Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Job Satisfaction, Work Attitude and Stress Tolerance of...

CHAPTER I The PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE INTRODUCTION Rationale of the Study Job satisfaction is simply how people feel about their jobs and different aspects of their jobs. It is the extent to which people like (satisfaction) or dislike (dissatisfaction) their jobs. As it is generally assessed, job satisfaction is an attitudinal variable. In the past, job satisfaction was approached by some researchers from the perspective of need fulfilment – that is, whether or not the job met the employee’s physical and psychological needs for the things provided by work (Cote S., and Morgan LM, 2002). In a report on job satisfaction by the National Center for Education Statistics (2003) revealed many factors that contributed to higher†¦show more content†¦Taking in to account that most of these teachers are working away from their home and family and could only go home weekly, or the least once a month due to the distance of the schools they are assigned. However, districts located in the hinterland such as Paquibato, had most number of teacher applicants every year. Reason of this scenario could be the fact that many teachers are applying for transfer to the nearby schools after a one or two years of service and that applicant could be hired easily. Nevertheless, some teachers had tenured in this district up to their retirement period and some had flourished and raised their professional status and positions. The ground for conducting this study is that it is intended to shed light on what influences how teachers feel about their work and profession so that positive job-related attitudes may be cultivated. Theoretical Background The Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, a motivation theory, laid the foundation for job satisfaction theory. It is founded in the premise that goals or needs underpin by being the fundamental source of all desires. This theory explains that people seek to satisfy five specific needs in life – physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, self-esteem needs, and self-actualization. In the levels of the five basic needs, the person does not feel the second need until the demands of the firstShow MoreRelatedThe Influence of Instructional Facilities on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State11042 Words   |  45 Pagesframework†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 Instructional facilities †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦15 The importance of instructional facilities in teaching and learning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.27 Importance of resources availability in secondary schools †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..33 Academic performance concepts†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦46 Importance of resources to the concept of academic performances†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....................51 Appraisal of literature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.53 CHAPTER THREE:Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesobtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturers and sellers to distinguishRead MoreFor Against by L.G. Alexander31987 Words   |  128 Pagesrecording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers. First published /968 Eighteenth impression /986 ISBN 0-582-52306-0 Produced by Longman Singapore Publishers Pte Ltd Printed in Singapore Contents TO THE TEACHER I page I It s high time men ceased to regard women as second-class citizens smoking 6 2 World governments should conduct serious campaigns against 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 3 Television is doing irreparableRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesobtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Many of the designations by manufacturers and seller to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarksRead MoreStudy Guide9234 Words   |  37 Pagessociety and how an individual’s personal biography may be part of a much larger picture. For example, a college student experiences her individual stress and turmoil as personal, but when sociologists study large populations of students, they can understand the larger social forces that may be contributing to this student’s hardships, such as a poor job market. These findings might show that the student was not in complete control of his or her own difficulties. This can be seen as terrible, becauseRead MoreDimensionalizing Cultures. the Hofstede Model in Context11051 Words   |  45 Pagesof ‘culture’. Societal, national and gender cultures, which children acquire from their earliest youth onwards, are much deeper rooted in the human mind than occupational cultures acquired at school, or than organizat ional cultures acquired on the job. The latter are exchangeable when people take a new job. Societal cultures reside in (often unconscious) values, in the sense of broad tendencies to prefer certain states of affairs over others (Hofstede, 2001, p. 5). Organizational cultures resideRead MoreWhy Homosexuality Is Abnormal And Homes11892 Words   |  48 PagesClinicians evidently agree that it is possible for a person to be homosexual at one period of his life and heterosexual at another, but not at the