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(COPD) Chronic Diseases Assignment

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Added on  2020-03-15

(COPD) Chronic Diseases Assignment

   Added on 2020-03-15

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Running head: CHRONIC ILLNESSCHRONIC ILLNESSName of the StudentName of the universityAuthor’s note
(COPD) Chronic Diseases Assignment_1
1CHRONIC ILLNESSSummary paperCHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD)Chronic diseases become more common with age. Our presentation focuses on chronicobstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a normally umbrella term that describes the progressivelung diseases, which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, bronchitis. The maincharacteristics of this disease are increase in the breathlessness. The main part of the body that I affected in COPD is the lungs. It affects the various structuraland the functional domains of the lungs. The alveoli of the lungs become damaged and the lungairways get stiffer and narrower. The lung alveoli break down and it becomes difficult for theinhalation and exhalation. CausesThere are multiple factors behind the development of the COPD. In most of the casesCOPD is caused by the inhalation of the air pollutants, obnoxious factory fumes, and dustparticles. Researchers have found that genetics also play a part in the development of COPD(Mackay and Hurst, 2012).One of the main irritant of the lung airway is the cigarette smoking. Studies have proved thatolder adults who were once smokers or are still smoking have the greater chance of developingCOPD (Salvi, 2014). Prolonged exposure to the lung irritants like poisonous chemicals orsecondary smoke may cause COPD in the older years. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD)is the most common genetic risk factor for the occurrence of emphysema (Suissa, Dell'Anielloand Ernst, 2012).
(COPD) Chronic Diseases Assignment_2
2CHRONIC ILLNESSSigns and symptomsThe general signs of COPD is increased breathlessness, coughing which can be with orwithout sputum, wheeziness, tightening of the throat and the chest (Mackay and Hurst, 2012).Most of the age people mistake the increased coughing and breathlessness with the normal signsof aging and therefore neglect the treatment. COPD often remains latent and takes years toexpress the symptoms. Progressive symptoms may include acute respiratory distress, chest pain,tachypnea, cyanosis, pneumonia, and bronchitis, use of accessory respiratory muscles,hyperinflation, peripheral edema, chronic wheezing, and raised jugular venous pulse (Mackayand Hurst, 2012). The stages of COPD progresses from I to IV. Stage IV is the worst stage ofthe COPD (Mackay and Hurst, 2012).Psychosocial condition of COPD patientsAlthough the identification and the treatment of the physical illness connected to COPDhas increased but the psychological burden of the disease in the older adults is always neglected. Person with COPD often have worst episodes of coughing a d respiratory distress, which mighthamper their professional life. People working in factories and the construction sites often facework place problems if they have COPD (Yohannes and Alexopoulos, 2014). Prolongedexposure to their work place may also worsen their condition. Inability to contribute to theprofession might generate anxiety and depression in the working older adults. This can lead tosocial withdrawal. COPD can involve progressive turn down in lung function which may giverise to dyspnoea and reduced ability to perform daily tasks. It can cause alterations in theperson’s social roles, relationships and self-perception (Yohannes and Alexopoulos, 2014).
(COPD) Chronic Diseases Assignment_3

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