A trainee nurse (TN) is carrying out her first internship in the Pneumology service. Her training supervisor (TS) is checking the latter’s knowledge on the subject before the start of the training.
TS : What do you know about the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD as we call it?
TN : I guess it’s a condition involving constriction of the airways and breathing-related problems.
TS : However, when you think about it, what kind of illnesses it might include?
TN : Well, maybe bronchitis, chronic, though!
TS : That’s right. And another common poor health condition is emphysema.
TN : Sorry?
TS : Emphysema, which involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli. It develops over time with smoking, air pollution and chemical fumes and dusts from the environment or workplace and can severely reduce the patient’s life expectancy.
TN : So, what are the symptoms that can indicate this COPD?
TS : Usually, these are frequent coughing accompanied by wheezing, excess phlegm and sputum, and also shortness of breath or difficulty taking a deep breath. Generally, we diagnose COPD by using spirometry. Now, let me ask you if you happen to know who might have COPD?
TN : Oh, I would naturally say smokers and probably the elderly.
TS : That’s right, even former smokers, but not only. COPD can also be of genetic origin; happen in people who have a history of asthma; in some less privileged social categories like the unemployed; and the inactive population.
TN : And what complications might there be to those who suffer from COPD?
TS : Overall, patients would have poor health and other chronic diseases; difficulty walking or climbing stairs; need special equipment like portable oxygen cans; have more visits to emergency even overnight; would be unable to work or engage in social activities; have depression or other mental or emotional condition and increased confusion or memory loss.
TN : But isn’t there any treatment to COPD?
TS : There’s no cure for emphysema. However, some measures can help slow the progress of the disease and improve the person’s quality of life. Therefore, apart from medical treatments, changes in life style should be adopted, like getting help from occupational therapists who use breathing exercises to improve oxygenation, alleviate symptoms of dyspnea and promote relaxation; use energy conservation strategies as it helps to balance work, rest and leisure activities; muscle strengthening and assistive devices such as canes, walkers or wheelchairs to reduce the risk of falls; and proceed to environmental adaptations to increase independence. And, of course of prime importance is quitting smoking and passive smoking, and avoiding chemical lung irritants.
VOCABULARY
Constriction of the airways
Blocage des voies respiratoires
Breathing problems
Problèmes respiratoires
Chronic bronchitis
Bronchite chronique
Emphysema
Emphysème
Chemical fumes
Fumées chimiques
Coughing
Toux
Wheezing
Respiration sifflante
Excess phlegm
Excès de mucosités
Sputum
Expectoration
Shortness of breath
Essoufflement
Spirometry
Spirométrie
Breathing exercises
Exercices respiratoires
COMMON PHRASES
COPD is a condition involving constriction of the airways and breathing-related problems, and includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli.
La BPCO est une maladie, qui se caractérise par un rétrécissement des voies respiratoires et des problèmes liés à la respiration, et comprend la bronchite chronique et l’emphysème, qui implique une détérioration progressive du tissu pulmonaire, en particulier la destruction des alvéoles.
As there’s no cure for emphysema, and apart from medical treatments, changes in life style improve the person’s quality of life, like getting help from occupational therapists who use breathing exercises to increase oxygenation, alleviate symptoms of dyspnea and promote relaxation; energy conservation strategies as it helps to balance work, rest and leisure activities; muscle strengthening and assistive devices such as canes, walkers or wheelchairs to reduce the risk of falls; and proceed to environmental adaptations to increase independence.
Comme il n’existe pas de traitement curatif pour l’emphysème, et en dehors des traitements médicaux, seuls les changements de mode de vie peuvent améliorer la qualité de vie de la personne, comme l’aide de thérapeutes qui utilisent des exercices respiratoires pour améliorer l’oxygénation, soulager les symptômes de dyspnée et promouvoir la relaxation, utilisent les stratégies de conservation de l’énergie pour aider à équilibrer le travail, le repos et les activités de loisirs, renforcent les muscles et prescrivent des dispositifs d’aides tels que les cannes, les déambulateurs ou les fauteuils roulants pour réduire le risque de chutes et procèdent à des adaptations de l’environnement pour accroître l’indépendance.