Question

 

1. What are the signs and symptoms of COPD?

2. How is COPD diagnosed?

3. Discuss recommendations of oxygen administration to COPD patients.

4. Discuss cultural considerations. How would care differ if this client were from the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East?

 

Answer 1

1. COPD symptoms in early stage - difficulty in breathing occasionally, mild cough sometimes. Progressively symptoms get worse like- difficulty in breathing, wheezing sound, chest tightness, ankle swelling, fatigue, weight loss.

2. Physical examination of lung sound. spiromerty - to assess lung function. In this test you have to breathe deeply. X-ray chest. CT scan. ABG to assess arterial blood gas values

3. Oxygen is recommended to the COPD patient because it is difficult for them to breathe normally. So O2 is administration is recommended at 2-4 L from nasal mask. Or CPAP if condition is worse.

4. People of different cultures have low level of knowledge about the disease. People of some cultures even don't know or heard the name of COPD. They avoid their problem of breathing difficulty as they thought that it is due to old age and don't take medical help. Smoking in some cultures are very common which also affect lungs. In India COPD is more common in Rural population. So proper knowledge should be given. Aware them about disease. Habbit of smoking should be reduced or removed. But in southeast Asia pollution and smoking is high but care is low. So awareness and smoking reduction is important.