CASE STUDY SCENARIO
Julie is a 52-year-old female who has come to a local walk-in clinic to discuss her COPD and specifically the problem she is having with exacerbations and time âoff sickâ. She is a heavy smoker, and her progressively deteriorating lung function suggests that she has moderate COPD, although she also has a history of childhood asthma, and had allergic rhinitis as a teenager.
She has a sedentary office job and, although she is breathless on exertion, this generally does not interfere with her lifestyle. The relatively frequent exacerbations are more troublesome. They are usually triggered by an upper respiratory infection and can take a couple of weeks to recover. She has had three exacerbations this winter, and as a result her employer is not happy with her sickness absence record and has asked her to seek advice from her general practitioner.
Julie is on a short-acting β2-agonist, although she rarely uses it except during exacerbations. In the past, she has used an inhaled steroid, but stopped that some time ago as she was not convinced it was helping.
While auscultating Julieâs lungs, the nurse hears expiratory wheezes throughout. Her vital signs are as follows: blood pressure 110/82; pulse 116; respiratory rate 39; oxygen saturation on room air is 88%. Recent spirometry showed a typical COPD flow-volume loop, although she had some reversibility (250âml and 20%) with a post-bronchodilator FEV1 of 60% predicted.
PART 1: Questions
1. Briefly describe COPD in a way that Julie would understand. What pathophysiology is occurring which makes it difficult for Julie to breathe? Support your answer with explanation, and APA references.Canadian References.
CASE STUDY SCENARIO
Julie is a 52-year-old female who has come to a local walk-in clinic to discuss her COPD and specifically the problem she is having with exacerbations and time âoff sickâ. She is a heavy smoker, and her progressively deteriorating lung function suggests that she has moderate COPD, although she also has a history of childhood asthma, and had allergic rhinitis as a teenager.
She has a sedentary office job and, although she is breathless on exertion, this generally does not interfere with her lifestyle. The relatively frequent exacerbations are more troublesome. They are usually triggered by an upper respiratory infection and can take a couple of weeks to recover. She has had three exacerbations this winter, and as a result her employer is not happy with her sickness absence record and has asked her to seek advice from her general practitioner.
Julie is on a short-acting β2-agonist, although she rarely uses it except during exacerbations. In the past, she has used an inhaled steroid, but stopped that some time ago as she was not convinced it was helping.
While auscultating Julieâs lungs, the nurse hears expiratory wheezes throughout. Her vital signs are as follows: blood pressure 110/82; pulse 116; respiratory rate 39; oxygen saturation on room air is 88%. Recent spirometry showed a typical COPD flow-volume loop, although she had some reversibility (250âml and 20%) with a post-bronchodilator FEV1 of 60% predicted.
PART 1: Questions
1. Briefly describe COPD in a way that Julie would understand. What pathophysiology is occurring which makes it difficult for Julie to breathe? Support your answer with explanation, and APA references.Canadian References.
