Nursing Principles and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Running head: NURSING PRINCIPLES AND MANAGEMENT
NURSING PRINCIPLES AND MANAGEMENT
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1NURSING PRINCIPLES AND MANAGEMENT
Introduction:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the most hazardous malignancies in the current
world and or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has huge impact on the society and
economy all over the world. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a term used to illustrate
progressive lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractive asthma (non-
reversible) (Vestbo, 2014). This condition is marked by increasing respiratory failure. The
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease, which is at the moment
incurable, but chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be manageable with the right diagnosis
and treatment. People have been capable to live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for
many years. In general, coughing and shortness of breath regards as a sign of aging and this
might be the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Rennard, Vestbo & Agustí, 2013).
Most common symptoms and signs of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease consists of
wheezing increased coughing (with or without mucus), shortness of breath, and a feeling of
tightness around the chest. Commonly, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease limits the air flow
in lung which causes the shortness of breath. In general, mostly older people are affected by
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and most common conditions are chronic bronchitis and
emphysema (Gregersen et al., 2016). The occurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
increases with age, mostly among the 45 years old or older. Among the age group of 65 years to
74 years old and 75 years to 84 years old, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranks among
the top three causes of overall burden in their health and was the second biggest overall burden
among the men aged 75 years to 84 years old (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is generally associated by the common risk factors and
effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on other parts of the body might lead to the

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other chronic conditions such as respiratory cancers, asthma, cardiac illness and diabetes. Active
smoking or smoking exposure is the principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
however other causes could be involved (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
These causes are outdoor air pollution, fumes and workplace dust from burned fuel of animal or
plant origin, asthma infections and childhood respiratory disease. In Australia, people over the
age of 45 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects one in 20 Australian individuals.
In the year 2015, it has been reported that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is Australia's
fifth largest cause of death. In the same year, about 7,100 individuals (3,300 females and 3,800
males) have been reported to have died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). People who were smoking are 6 times more likely to have
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in comparison with the non- smokers. Even individuals
who have quit smoking are 5 times more likely to develop emphysema in comparison with the
people who have never smoked (Park et al., 2015).
Along with the physicians, nurses also play an important role in the treatment and caring of
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Australia’s population of aged persons
increasing significantly over the years due medical advancements, however general physicians
are not increasing with the same ratio. There physicians are very busy, in here, nurses can help
with the situation. Properly trained and skilled nurses can handle and provide initial treatment to
the patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as improve the quality
of health care service by providing timely service to the elderly patients as well as saving and
freeing up time for the doctors (Vestbo et al., 2013).
In 2016, more than 251 million peoples were affected by the chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease worldwide. Additionally, 3.17 million deaths were caused by disease related to chronic

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obstructive pulmonary disease in the year 2015 (Who.int, 2019). Hence, there is a great need for
the understanding the patho- physiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in order tackle
this situation by understanding the cause and symptoms of the disease. Presently, there is no cure
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but it can be manageable through treatment and nurses
play a significant role in this particular scenario. As discussed above, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease mostly affect the elderly people and they need support for the management of
the disease and nurses can play a role in that scenario. From the judging the high prevalence of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and nurses role in this scenario, the purpose of this article
is delve in to the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and provide
discussion on the nurses role in the managing and caring for the people who are suffering from
the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Discussion:
Patho- physiology of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A poor reversible air flow
obstruction and an abnormal inflammatory response are the characteristics of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. All individuals who smokes are infected by inflammation in their lungs, but
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease developers have increased toxicity or abnormal reactions
against the outside toxins (Gea, Agustí & Roca, 2013). This amplified reaction may lead to tissue
damage or emphysema, mucus hyper secretion or chronic bronchitis, and interference in the
normal repair and defense mechanisms which causes inflammation of the air way and fibrosis
also known as bronchiolitis. Increased neutrophil counts, macrophages and T lymphocytes of the
lungs (CD8 more than CD4) characterize chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The degree of
inflammation is generally associated with the degree of blockage of airflow. Release of a range
of cytokines by these inflammatory cells and mediators are involved in the disease. This pattern