same time .... Utilitarians must take the present evolutionary scenario seriously. The utilitarian attitude toward homosexuality usually runs something like this: even if homosexuality is in some sense unnatural, as a matter of brute fact homosexuals take pleasure in sexual contact with members of the same sex. As long as they don t hurt anyone else,Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesORGANIZATION Human Resource Planning and Job Analysis 110 Recruiting 132 Foundations of Selection 154 PART 4 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Socializing, Orienting, and Developing Employees 182 Managing Careers 208 PART 5 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 MAINTAINING HIGH PERFORMANCE Establishing the Performance Management System 230 Establishing Rewards and Pay Plans 260 Employee Benefits 286 Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Work Environment 312 PART 6 Chapter 14 Read MoreStrategic Human Resource Management View.Pdf Uploaded Successfully133347 Words   |  534 PagesPerspective and Human Resources .... 2 HUMAN RESOURCE INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS ...6 INVESTMENTS IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ..... 14 INVESTMENT PRACTICES FOR IMPROVED RETENTION ............................................................ 32 INVESTMENTS IN JOB-SECURE WORKFORCES .......... 42 ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES ............................................................. 56 NONTRADITIONAL INVESTMENT APPROACHES ......... 58 SUMMARY.................................................Read MoreMarketing Management 14th Edition Test Bank Kotler Test Bank173911 Words   |  696 PagesMarketing Management, 14e (Kotler/Keller) Chapter 1 Defining Marketing for the 21st Century 1) Which of the following statements about marketing is true? A) It is of little importance when products are standardized. B) It can help create jobs in the economy by increasing demand for goods and services. C) It helps to build a loyal customer base but has no impact on a firms intangible assets. D) It is more important for bigger organizations than smaller ones. E) It is seldom used by nonprofit

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Case Study of PG Tide - 4620 Words

season Strategy for 2 in India Brand Strategist The Dream Team Season 2 Case Study for Strategy Development S T R AT E G Y F O R T I D E I N I N D I A Case Background The Mint, 3rd December 2012: In a recent global investor meeting, Procter Gamble afï ¬ rmed that a strong momentum in developing markets continues to be a key part of its strategy. It said it will invest resources on the biggest opportunities, and aim for proï ¬ table expansion by focusing on growing markets, increasing market share, improving mix, localizing production, and leveraging scale. It is doing all of that in India. India ranks as one of PG’s top 10 developing markets. Shantanu Khosla, who heads PG’s India operations, also addressed this meeting, and said†¦show more content†¦By 2009, Tide had established itself as an important Tier 2 detergent and had been consistently growing equity year on year. There was a signiï ¬ cant chunk of consumers who wanted to buy Tide but decided otherwise only due to affordability issues. Hence PG decided to leverage this equity it had built with Tide to bring this revolutionary product to market and named it Tid e Naturals, thereby launching it as an extension of the existing Tide brand. The challenge was to differentiate the beneï ¬ t of Tide and Tide Naturals clearly, so that consumers understood Tide as the superior product of the two. Hence as PG launched Tide Naturals, it also upgraded the original Tide product and restaged it to Tide Plus with reinforced superior whiteness messaging. With the introduction of Tide Naturals, PG which was earlier playing in the Urban and semi urban market, now offered laundry detergents at three distinct performance and pricing levels, delivering a solid value that was now affordable for more than 70% of Indian consumers! The Laundry Powders Category The laundry powders category was deï ¬ ned into Tiers as below: Brand Tier 1 Pricing Priced 4 times of popular tier Ariel, Surf Brands ! Released on 27th December 2012 The Dream Team Season 2 Case Study for Strategy Development Brand Tier 2 3 4 Pricing Priced 2 to 2.4 times popular tier Popular tier - NationalShow MoreRelatedInnovation1666 Words   |  7 Pages 4. Voice of Customer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 5. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 6. