Long-Term Condition

This case study impart focus on a patient with a spacious term condition. The author will appraise contemporary literature examining the impact of a degenerative sickness from the perspective of the patient, taking into consideration their families and carers.
The chronic illness the author will explore is Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease. Chronic illness whitethorn be defined as a disorder with a protracted course which squeeze out be progressive and fatal or associated with a comparatively normal lifespan despite impaired physical and cordial functioning (Shaw, 2006). This definition accurately describes Chronic Obstructive pneumonic Disease (COPD). COPD is a common respiratory complaint which is apply to describe a number of conditions i.e. chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive airways disease or a combination of the conditions.

COPD is defined by its pathophysiology, an irreversible condition caused by airway and airspace disease resulting in airflow limitations (Croxton et al, 2003; Currie, 2007). The bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli lose their elasticity, leading to incomplete purpose in the breathing process (Williams, 1993). Chronic bronchitis causes the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles to become calloused and swollen from inflammation.



Chronic obstructive bronchitis causes the cells in the bronchi and bronchioles to produce redundance sputum that causes plugging. In emphysema, the alveoli walls collapse (Bellamy and Booker, 2004; Currie, 2007) the result of all triple conditions is ineffective breathing, causing abnormal exchange of oxygen and carbon paper dioxide. Williams, (1993) states there is no cure for COPD, therefore it is a final stage disease the loss of lung function is a gradual process. It may be many years before the lung deteriorates, causing so much debilitation that the person is completely dependant on oxygen, they are barely able to move without becoming unequal of breath. If the patient has end-stage COPD the prognosis may be as long as two years. COPD...If you want to get a in force(p) essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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