Emphysem The Third Leading Cause Of Death

Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) is when there is air trapped under the skin, and then goes into the tissues surround that area. The fifty year old patient in the journal article I chose was undergoing laparoscopy surgery for his diverticular disease when the SE was found (other complications that can be associated with SE are pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung and pneumomediastinum is when there is an abnormal amount of air in the mediastinum.)

As you already know, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), manifests itself when the passageway of air to the lungs is severely obstructed, thus preventing sufficient flow of oxygen into the bloodstream.1 The pathophysiology of COPD is a complex process that is the result of multiple airway diseases that simultaneously contribute to the impairment of airflow in the lungs.1 Specifically, the overlapping outcome of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is the pathogenesis of COPD.1 The risk factor for the COPD is influenced by the individual’s genetics, age, gender, exposure to air pollution, socioeconomic status, and the use of tobacco products.1 The use of tobacco products can increase the development of COPD.1 However, individuals that don’t smoke can also attain COPD.1 Therefore, COPD is not exclusive to individuals that smoke on a daily basis.1 In fact, genetics and the natural aging process plays a part in the development of pulmonary issues.1 For example, it has been proven that a deficiency in the alpha -1 antitrypsin gene is correlated with the development of COPD.1 The natural deterioration of lung tissue, coupled with the long term exposure to environmental elements, explains why the risk of attaining COPD increases as one progresses to the latter stages of their lives.1 In a healthy individual, goblet cells secrete about one liter of mucous that provides a moist surface over the lungs, trachea, and esophagus.1 The cilia on the pseuodocolumnar epithelial cells continuously sweep the mucus in the lungs in an upward motion.1 The cilia sweeps the mucosal trapped debris up, and removes pathogens and other foreign particles out the pulmonary tissue.1 In individuals with COPD, the pathogenesis of the disease creates structural modifications of the lung tissue, which result in deformed and nonfunctioning cilia.2 The lack of functioning cilia leads to the buildup of mucous, pathogens, and subsequent respiratory infections.2 Furthermore, the body tries to combat

Evaluate the given clinical scenario and use your knowledge of the diseases covered in Lectures.

Emphysema is the most common cause of death from respiratory disease in the United States and is generally caused by several years of heavy cigarette smoking (Olendorf, 2000). When a person smokes, the body’s immune system tries to fight off the invading smoke by using certain substances. These substances can also attack the cells of the lungs, but normally the body is able to release other substances to prevent this. In the case of people who are smokers, this doesn’t happen and the original substances that were released to fight off the smoke also end up injuring the cells of the lungs as well. Eventually, the lungs will not be able to supply enough oxygen to the blood and a host of problems can occur with this. Risk factors that have been identified for emphysema include exposure to tobacco smoke either through active or passive smoking (2nd hand smoke), occupational exposure such as dust or chemicals, ambient air pollution, or genetic abnormalities, including a deficiency of alpha-antitrypsin, an enzyme inhibitor that normally counteracts the destruction of lung tissue by certain other enzymes (Smeltzer, 2010). The symptoms of emphysema develop gradually over many years. It is generally characterized by three primary symptoms: chronic cough, sputum production, and dyspnea on exertion. Other signs and symptoms include weight loss and the development of a

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of morbidity, including visits to a physician, emergency department, or urgent care, as well asand hospitalizations1,2

There are no cure for this disease. However, there are different treatment to prevent further deterioration of the lungs function in order to improve the quality of life of the patient by increasing capacity of their physical activity. One of the main severe complication a patient with COPD can develop is exacerbation. Increased breathlessness, increased sputum volume and purulent sputum are the signs and symptoms of exacerbation. Early detection of the signs of exacerbation can help keep the condition of the patient from worsening. The treatments of COPD mainly aims at controlling the symptoms of exacerbation such as taking inhalers. Patients who are over the age of 35 and ex-smokers with chronic cough and bronchitis are recommended to have spirometer (NICE, 2004). This is because it is possible to delay or prevent patients from developing severe case of COPD is identified before they lose their lungs functions. Oxygen therapy is another treatment for COPD as the patients with this condition has high

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. COPD includes extensive lungs diseases such as emphysema, non-reversible asthma, specific forms of bronchiectasis, and chronic bronchitis. This disease restricts the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Ways in which these limitations may occur include the loss of elasticity in the air sacs and throughout the airways, the destruction of the walls between air sacs, the inflammation or thickening of airway walls, or the overproduction of mucus in airways which can lead to blockage. Throughout this paper I am going to explain the main causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and ways to reduce COPD.