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 1. Introduction to Proctor amp; Gamble ( Pamp;G) William proctor and James Gamble established Proctor and Gamble in 1837 as a soap and candle company in Ohio USA. P amp;G has now developed into global manufacturing and marketing company of branded consumer products. Its markets are over 180 countries including America amp; Asia regions. Its Business isRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Procter Gamble856 Words   |  4 PagesCase Study Analysis Procter Gamble (P G) Proctor and Gamble is an American corporation dealing in consumer products. The company markets its range of goods to different global regions having expanded to new markets over time. Among the consumer products offered by Procter and Gamble include cleaning products, pharmaceuticals, and personal care supplies among other products (Proctor Gamble Company Case Study Analysis, 2016). The corporation prides itself on innovations and collaborations asRead MoreProcter And Gamble ( P G1473 Words   |  6 PagesBackground Procter and Gamble (PG) began in 1837 when brother’s in-law William Procter and James Gamble, whose wives were sisters, formed a small candle and soap company. From there PG launched a variety of revolutionary products of superior quality and value. The products include Ivory soap, Tide laundry detergent, Crest toothpaste and Pampers disposable diapers. They also acquired a number of companies to open the doors to new product categories. Today PG is one of the most skillful marketersRead MoreTide Marketing Case2581 Words   |  11 PagesDe La Salle University Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business A CASE STUDY ON PROCTER amp; GAMBLE’S TIDE In Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirements in Marketing Management (MKT511M) XR0526 06:00 – 09:00 P.M. Submitted to: Dr. Antonio V. Concepcion Submitted by: Bernal, Jhon Leonard Mercaldo, Monina Pereira, Michael Sy, Cariza Ventura, Vernon 05 June 2013 Table of Contents I. Introduction.†¦..†¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..1 II. Statement of the ProblemRead MoreValue Chain Analysis of Procter and Gamble1072 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Value Chain Analysis of Procter and Gamble case study Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. Value Chain Analysis is one way of identifying which activities are best undertaken by a business and which are best outsourced. It suggests that the activities of a business could be grouped under two headings: primary activities and supporting activities. 1. Primary Activities - thoseRead MoreTechnology And Innovation Management : Proctor And Gamble Company1385 Words   |  6 PagesCompany (PG) additionally focused on Beauty segment, grooming segment, Health Care segment, Snacks Pet Care segment, and Baby Care Family Home Care segments. For example Procter Gamble Company deals with brands such as Braun, Crest, Fusion, Gillette, Head Shoulders, Olay, Oral-B, Pantene, Pampers, and Tide. Proctor and Gamble’s competitors As per hoovers article â€Å"Johnson Johnson, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Unilever† are the major competitors of Proctor and Gamble. Why did PG need toRead MoreOrganizational Culture Assesment1717 Words   |  7 PagesCase Analysis B: Organizational Culture Assessment Life is stressful and the value of the healthy organization is measured by the quality of the work-life balance of the employees. Even the best-managed organizations have stressors occurring on the regular and the irregular periods. Those regular stressors, such as quarterly reports or financial tides are expected. The unplanned and often unsuspected stressors occur within the organization. These unplanned stressors will create chaos and an unhealthyRead More Proctor Gamble Essay2016 Words   |  9 Pagesbottle of Tide and head on down to the laundry room. Ever wonder where that refreshing Crest toothpaste, those deliciously crunchy Pringles, or that bottle of Tide that works wonders on oil stains come from? Proctor Gamble (P G), established in 1837, is a company that, today, â€Å"markets almost 300 products†¦including Fabric Home Care, Baby Care, Feminine Care, Family Care, Beauty Care, Health Care, and Snacks Beverages† (1). In this case study we will first discuss the demands of P G’s customersRead MoreHow Is PG Using Collaboration Systems Essay1734 Words   |  7 Pagesand Innovation at Procter amp; Gamble Case Study Questions 1 What is Procter amp; Gamble’s business strategy and business model? How do these relate to collaboration and innovation within this company? 2 How is Pamp;G using collaboration systems? Describe each of the systems and technologies, what processes were carried out previously, and discussing the benefits of each. 3 Why were some collaborative technologies slow to catch on at Pamp;G? What management efforts are requiredRead MoreDinoflagellate Algae5041 Words   |  21 Pageseffects of the aquatic environment are increasing the scientific research done on toxic dinoflagellate species. Contaminated bivalves are causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in humans (DSP); with the number of cases increasing steadily in the last 40 years. Toxins released by certain species of the phylum dinoflagellate are the cause of this spreading contamination. Algal bloom locations are dictated by water currents and synaptic weather patterns, and their

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Positioning and Communication Free Essays

