Pharmacology of the pulmonary diseases

The management of patients with pulmonary diseases may pose a challenge to the dentist. A thorough understanding of the major respiratory diseases is paramount to the successful treatment of these individuals. Morbidity and mortality for COPD patients have increased over time. There has been a decline in the number of smokers in the United States, but it may take two or three decades before health care systems notice a decrease in associated health care visits. Smoking tobacco is the major cause of COPD. Health care providers need to inform patients about smoking cessation programs and motivate them toward that end. The most important factor in preventing COPD is helping patients stop smoking. Mainstays in the treatment of COPD include inhaled anticholinergics and supplemental oxygen, when indicated. For certain patients, beta2-agonists, mucolytics, anti-inflammatory agents, and antibiotics are indicated. Asthma morbidity and mortality continue to rise significantly despite scientific advances and improved understanding of the disease and ability to render effective treatment. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. Asthma treatment has been revolutionized over the past decade. If proper preventive environmental measures and medications are prescribed, and the patients are carefully educated and complaint, their prognosis is good, and their condition should rarely require emergency treatment or hospitalization. The management of TB in the dental office involves several aspects of the disease. The dentist should be able to refer properly a patient with signs and symptoms of disease or to follow up on inadequate treatment. The medications taken for TB do not usually modify the dental management of the patient. The complications of the medications may, however, affect some drugs the dentist could prescribe. The resurgence of TB in the United States mandates that every dentist understand this disease and its importance.