Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe lung disease that obstructs the flow of air in and out of the lungs. COPD symptoms include mucus production, breathing difficulties, wheezing and coughing. According to Pavord et al. (2017), long-term exposure to particulate matter or irritating gases causes COPD. Individuals with COPD are susceptible to developing heart disease, lung cancer and other conditions. Various co-morbidities can affect a patient diagnosed with COPD. These co-morbidities include atrial fibrillation, benign prostatic hyperplasia, hypertension, depression and past smoking history, as well as S/P, left CVA (stroke) with right hemiplegia.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition that is characterized by faster heart rates. When COPD is associated with atrial fibrillation, it can lead to acute complications such as heart failure and stroke. Patients with COPD and atrial fibrillation are likely to develop infections and require more life-support resources than patients with COPD only ( Goudis, 2017 ). Patients with both COPD and atrial fibrillation can experience organ dysfunction and respiratory failure. Therefore, this indicates that atrial fibrillation can worsen the condition of a patient diagnosed with COPD.
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Apart from atrial fibrillation, hypertension also affects patient diagnosed with COPD. Hypertension is a condition that increases the risk of heart disease. It is a typical COPD complication. When lungs get damaged, oxygen that gets into the body reduces. A high blood pressure is generated in the blood vessels and makes it hard for the circulatory system to pump oxygenated blood into the body of the COPD patient. As a result of the heart failing to pump blood, the COPD generates more red blood cells that thicken the blood, making it hard for the circulatory system to pump it out of the system. Hypertension affects a person with COPD by forcing him or her to breathe faster to take in more oxygen.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a prostate gland enlargement that causes uncomfortable urinary symptoms in men. Patients with COPD are at higher risk of BPH. This is because the inflammation of airways in patients with COPD is crucial in BPH progression and development. These two conditions seem to share similar pathophysiology. On the other hand, depression affects patients with COPD in numerous ways. Firstly, it worsens the physical symptoms of the patients because it makes him or her feel down all the time, making it hard for him or her to follow the treatment plan. Patients with depression may forget their medications or turn to alcohol, cigarettes or other unhealthy habits that may harm the body.
COPD is majorly caused by cigarette smoking. Smoking accounts for eight out of ten COPD related deaths. COPD patients are affected by smoking because smoking damages the airways, air sacs and lungs lining. Once the lungs have been damaged, a person experiences trouble moving air in and out. Smoking also worsens the disease and trigger exacerbations. Exacerbations are life-threatening and increase COPD severity. Exposing children and teens to smoking can slow the growth and development of the lungs which heightens patients’ risk. A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is reduced or interrupted, preventing the brain from getting nutrients and oxygen. COPD affects patients with stroke. It forms plaque in the carotid artery, an artery that carries blood to the brain. Plaque formation increases patients risk for stroke.
Since patients with COPD are affected with atrial fibrillation, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, past smoking history, stroke and depression, it is essential to manage these conditions in time before they worsen the COPD disease. Patients with COPD should be encouraged to follow a proper treatment plan to avoid COPD prevalence. Additionally, smokers should avoid smoking because it triggers exacerbations that can worsen the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
References
Goudis, C. A. (2017). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation: an unknown relationship. Journal of cardiology, 69(5), 699-705.
Pavord, I. D., Chanez, P., Criner, G. J., Kerstjens, H. A., Korn, S., Lugogo, N., ... & Harris, S. S. (2017). Mepolizumab for eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New England Journal of Medicine , 377 (17), 1613-1629.
