NURSING 3PA2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Liquid Oxygen, Fluticasone Propionate, Xanthine
Document Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease classifies are group of respiratory disorders characterised by chronic and recurrent obstruction of the airways. Copd is a combination of the three separate diseases; mainly emphysema, and bronchitis, however to lesser extend asthma as well, that come together to create the typical pathophysiological disease process. In canada 3. 9 percent of canadians over the age of 35 have probable copd (rnao, It is believed the actual prevalence of copd is underestimated due to diagnosis usually being made after 55 years of age (rnao, 2009). It is estimated more than 50 percent of patients with copd remain undiagnosed (rnao, 2009). The mechanisms involved in the development of copd include the inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchial wall, hypertrophy of the submucosal glands, hypersecretion of mucus, destruction of alveoli and loss of elasticity in the lungs. Inflammation, fibrosis and excess mucus cause obstruction of the airflow and cause reverse in ventilation and perfusion.
