During this process, mucus production is increased. Plugs may be formed and further decrease the efficiency of gas exchange taking place. Symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to life threatening. Pneumonia can be caused by inhaling food, dust, liquid, gas, and by various fungi. Common symptoms include chest pain, shaking chills, fever, dry cough, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.
While asthma mostly consists of unexpected and abrupt attacks, it is still regarded as/to be a chronic conditions, which can rapidly lead to a decrease in lung function. The starting point of the inflammatory response, which ultimately goes over to asthma, has its origin in an injury to the airway caused by an irritant. The most common triggers of asthma are amongst others allergens, such as pet fur or house-dust mite droppings. Triggers, like traffic fumes or tobacco smoke have also great influence on asthmatics. For non-allergic asthma, however, the main causes are physical effort/exertion, stress, intolerance towards some medications, including aspirin (which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), or any respiratory infections such as a ‘normal’ cold.
Wheezing occurs but is not usually as severe as in Asthma. Shortness of breath and chest tightness is generally more severe and debilitating than in Asthma. COPD symptoms are progressive and most patients experience one or more symptoms on a daily basis The treatment options for Asthma and COPD are as differing as the diseases themselves. The first line treatment for Asthma is inhaled corticosteroids. They work by reducing the inflammation in the airways.
The secondary cause is related to an existing infection or disease. Each of these are caused by different irritants that result in the same disruption of normal perfusion. The attacks on the lung lead to alveolar inflammation and edema that causes low ventilation and blood and fluid to be pushed into the capillaries. This leads to a stasis in the lung’s gas perfusion and creates a pressure that makes it harder for the individual to breath (Anatomical Chart Company, 2010, p. 100). The first signs and symptoms of any infection should immediately be put to the attention of the health care provider.
Smokers’ cough turns into chronic bronchitis, caused by the deteriorated cilia. Mucus thickens and becomes greater in amount, thickening the lining of the bronchioles, resulting in difficulty breathing. The bronchioles steadily lose their elasticity which prevents them from absorbing the pressure on the alveoli, causing the alveoli to rupture; smoking-induced emphysema. This progression results in a worsening cough, wheezing, difficult breathing, and fatigue. As these structural changes are occurring, there are also cellular or molecular changes taking place in the lungs.
Another complication that occurs is aspiration of gastric contents, especially if emesis occurs during noninvasive ventilation. To avoid this complication noninvasive ventilation shouldn’t be administered in patients with ongoing emesis or hematemesis. Complications of both noninvasive and invasive ventilation are Barotrauma and Hypotension. In Barotrauma (there is significantly less risk with noninvasive ventilation), and there is Hypotension, related to positive intrathoracic pressure which can be supported with
For example, emphysema can cause a chronic airway obstruction. What Causes an Airway Obstruction? The classic image of an airway obstruction is someone choking on a piece of food. However, that’s only one of many things that can cause an airway obstruction. Other causes include: * inhaling or swallowing a foreign object * a small object becoming lodged in the nose or mouth * allergic reactions * trauma to the airway from an accident * vocal cord problems * breathing in a large amount of smoke from a fire * viral infections * bacterial infections * croup - a respiratory illness that causes upper airway inflammation * swelling of the tongue or epiglottis * abscesses in the throat or tonsils * a collapse of the tracheal wall, known as tracheomalacia * asthma * chronic bronchitis *
C) Which structures found in the terminal bronchioles and alveoli normally would protect Cari’s lungs from infectious pathogens and particulate matter? There are macrophages presents (wandering phagocytes) that remove dust particles and other debris from the alveolar space. D) How would the resistance of Cari’s airways be affected by excess mucus and fluid in her lung? The lung capacity is decreased because the air space is already filled with mucus and fluids therefore she can’t take in enough oxygen. The extra mucus and fluids put extra pressure on the lungs.
INTRODUCTION Respiratory failure is a sudden and life-threatening deterioration of the gas exchange function of the lung. It exists when the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide in the lungs cannot keep up with the rate of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production by the cells of the body. DEFINITION Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is defined as a fall in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) to less than 50 mm Hg (hypoxemia) and a rise in arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) to greater than 50 mm Hg (hypercapnia), with an arterial pH of less than 7.35. Respiratory failure is inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that levels of arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide or both cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. The normal reference values are: oxygen PaO2 greater than 80 mmHg (11 kPa), and carbon dioxide PaCO2 less than 45 mmHg (6.0 kPa).
During the asthma attack excess mucus is produced, which blocks the airway canal causing narrowing of the airway and more difficult air exchange in and out of airway sac. Because of this constriction, inflammation and mucous production, it is difficult to push air out of the airway sac causing the wheezing sound that is common with asthmatics. Asthmatics live with some amount of inflammation in their lungs on an everyday basis. By coming into contact with a trigger such as secondhand smoke, the asthmatic airway becomes more inflamed and constricted until it is almost impossible for the child to move air in and out of the lungs. It has been said that the feeling of an asthma attack is the difference between breathing normally and breathing in and out continuously through a very small