Helath care of patients with COPD

Kronična opstruktivna bolest pluća je upalna plućna bolest kod koje je upala prisutna u dišnim putovima, plućnom parenhimu, a očituje se sustavno. Naziv KOPB ujedinjuje u prošlosti uobičajene entitete kroničnog opstruktivnog bronhitisa i emfizema. Bolest karakterizira progresivna bronhoopstrukcija koja nije u potpunosti reverzibilna. KOPB nastaje zbog genetske predispozicije i utjecaja okoline (onečišćenost zraka, pušenje). Nakon dugogodišnje izloženosti štetnim djelovanjima dolazi promjene se događaju puno prije, no što dolazi do kliničke manifestacije bolesti. Kronični bronhitis je dugotrajna upala dišnih putova koja proizvodi velike količine sluzi. To uzrokuje kašljanje i hripanje. Bronhitis se smatra kroničnim ako kašalj i ekspektoracija traju najmanje 3 mjeseca po godini u dvije uzastopne godine. Emfizem je bolest koja uništava plućne alveole i/ili najmanje bronhiole u plućima te pluća gube elasticitet. Time se zračni prostori povećavaju i oteţavaju disanje. Oštećenje pluća do kojeg dolazi uslijed KOPB-a ne moţe se popraviti. U početnim fazama bolesti javljaju se zaduha i povremeni napadaji kašlja. Početni simptomi uključuju opći osjećaj bolesti, sve izraţeniji kratki dah, kašljanje i hripanje. Kako bolest napreduje, simptomi se sve više pogoršavaju. Kod kroničnog bronhitisa, glavna fizikalna promjena odgovorna za probleme je prekomjerno stvaranje sluzi. Sluz sprječava protok zraka i pridonosi razvoju upala ili ponovnog aktiviranja bolesti, tzv. egzacerbacije. Ciljevi liječenja KOPB-a su nestanak simptoma, sprječavanje progresije bolesti, poboljšanje kvalitete ţivota, prevencija i liječenje komplikacija i egzacerbacija. Bolest treba što ranije dijagnosticirati radi primjene preventivnih mjera i pravilnog liječenja. Prva važna preventivna mjera je prestanak pušenja, bez obzira na trajanje i teţinu bolesti. Edukacija o prestanku pušenja je nužna i treba se stalno poticati. Budući da je KOPB kronična bolest sa sklonošću napredovanja, većini bolesnika je potrebno trajno liječenje kako bi se simptomi drţali pod kontrolom. Zasad ne postoji lijek koji bi KOPB izliječio, meĎutim, mnogi lijekovi mogu olakšati simptome i liječiti komplikacije. Edukacija bolesnika ključan je dio terapije KOPB-a. Cilj edukacije je informirati bolesnika o detaljima bolesti te potaknuti suradnju između liječnika, medicinske sestre i bolesnika kako bi se poboljšalo zdravlje i osiguralo pravilno uzimanje lijekova.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a pulmonary inflammatory disease in which the inflammation is present in the airways, parenchyma, and is manifested systematically. Name COPD unites the past common chronic obstructive bronchitis entities and emphysema. The disease is characterized by progressive brohoopstruction that is not fully reversible. COPD is caused by a genetic predisposition and environmental influences (air pollution, smoking). After many years of exposure to harmful effects of the changes long before coming to the clinical manifestations of disease. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the airways that produces large amounts of mucus. It causes coughing and wheezing. Bronchitis is considered chronic if the cough and expectoration lasting at least 3 months a year, for two consecutive years. Emphysema is a disease that destroys the lung alveoli and / or at least bronchioles in the lungs and the lungs lose their elasticity. This air spaces increase and make it difficult to breathe. Lung damage that occurs as a result of COPD can not be repaired. In the initial stages of the disease appear dyspnea and occasional fits of coughing. Initial symptoms include a general feeling of illness, with increasing shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. As the disease progresses, symptoms are getting worse and worse. In chronic bronchitis, the main physical changes responsible for the problems is the excessive mucus formation. Mucus prevents the flow of air and contributes to the development of inflammation or reactivation disease, so-called. exacerbations. The goals of treatment of COPD are disappearance of symptoms, preventing disease progression, improving quality of life, prevention and treatment of complications and exacerbations. The disease must be diagnosed as early as possible for the application of preventive measures and proper treatment. The first important preventive measure is cessation of smoking, irrespective of the duration and severity of the disease. Education about quitting is essential and should be constantly encouraged. Since COPD is a chronic disease with a tendency to progression, most patients need to continue treatment to keep the symptoms under control. So far there is no drug that could cure COPD, but many drugs can relieve symptoms and treat complications. Patient education is a key part of treatment of COPD. The goal of education is to inform patients about the details of the disease and to encourage cooperation between doctors, nurses and patients to improve health and ensure proper medication