A large proportion of overweight people have been trying to lose their weight in every possible way. However, not every attempt was successful. Due to that, the pharmaceutical industry has been developing and testing a large variety of medicines that are specifically made to help people with weight issues. We will write a custom essay sample on Positioning and Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now One of the newest drugs on the market is Metabical, a prescription drug developed by Cambridge Sciences Pharmaceuticals (CSP). Based on the results from clinical trials, Metabical has been proven effective for weight loss of overweight people. The question is how willMetabicalbe introduced to the market? PULL MARKETING The main idea was to advertise Metabical directly to consumers in order to increase the awareness of the product. This strategy was based on pull marketing where the purpose was to attract the customers and make them approach the supplier or seller tlrst It is not an assertive way ot marketing in comparison to push marketing where a seller calls potential customers on the telephone asking whether they would like to purchase a product they might not actually need. In 1997, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has reduced restrictions on direct-to-consumer-advertising concerning drugs. Therefore, the effect of the pull marketing was tremendously positive for the pharmaceutical industry. (Buckley 2003). It is also visible in a study made by Prevention magazine, where doctors whose patients came and asked for a medicine that they had previously seen being advertised, had the tendency to prescribe that same brand of medicine (even though they had different alternatives in mind). Following pull marketing, the strategy included: advertisements on the internet, television and radio. Moreover, print media was being distributed at the same time as the drug was being launched. This distributionwas continued in the same manner throughoutthe first year of the campaign in order to maintain the brand awareness on a high level. After the initial advertisement strategy, additional 100 000 health care pamphlets were distributed. These pamphletscontained a reply card which, if sent, would provide the sender with a sample of the product. The goal behind this campaign was to show the potential customers that Metabical is suitable for people belonging to the BMI range of 25-30. Body Mass index (BMI) is the most common index used for comparing weight and height. The calculations resents whether the weight is appropriate for the person’s height. If the weight is not appropriate,the person can fall in the group of overweight or underfed (Tim J Cole 2000). As mentioned in the article, an abundanceof weight loss pills were made for obese or severely obese people. However, the group of people with the BMI ranging from 25-30 were not suitable for these pillswhich, consequently, did not have any effect on their weight loss. Additionally, CPS has developed a support programme which will not only help in weight reduction but also help maintaining the healthy lifestyle. One of their key concepts in the campaign was: â€Å"Losing weight is tough. You don’t have to do it alone. Let Metabical and your health care provider start you on the road to a healthy weight and better life. † Regarding the support programme, Printup has developed an online contest to attract more customers to buy theproduct and participate in the contest to win a prize. In this contest each user can Join in and compete with other users in reducing BMIs by the highest percentage. Not only Printup was making advertisements for consumers, she also developed a strategy to target medical community where advertisements were placed on online edical websites and also printed out in well-known medical Journals. Several events were organized especially for medical experts prior to the product launch, one of which was a roundtable discussion. In order to spread the word of the discussion, coverage of this event was done by leading news organizations. How to cite Positioning and Communication, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Disease Profile Copd free essay sample

Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke also can cause COPD, especially if the smoke is inhaled. Breathing in secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dust from the environment or workplace also can contribute to COPD. (Secondhand smoke is smoke in the air from other people smoking. ) In rare cases, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may play a role in causing COPD. People who have this condition have low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT)—a protein made in the liver. Having a low level of the AAT protein can lead to lung damage and COPD if youre exposed to smoke or other lung irritants. If you have this condition and smoke, COPD can worsen very quickly. Signs and symptoms: The signs and symptoms of COPD include: * An ongoing cough or a cough that produces large amounts of mucus (often called smokers cough) * Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity * Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe) * Chest tightness These symptoms often occur years before the flow of air into and out of the lungs declines. However, not everyone who has these symptoms has COPD. Likewise, not everyone who has COPD has these symptoms. Some of the symptoms of COPD are similar to the symptoms of other diseases and conditions. You can find out whether you have COPD. If you have COPD, you may have colds or the flu (influenza) frequently. If your COPD is severe, you may have swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs; a bluish color on your lips due to a low blood oxygen level; and shortness of breath. COPD symptoms usually slowly worsen over time. At first, if symptoms are mild, you may not notice them, or you may adjust your lifestyle to make breathing easier. For example, you may take the elevator instead of the stairs. Over time, symptoms may