Are Your Nursing Assistants in the Know About COPD?

Did you know that COPD is predicted to be the third leading cause of death by 2030? As chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is very common, nursing assistants need to care for clients with this condition. They need to know how clients can handle the changes associated with the diagnosis of COPD. Here are some information that you can share with CNA and some practical tips.

What is COPD

Perhaps the term COPD C hr sound O Destructive P Lung D Hey. In addition, lung damage as a result of COPD can make the extremely important act of breathing very difficult, sometimes painful, and completely inefficient. But you knew COPD would gradually develop Over a long period ? For example, usually Year Smoking before symptoms become noticeable The progress of COPD varies from person to person, but can be as follows:

Jim smoked when he was 19 years old. Now he is 27 years old. The wife wants to quit him, but Jim keeps smoking because he is unaware of the symptoms of lung damage. When he is 31, Jim begins to develop a chronic cough. Sometimes he exhales a small amount of mucus.

At the age of 40, Jim sometimes begins to feel short of breath. As time goes by, his shortness of breath gets worse. At the age of 47, Jim eventually diagnoses COPD and meets a doctor who starts the gym with some treatment. He noticed that the first cough improved slightly and there were fewer episodes of shortness of breath. Jim considers it safe to continue smoking. A few cigarettes a day.

In the early 50s, Jim begins to get worse gradually. His COPD is progressing Despite treatment . Jim has had repeated coughing attacks and constant shortness of breath. He lost his job and was unable to support his family. Now, every time Jim coughs, it takes time to feel better. [Unfortunately his lungs suffered a lot of damage in front He finally went to the doctor. This makes COPD management difficult. ] By the age of 55, Jim's damaged lungs hardly work. He has to breathe for every breath of air. Jim died at the age of 56 and has a wife and two teenage children.

Facts about COPD

COPD Chronic Illness, this means lasting for a long time. and it is Disturbing Because it blocks the passage of air, it makes breathing difficult. COPD Lung disease , It means affect the lungs.

COPD progressive And irreversible disease. This means that over time, people with COPD will not get better [if the lungs are damaged].

The initial symptoms of COPD often begin with mild and do not worry too much. As time goes on, lung symptoms begin to develop as symptoms worsen and go away. There are four Maine Symptoms of COPD:

1. Chronic cough May produce mucus. This is usually the earliest symptom. It begins mildly and gradually increases in frequency, producing increasingly mucus.
2. shortness of breath With minimal effort. This usually occurs later and continues to worsen as COPD progresses.
3. A feeling of chest pressure. As lung damage progresses, breathing becomes difficult. There may be painful pressure on the chest.
4. Wheezing Or, when the airway is swollen or clogged, the mouth whi sound that occurs during breathing is common.

Other symptoms of COPD include the following:

• Fatigue, depression and anxiety.
• Weight loss.
• Breast enlargement [also called “barrel chest”].
• If there is too little oxygen, COPD clients may have a bluish color on their skin, lips and nails.
• Headaches, irritation, thinking and learning problems.

10 client care tips

There is no cure for COPD. But there are a few things you can do to help. Here are some tips for using COPD to improve the quality of life for clients.

1. Monitor clients as they use inhalers. It is important to know how to use them properly. It seems easy to use an inhaler, but you'll be surprised that people forget to take off the cap! If you think you ’re using it incorrectly, let your supervisor know.

2. Ask the client to look at the inhaler. If you notice that there is "powder" around the hole where the medicine comes out, you need to clean the inhaler. Clean the canister by removing the drug canister from the mouthpiece and rinsing the mouthpiece and cap with warm water. It is best to do this in the evening so that the mouthpiece can “air dry” overnight.

3. If the client has a portable oxygen unit, be sure to know the amount of oxygen accurately so that they will not run out while on the go. It is very important not Smoking near oxygen Encourage clients and their families not to smoke at all.

4. Make sure that COPD clients do not overdo in a day. Help clients perform their most important housework and activities the first -When they have the most energy. And your client sit For as many activities as possible. Believe it or not, the energy consumption when sitting is 25% less than when standing.

5. Pay attention to clients to avoid air pollution. If the air quality is poor, we recommend that you stay indoors. Even small amounts of ozone can exacerbate respiratory disease.

6. If the client experiences shortness of breath during a meal, you can suggest the following: Eat several small meals instead of three large meals. Rest before eating. Eat slowly and chew the food well. Breathe evenly when chewing. Take enough time to eat. Avoid things that are difficult to eat.

7. Stay Hydrated It is important. Encourage clients to drink plenty of water. This is a good way to keep mucus loose and can be lifted by a cough.

8. Do not wear strong perfumes or use strong scented cleaning liquids around COPD patients.

9. Many people with COPD also suffer from allergies and asthma. If the client is suffering from allergies, beware of things you care about, such as house dust, pollen, strong odors, cigarette smoke, and pets. Helps avoid these “allergy” “triggers”.

10. Remember ... Encourage your clients and their families not Smoke a cigarette. Tell each year that over 1 million smokers are successful in quitting habits. Of course, it is not easy to quit. Most smokers Five Try to stop before actually doing. However, there are many useful products on the market, such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine nasal sprays, and nicotine inhalers. Provide praise and support when clients quit smoking. [And a good example is not to smoke yourself!]