-TOMEY, A. (2010). 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Pharmacology for nursing care. St. Louis, Mo, Saunders Elsevier. MASON-WHITEHEAD, E. (2008). Key concepts in nursing. Los Angeles, SAGE. http://www.credoreference.com/book/sageuknurs PRICE, D. J. (2004). Asthma and COPD. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone. TOMBLIN, B. (1996). G.I. nightingales: the Army Nurse Corps in World War II. Lexington, University Press of Kentucky. Read More