become severe enough to see a doctor. For example, you may get short of breath during physical exertion. How severe your symptoms are depends on how much lung damage you have. If you keep smoking, the damage will occur faster than if you stop smoking. In severe COPD, you may have other symptoms, such as weight loss and lower muscle endurance. Some severe symptoms may require treatment in a hospital. You—with the help of family members or friends, if youre unable—should seek emergency care if: * Youre having a hard time catching your breath or talking. * Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray. This is a sign of a low oxygen level in your blood. ) * Youre not mentally alert. * Your heartbeat is very fast. * The recommended treatment for symptoms that are getting worse isnt working. Diagnostic Procedures: Your doctor will diagnose COPD based on your signs and symptoms, your family and medical histories, and test results. He or she may ask whethe r you smoke or have had contact with lung irritants, such as secondhand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust. If you have an ongoing cough, your doctor may ask how long youve had it, how much you cough, and how much mucus comes up when you cough. He or she also may ask whether you have a family history of COPD. Your doctor will examine you and use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing or other abnormal chest sounds. You also may need one or more tests to diagnose COPD. Lung Function Test: Lung function tests measure how much air you can breathe in and out, how fast you can breathe air out, and how well your lungs deliver oxygen to your blood. The main test for COPD is spirometry. Other lung function tests, such as a lung diffusion capacity test, also may be used. Spirometry; During this painless test, a technician will ask you to take a deep breath in. Then, youll blow as hard as you can into a tube connected to a small machine. The machine is called a spirometer. The machine measures how much air you breathe out. It also measures how fast you can blow air out. Your doctor may have you inhale medicine that helps open your airways and then blow into the tube again. He or she can then compare your test results before and after taking the medicine. Spirometry can detect COPD long before its symptoms appear. Doctors also may use the results from this test to find out how severe your COPD is and to help set your treatment goals. The test results also may help find out whether another condition, such as asthma or heart failure, is causing your symptoms. Other Tests Your doctor may recommend other tests, such as: * A chest x ray or chest CT scan. These tests create pictures of the structures inside your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. The pictures can show signs of COPD. They also may show whether another condition, such as heart failure, is causing your symptoms. * An arterial blood gas test. This blood test measures the oxygen level in your blood using a sample of blood taken from an artery. The test can help find out how severe your COPD is and whether you may need oxygen therapy. Treatment – Medical/Nursing: COPD has no cure yet. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease. Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to treat COPD. Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. Other treatments for COPD may include medicines, vaccines, pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab), oxygen therapy, and surgery. Your doctor also may recommend tips for managing COPD complications. The goals of COPD treatment include: * Relieving your symptoms * Slowing the progress of the disease * Improving your exercise tolerance (your ability to stay active) * Preventing and treating complications * Improving your overall health Specialists Involved To assist with your treatment, your family doctor may advise you to see a pulmonologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating people who have lung disorders. Medicines Bronchodilators Bronchodilators relax the muscles around your airways. This helps open your airways and makes breathing easier. Depending on how severe your disease is, your doctor may prescribe short-acting or long-acting bronchodilators. Short-acting bronchodilators last about 4 to 6 hours and should be used only when needed. Long-acting bronchodilators last about 12 hours or more and are used every day. Most bronchodilators are taken using a device called an inhaler. This device allows the medicine to go right to your lungs. Not all inhalers are used the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the correct way to use your inhaler. If your COPD is mild, your doctor may only prescribe a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator. In this case, you may only use the medicine when symptoms occur. If your COPD is moderate or severe, your doctor may prescribe regular treatment with short- and long-acting bronchodilators. Inhaled Glucocorticosteroids (Steroids) Inhaled steroids are used to treat people whose COPD symptoms flare up or worsen. These medicines may reduce airway inflammation. Your doctor may ask you to try inhaled steroids for a trial period of 6 weeks to 3 months to see whether the medicine helps relieve your breathing problems. Vaccines Flu Shots The flu (influenza) can cause serious problems for people who have COPD. Flu shots can reduce your risk of the flu. Talk with your doctor about getting a yearly flu shot. Pneumococcal Vaccine This vaccine lowers your risk of pneumococcal pneumonia (nu-MO-ne-ah) and its complications. People who have COPD are at higher risk of pneumonia than people who dont have COPD. Talk with your doctor about whether you should get this vaccine. