Keiser University Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder Discussion

Response to a post

Rules Rules : APA Format / 250 Word count

• Your post must be highly organized, thorough and accurate.
• Advance the discussion or extend discussions already taking place.
• Responses must add new information not previously discussed. Pose new possibilities or opinions not previously voiced. Consider new factual information tied with critical thinking. Interesting and current research on the topic.
• Do not simply summarize another student’s post and agree/disagree. Consider starting out posts with, “A research article I found said, Did you know, 3 things I found interesting were…”
• Critical thinking very important for this class
• Example of how the professor like critical thinking :In a response to a discussion of burns, a student included:

  ” I have seen patients at the urgent care I work at come in with sunburns that have mild blisters. It is extremely important to keep burns in a septic environment as this can cause further complications. (Saladin 2018)I remember when I was about 7 years old my uncle caught his leg on fire trying to shut off a cigarette he was smoking. His muscles and tendons were visible; my mother cleaned his wound about 3 times a day to prevent any infections along with antibiotics and stay hydrated .His third degree burn lacked pain because his nerve ending were damaged. This only occurs with third degree burns, which is why first and second degree burns are a lot more painful. It is important to be evaluated by a physician when burns are caused by chemicals or electricity, large and deep burns, or have burns that appear charred (mayo clinic).”

• Post :
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also known as “COPD” is the long-term obstruction of air flow and substantial reduction of pulmonary ventilation (Saladin, 2020). There are two major forms of COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema can both cause airway obstruction, dyspnea, and frequent infections that lead to hypoventilation, hypoxemia, and respiratory acidosis.Chronic bronchitis is excess mucous production in the lungs and a chronic cough. Those with chronic bronchitis are more prone to infections due to bacteria thriving in the stagnant pools of mucous (Marieb & Hoehn, 2010). Emphysema is enlargement of the alveolar walls and the loss of lung elasticity.COPD can be hereditary, long-term effects of smoking, and other causes like pollution and inhaled irritants, which is one of the leading causes in adult mortality (Saladin, 2020).COPD can also lead to other health issues like pulmonary hypertension as well as CHF (congestive heart failure). The lungs are working hard for one to breath, which causes the heart to work even harder. With the heart going into overload it causes fluid build up on the heart, which can lead to excess water weight and swelling. Just imagine if your lungs are working, but now your heart is filled with fluid, this is causing it to be more difficult to breathe. In this case, one would be prescribed a diuretic to rid some of the excess fluid build-up. Also, being mindful that the fluid is not riding the body too quickly, which could affect the kidneys. It is like a domino effect.Some patients with COPD are treated with corticosteroids in aerosol inhalers, and some placed on oxygen for long-term use (Marieb & Hoehn, 2010). If a patient is placed on oxygen, they are carefully monitored due to the increasing of carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This is checked by performing an ABG (arterial blood gas) in the wrist. While working as a PCT, RT use to make rounds on my patients who had COPD with alarming levels.
• Critical Thinking:
  My uncle has been diagnosed with both COPD and CHF. He did not get diagnosed with CHF until his COPD got worse, of course not taking care of himself properly and still smoking. Now he has been diagnosed with stage 4 COPD, which is very chronic. Just by listening in and talking with his physicians during his hospital stays, it made me more knowledgeable to his condition.