Over 23 million Americans are suffering from respiratory diseases. According to the health report published in the year 2012, an estimated 13.6 million adults are suffering from COPD. Treating the disease is increasingly getting expensive. Asthma, a respiratory disease, can cost the taxpayers an estimate of $ 20.7 million annually. It is worth noting that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is both preventable and treatable.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the most common COPD. Both the diseases account for most of the deaths across the world. Statistics show that COPD rank as the fourth killer disease in the US. Both disorders are known to obstruct airflow. Credible sources indicate that the two conditions usually coexist together. However, there are other kinds of diseases that can cause obstruction similar to the one caused by COPD. Clinicians cite asthma as an example of such condition. However, asthma cannot qualify as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medical practitioners warn that asthma can as well result in a respiratory damage and an overall COPD (Fletcher & Dahl, 2013).
Chronic bronchitis is the inflammatory condition that causes scars to the bronchial tube walls. Chronic bronchitis causes breathing difficulties. Physicians assert that infected bronchi are capable taking less air into and from the lungs. Also, coughing up of heavy mucus or phlegm characterizes the condition.
Emphysema causes a severe damage to air sacs. Health experts warn that infected alveoli limits the rate of oxygen exchange in the lungs. This condition results in breath shortness.
A number of tests are usually carried out during COPD diagnosis. In this literature, the tests that the study focuses on are: chest x-ray, pulmonary function test, arterial blood gases and DL CO test.
Chest x- rays may show some signs of diaphragm flattening. This condition indicates emphysema. If the patient test positive for broncho vascular markings, then it is advisable to treat the patient for chronic bronchitis. This test can as well indicate asthmatic condition. Physicians are advised to carry out several tests to assess the patient’s condition.
Pulmonary function tests are usually carried out to evaluate whether the respiratory dysfunction is restrictive or destructive. Any healthy person has an FEV1 value of approximately 70%. If the patient is suffering from obstructive respiratory disorder, then the FEV values are significantly diminished, and it can get as lower as 30%. Restrictive respiratory condition may show average FEV. Mr. J.T. indicated a value of 58% when tested for FEV values. His FEV values went below the normal value by 12%. This observation shows that he is suffering from obstructive emphysema (Dancer & Thickett, 2012). He cannot be suffering from asthma because asthmatic patients have a normal FEV. Comprehensive pulmonary function test can point out to the degree of tolerance to pulmonary impairment. DLCO test measures gasdiffusion rates in the lungs. Mr. J.T. complains of fatigue when performing light tasks. This observation implies that he has a lot of carbon monoxide circulating in his blood. Reduced amount of oxygen circulating in the body can cause fatigue. Reduced rate of carbon monoxide diffusion from the capillaries to the alveoli indicates that the patient is likely to be suffering from emphysema.
Mr. J.T is a 70-year-old American of African descent. Clinicians warn that older patients who are suffering from chronic respiratory disorder have general weakness. This condition confirms that Mr. J.T has a respiratory disorder. Mr. J.T is a carpenter, and he has been smoking for 45 years. Workshop dust and smoke particles from cigarette are pollutants. Clinicians implicate industrial dusts, especially smoke from the cigarette, as the key causes of respiratory diseases.
COPD management entails four crucial components that seek to monitor the disease, minimize risks, stabilize COPD and handle exacerbations. Before the formulation of any treatment plan, financial impact on the individual and the community is first assessed. COPD management should also aim at creating awareness by educating the public. For instance, GOLD initiative facilitates the sharing of information about COPD as well as educating the public (Chambers, 2012).
Implementing COPD treatment strategy should aim at ensuring that medical practitioners, involved in the care of people with COPD have adequate access to spirometry. Training should also be offered to physicians. Comprehensive training and continuous assessment will boost the staff’s competent in diagnosing the disease (Farquhar et al., 2014).
It is highly recommended that Mr. J.T. should quit smoking. Smoke cessation can significantly minimize the chances of acquiring COPD and stop its progression.
Mr. J.T. should be treated for tobacco dependence. He should be referred to a medical home and appropriate counseling provided to him. Patients should be identified for the condition prior to the end stage. The case study indicates that he has been treated for upper respiratory twice (Gardiner et al., 2010).
Glucocorticosteroids treatment is inappropriate for the case of Mr. J.T. Antibiotic treatment should be administered to the patient. However, excessive use of glucocorticosteroids to treat the patient is not favorable, in this case. Glucocorticosteroids treatment is accompanied by adverse side effects especially to the individual patients above 60 years.
References
Chambers, S. (2012). Tiotropium – Advancing the Treatment of COPD. Drugs in Context.
Dancer, R., & Thickett, D. (2012). Pulmonary Function Tests. Medicine, 40(4), 186-189.
Farquhar, M., Ewing, G., Moore, C., Gardener, C., Butcher, H., White, P., & Grande, G. (2014). Preparedness to Care in Advanced COPD: How Prepared are Informal Carer of Patients with Advanced COPD And What Are Their Support Needs? Baseline Data From an Ongoing Longitudinal Study. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 4(Suppl 1), A8-A9.
Fletcher, M., & Dahl, B. (2013). Expanding Nurse Practice in COPD: Is It Key to Providing High Quality, Effective and Safe Patient Care? Primary Care Respiratory Journal, 22(2), 230.
Gardiner, C., Gott, M., Payne, S., Small, N., Barnes, S., & Halpin, D. et al. (2010). Exploring the Care Needs of Patients with Advanced COPD: An Overview of the Literature. Respiratory Medicine, 104(2), 159-165.