Paper Example on COPD: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction

Some of the symptoms that are seen in this case involving R.W. include problems of fatigue, loss of body weight, difficulties of capturing breath when undertaking physical activities, and lung wheezing. Based on these signs, the most likely ailment that is affecting the patient is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is an inflammatory ailment that tends to influence the lung airflow adversely (Herath et al., 2018). The disease is triggered when an individual is exposed to harmful gases for a long time, and this is evident for R.W. has been smoking for the last 35 years. In the diagnosis process for this ailment, the spirometry will be required that will incorporate FEVI that is less than 70%, for this will help to show if there is an obstruction of air movement in the patient’s lungs. The informatory functions that have been done show that the patient has a FEVI of 58%, and this is an indication that there is a high possibility that the patient is suffering from COPD.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Disease Stages

Based on the symptoms depicted by this patient and the FEVI results, it has been determined that R.W. is highly likely suffering from COPD. The most critical issue in this case is the determination of the disease severity, for this will help in understanding the measures to use in managing the problem. It is important to undertake a comparison between the predicted standard value and the patient’s FEVI score that will help in the computation of the percentage difference, which will help the physician understand the COPD stage. The stage systems of this ailment can be learned by focusing on the details highlighted by the Global Initiative for Chronic Instructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Based on the guidelines that are given by this body, the initial level of this disease is the mild stage, which is quoted at a level of 80% or higher based on the FEVI measurements. The moderate stage is the second step, which is quoted at the levels of 50% to 79% in the FEVI guidelines. The most severe level is the one that is quoted at 30%-49%, and the worst is at the level of below 30%. The FEVI posted by R.W. shows that the patient is in the second stage.

Pharmacotherapeutic Treatment Goals

Some of the treatment objectives that should be realized in this case include offering the support mechanism to the patient to ensure that he is stopping the smoking habit. Encouragement is necessary for it will help a patient understand the mechanism that they can follow to realize the desired outcome. When there is an individualized assessment of the signs and symptoms that are seen in this patient, it becomes easier to offer assistance and ensure that future occurrence of risks is managed in the right way to avoid recurrence of the problem or the issue becoming worse (Eapen et al., 2017). Another goal that should be realized in the treatment process is the reduction of symptoms to ensure that instances of coughing, weight loss, and cases of fatigue are managed in the right way.

It is important to ensure that the right intervention programs are followed in the process of ensuring that the patient is getting adequate support for the treatment process. The nurse will be compelled to take the patient through various processes that include asking questions, assessing their condition, and advising on the measures to take to realize positive outcomes. Part of the healing process involves a patient accepting that they have a problem and being ready to be assisted.

Prescribed Drug Therapy

The bronchodilator therapy is a useful procedure that can help R.W. to heal in the right way, and it should be combined with other actions, such as corticosteroids, to help limit eth side effects on using this treatment procedure. Therefore, a combination of short-acting antimuscarinisc (SAMAs) and Short-acting beta-agonists will help realize the desired outcome.

Parameters for Monitoring the Success of the Therapy

The parameters that can be used in determining whether the therapy is offering the desired outcome is the performance of traditional pulmonary function testing (PFT). The exhalation and inhalation maximal maneuvers will be utilized, and this will help in understanding the response to the treatment process. The parameters should incorporate the analysis of dynamic compliance (Cd), airflow, and pressure. The PFT is the gold standard measure that should be used to determine any changes to the pulmonary mechanics. The procedures are intense and can trigger the occurrence of mechanical ventilation when the testing process is happening.

Patient Education

The education that should be offered to R.W. when the therapy is being undertaken includes the description of the benefits and risks that are likely to arise when the treatment process is being applied. Some of the benefits that are likely to arise include in the alleviation of the smoking process. The various systems, such as coughing, weight loss, and inability to breathe, will end, and this will help the patient to lead a healthy life. The breathing process will become easier for the muscles will be relaxed, and the airways will be widened. Some of the problems that are likely to arise after the application of this therapy program is the hands trembling, dry mouth, and headache. The patient should also be notified that they are likely to encounter cases of vomiting and nausea.

Adverse Reactions for the Selected Agent

Diarrhea and palpitations are some of the side effects that may arise from the continued utilization of the bronchodilators programs. The disease may become prevalent, requiring the use of high dosage levels. The side effects become worse when the dosage is increased, and this may lead to the nurse changing the treatment process that is being used. The continued application of the therapy process may lead to the bronchospasm condition leading to the worsening of the constriction problem. A patient may report the inability to fall asleep, and all these issues are likely to make the nurse considering changing the medication process to help alleviate these symptoms that are arising from the use of the therapy program.

Second-Line Therapy

The therapy program being utilized involves the application of drugs, and if a patient is experiencing other development problems, such as nausea and vomiting, resulting in more advanced programs may lead to more problems. Therefore, it is essential to result in a natural way of managing the alcoholism problem and its effects. Oxygen therapy is a better way of managing the problem, and this may involve the use of nasal cannula or masks to ensure that there is supplemental oxygen that the patient is getting. When other treatment procedures have failed to provide the desired outcome, surgery is the program that a nurse can use, and it is used when the problem is at the severe stage. Bullectomy helps in the removal of abnormal air spaces. The reduction in the lung volume can also be used, and the damaged tissues can also be removed. The transplantation of lungs is another measure that can be taken as second-line therapy.

Health Promotion Activities

Some of the health promotional activities that can be recommended to this patient is engaging in physical activities. There is a great need to provide information to the patient in various forms, such as audio or print materials, and this will be critical in enabling R.W. to understand the causes of the health problem and the measures that can be used when seeking for the treatment process. There is a need to discuss with the patient on matters regarding health-promoting behavior (Colarusso et al., 2017). Setting groups that will act as a role model and keep the patient accountable for the health condition is another procedure that can be used to seek treatment care for R.W.

Metoprolol Treatment Process

R.W. needs to stop the usage of metoprolol process for the treatment of headache. Instead, the problem that is triggering the occurrence of the headaches should be managed as this is what will provide a cure for the headache. The metoprolol may make it difficult to treat the COPD ailment. When a patient is provided with a large number of drugs, the body may not manage to handle the side effects of the various drugs elements, and this will only worsen the body’s health. Therefore, when managing the COPD, the patient should stop using the metoprolol and manage the root cause of the headache.

References

Colarusso, C., Terlizzi, M., Molino, A., Pinto, A., & Sorrentino, R. (2017). Role of the inflammasome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oncotarget, 8(47), 81813. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.17850

Eapen, M. S., Myers, S., Walters, E. H., & Sohal, S. S. (2017). Airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a true paradox. Expert review of respiratory medicine, 11(10), 827-839. DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2017.1360769

Herath, S. C., Normansell, R., Maisey, S., & Poole, P. (2018). Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (10). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009764