Dury, Rona (2018) COPD exacerbations: causes and management. Journal of General Practice Nursing.

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Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent symptoms such as cough, with or without regular phlegm, and shortness of breath, most notably on exertion. The rate of COPD progression can be slowed if patients stop smoking and the air quality the patient is exposed to is improved. An exacerbation is a sudden worsening of symptoms. All COPD patients have exacerbations, but they become more frequent as the disease progresses. The number of exacerbations which patients experience should be minimised, as exacerbations cause anxiety, result in emergency hospital admissions and lead to deterioration of lung function, and consequently increase the rate of COPD progression. Good management of COPD includes supporting patients to stop smoking and providing individualised pulmonary rehabilitation. This article identifies factors affecting the management of COPD and methods available to reduce numbers of exacerbations experienced by patients with COPD in the UK.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COPD, COPD, Comorbidities, Exacerbations, Lung function, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Smoking cessation
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Health Sciences (HEA) Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Health & Society Research Group
Last Modified:	27 May 2018 22:18
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/19708

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