Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an inflammatory lung illness that leads to the obstruction of air flowing from an individual’s lungs. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema conditions mainly contribute to COPD (Lange. Celli. Agusti, Boje. Divo. Faner. Meek, 2015). COPD can be treated, symptoms controlled as well as reducing risks of other
conditions.
Role of Nutrition in Preventing the Disease
Nutritional Supplements plays a significant role in preventing, maintaining as well as improving the strength of the muscles in patients suffering from COPD. A proper nutrition also ensures that the malnourished state characterized by weight loss leading to muscle wasting is significantly corrected. Further, a proper nutrition ensures improved body mass index therefore reducing the risk of acute exacerbation on patients suffering from COPD. Further, proper nutrition plays a key function in alleviating COPD symptoms and also, small frequent meals with proper nutritional balance helps in preventing COPD disease.
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Etiology
Smoking of tobacco is primarily the primary cause of COPD. Occupational exposure to particulate matter and air pollution are among other reasons as well as imbalance in antiproteinases and proteinases common with individuals that have a deficiency in alpha-1 antitrypsin (Lange. et al, 2015).
Symptoms
COPD symptoms don’t appear until there is severe damage to the lungs. Other symptoms and signs include;
Chest tightness
Wheezing
Chronic cough
Respiratory infections
Swelling in legs, feet or ankles
Complications
Respiratory infections
Heart problems
Depression
Hypertension in the arteries of the lung
Prevention
Individuals should quit smoking and also abstain from smoking. People working in areas with chemical dust and fumes should seek preventive measures to protect themselves.
Nursing Assessment
Assessment of individuals with COPD is mainly done through chest scans known as computed tomography (CT). After the diagnosis, the nurse makes therapeutic decisions, measures outcomes for research and clinical purposes as well as determining prognosis.
Nursing Interventions
There are various nursing interventions for COPD patients; these interventions include; risk factors and assessment, treatment of acute exacerbations, bronchodilators, glucocorticoids, oxygen therapy, antibiotic therapy, vaccinations, behavior therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, ventilator support and surgical treatment for individuals with severe COPD (Lange. et al, 2015).
Client Education
The patients are taught ways in which to follow in case of diagnosis of the disease; these include; stop smoking, learning breathing techniques, take COPD medicine as prescribed, restrain from dust, smoke, and fumes, exercise regularly, ingest mainly non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated drinks and call for help if symptoms persist (Lange. et al, 2015).
References
Lange, P., Celli, B., Agustí, A., Boje Jensen, G., Divo, M., Faner, R., ... & Meek, P. (2015). Lung-function trajectories leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New England Journal of Medicine , 373 (2), 111-122.
