Pulmonary Function Testing

PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING Name: Institutional Affiliation: Pulmonary Function Testing Introduction As determined in the guidelines, COPD is a common preventable ailment that is primarily characterized by a persistent limitation in airflow that is considered progressive and that enhancing to chronic inflammatory response within an individual's lungs and the airways as a result of gases and noxious particles (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2013). The commonly encountered and known risk factor that results in COPD is considered to be tobacco smoking, including indoor and outdoor occupational air pollution. This paper consequently seeks to establish diagnostic measures, management, and prevention strategies of this ailment as detailed in the COPD guidelines and the manner in which these strategies can be incorporated within a clinical setting. Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD The diagnosis of COPD can be considered on patients who show some symptoms of chronic coughs, progressive dyspnea and an increase in sputum production that result from smoking or engagement in indoor and outdoor occupational air pollution. Other types of tobacco such as water pipe, cigar, and the pipe including marijuana may also be considered as risk factors for COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, 2011). The diagnosis of COPD is primarily conducted through spirometry, a test that may be done on stable patients and are not experiencing acute exacerbation symptoms. On the other hand, the use of a post-bronchodilator may be included in the diagnosis of this disease. Spirometry is considered as a gold standard diagnostic approach in determining the fixed airflow complexities within a patient that presents COPD symptoms. Once this disease has been diagnosed, there is a need to ensure effective management methods are employed based on the assessment of an individual's prevalent symptoms and future risks. In managing COPD it is essential to establish that these approaches are aimed at reducing the symptoms of this disease, an aspect that can be achieved through improvements on a patient's exercise tolerance, the prevention of the ailment's progression, its treatment and prevention of exacerbations and the reduction of mortality. It is additionally essential to consider that there are non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods of managing COPD that wholly depend on an individualized assessment of the presented symptom's (Lee, Kim, Jang, Choi, & Jung, 2016). The non-pharmacological methods of managing this disease include the cessation of smoking, physical activity, pneumococcal vaccinations and flu vaccinations. On the other hand, pharmacological methods of managing COPD may vary depending on the symptoms of the patient. However, the use of corticosteroids, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors and bronchodilators are recommended. The prevention of COPD requires individuals to cease smoking and using tobacco products since patients who smoke are more likely to contract this disease (Isaac, Thangakunam, Cherian, & Christopher, 2015). However, to achieve this, counseling and efficient medication ...