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Pulmonary rehabilitation, or rehab, is a medically supervised program that helps improve the health and well-being of people who have lung problems. Rehab may include an exercise program, disease management training, and nutritional and psychological counseling. The programs goal is to help you stay more active and carry out your daily activities. Your rehab team may include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, and dietitians. These health professionals work together and with you to create a program that meets your needs. Oxygen Therapy If you have severe COPD and low levels of oxygen in your blood, oxygen therapy can help you breathe better. For this treatment, youre given oxygen through nasal prongs or a mask. You may need extra oxygen all the time or just sometimes. For some people who have severe COPD, using extra oxygen for most of the day can help them: * Do tasks or activities, while having fewer symptoms * Protect their hearts and other organs from damage * Sleep more during the night and improve alertness during the day * Live longer Prognosis: COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a disease of the lungs that develops over many years and gradually gets worse with time. When you have COPD your airways become persistently blocked, which can eventually make breathing difficult. More than 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with it, and another 12 million might have COPD without knowing it. COPD encompasses two diseases commonly caused by smoking: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s the fourth leading cause of death in the U. S. But while COPD cant be cured, there are steps you can take to improve symptoms, prevent complications such as pneumonia, and improve your quality of life. Just like people living with heart disease, people with COPD can make changes to their lifestyle to vastly improve how they feel and function each day. Here are five important measures to discuss with your doctor:Â   1. Stop Smoking Cigarette smoking is the most significant reason that people develop COPD. While kicking the habit wont return your lungs to normal condition, it will delay progression of symptoms because the rate of decline of lung function returns to that of nonsmokers. In susceptible people, smoking accelerates the lung function decline of aging. Your lungs will age faster, and if you stop smoking, you go back to normal aging, says Gail Weinmann, MD, deputy director for the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Its also a good idea to avoid crowds during flu season. Because COPD leaves a person more prone to pneumonia, patients also should talk to their doctors about also getting the pneumococcal vaccine, Weinmann says. 4. Seek Regular Medical Care and Take Medications as Directed Your doctor can prescribe drugs, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, to treat your symptoms. Bronchodilators, which are usually delivered through an inhaler, relax muscles around your airways. This, in turn, opens them up and eases breathing. Inhaled corticosteroids fight inflammation in the airways. Patients with COPD frequently have other health problems, too, such as heart disease, vascular diseases, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), and type 2 diabetes, Weinmann says. People with COPD are likely to have other diseases, and its important that they treat all of their diseases. In fact, heart disease and COPD share overlapping symptoms, which can lead people to mistakenly attribute heart disease to lung disease. According to Weinmann, these shared symptoms include shortness of breath, including breathlessness when exercising or waking up at night, and sometimes a sensation of chest tightness. 5. Consider a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program and Learn to Exercise Your doctor may suggest a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Such programs wont actually improve lung function, but they can help people with COPD to stay more active and independent. Youll learn exercises to strengthen your arms and legs, as well as exercises that aim to strengthen muscles for breathing. Pulmonary rehab includes a variety of exercises for the lower and upper extremities, as well as breathing techniques and counseling, Weinmann says. Some patients feel reluctant to join a pulmonary rehab program, but Weinmann encourages them to try it. Once the lung is damaged, it doesnt really ever repair itself, so its very important that individuals stay in good shape in every way that they can. Its very common for patients with COPD to become deconditioned. Its hard for them to breathe, so the tendency is to not do anything at all. Reconditioning their muscles and their heart can make them feel a lot better. Some p atients feel that they have greatly benefited from it [rehab], she adds. It has improved their quality of life and their exercise ability. You have to keep at it. Its not something that you can do once.