Treatment – Medications that may be used in the treatment of emphysema include bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, and antibiotics. Therapy options may include pulmonary rehabilitation, nutrition therapy, and supplemental oxygen. Surgery that may be used includes lung volume reduction surgery which removes chunks of damage tissue to allow the remaining tissue to move more freely and lung transplant.

Emphysema is the main type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a long-term, irreversible yet preventable disease in which the walls of the alveoli become inflamed and lose elasticity causing the bronchioles to collapse. As a result of the inflammation, air becomes trapped in the alveoli which become hyperinflated, and may rupture – creating one larger air space instead of many small ones – which decreases the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream, causing an inability to breathe normally. It is considered an obstructive disease because airflow during exhalation is reduced or stopped because hyperinflated alveoli impede gas exchange when a person breathes due to little

TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA Doctors can help persons with emphysema live more comfortably with their disease. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of symptoms and prevent progression of the disease with a minimum of side effects. The doctor's

Dealing with a health condition is certainly something the majority of us hope not to face. Illnesses make their appearance in a variety of ways and usually people have little control whether they suffer a health condition or not, as it is in the case of hereditary or blood transmitted diseases. Nonetheless, there are some illnesses that can be prevented by adjusting healthier life styles, as it is in the case of emphysema. Even though, there are multiple causes of emphysema it is not a surprise to anyone that smoking is its major cause. Taking into consideration the fact that the negative health effects of tobacco were not initially known, I would understand those that contracted the disease prior to the 80’s. However, it is difficult for

It was one of the clinical days in cardiology department on Monday afternoon. One incident that is worth reflecting on was my encounter with a 52 years old female patient who smoke on average 20 cigarettes per day since more than 20 years. She is an overweight who has recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), COPD is a a lung disease characterised by the narrowing of the airways. COPD also refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the latter of which Sarah has been diagnosed with. It is emphysema that is Sarah's primary health problem at present.The health promotion strategy adopted in this case was a brief intervention including motivational interviewing, which took place within the clinical area as part of Jessie’s consultation.

I have yet to see a benefit from smoking. While it is possible to get emphysema from breathing in environmental or occupational pollutants, smoking seems to be the number one cause. According to mayoclinic.com, there are over 4,000 chemicals found in both first and secondhand tobacco smoke (Emphysema, 2009). Smoke enters into the lungs breaking down the elastic fibers, wreaking havoc on the entire respiratory system, including the alveoli. Sadly, there is no easy cure. The best first step is to stop smoking or exposure to the causing pollutants. Afterwards, treatment is to manage symptoms, and hopefully slow down progression. Those I know with emphysema are treated with supplemental oxygen tanks to increase oxygen flow, steroids to relieve emphysema related bronchitis, and bronchodilators to open the air passageways. In a best, or worst, case scenario for one individual I know is if her emphysema worsens, but overall health maintains, she may qualify for a lung transplant. Like those elastic

Diseases caused by the effects of smoking or second hand smoke may lead to emphysema. To start, even after only a few years of smoking, one’s lungs could be affected for the rest of his/her life. Making reference to the issue, “If exposure to cigarette advertising is a risk factor for disease, it is incumbent on the public and elected officials to deal with it as we would the vector of any other pathogen” (Sullum).

Oscar Wilde was quoted as saying, “A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?” Unfortunately, Oscar Wilde had no idea that smoking caused lung cancer. Lung cancer is one of the most preventable diseases that exist, yet people continue to voluntarily put themselves at risk, and it still has tragic effects on the person and their family even though there are ways to treat it. The disease itself is categorized into two types, but both are eventually fatal. The cancer has several causes, but is mainly due to smoking. It has many numerous effects, both physical and emotional. However, there are still treatments and options that can prolong a cancer