Th e capacity of tissues to regulate their own blood fl ow is referred to as autoregulation. Most vascular beds have an intrinsic capacity to compensate for moderate changes in perfusion pressure by changes in vascular resistance, so that blood fl ow remains relatively constant. Th is capacity is well developed in the kidneys (see Chapter 37 ), but it has also been observed in the mesentery, skeletal muscle, brain, liver, and myocardium. It is probably due in part to the intrinsic contractile response of smooth muscle to stretch (myogenic theory of autoregulation). As the pressure rises, the blood vessels are distended and the vascular smooth muscle fi bers that surround the vessels contract.…
The pulmonary congestion would be responsible for causing poor gas exchange and pulmonary edema. Signs that can be seen with pulmonary edema are dyspnea,…
As the oxygen molecule is dissolved in the blood it combines with hemoglobin forming oxyhemoglobin. Oxygen released from oxyhemoglobin increases as the blood pH levels decreases. Deoxyhemoglobin can also bind to the hydrogen ions to act as a buffer to minimize pH changes. In my results from the lab the graph shows that when the pressure is decreased oxygen binding to hemoglobin also decreases. Q-2.…
Emphysema is associated with "abnormal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood," which would naturally cause shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea (Rolfes, Pinna & Whitney, 2012, p.692). The underlying pathophysiology of emphysema in a nutshell is the breakdown of a coiled protein , called elastin, in the tissues of the lungs. Without the…
As vasoconstriction increases due to increased pulmonary vascular resistance hypoxia occurs and eventually respiratory acidosis and is monitored through arterial blood gases (Kuhajda et al., 2014). Upon examination patient appears to be in respiratory distress - gasping for air and tracheal deviation as the lung space has decreased and pressures continue to rise, neck vein distention due to altered cardiac output, cyanosis and agitation set in as time goes on due to hypoxia and the increasing difficulty to breath (Crimlisk, 2010). Palpation reveals subcutaneous emphysema as air is trapped within the tissues. Upon listening to the patients chest there is reduced air entry and percussion reveals hyperresonance (Kuhajda et al., 2014). Generally, air enters the pleural space which shifts the equilibrium causing pressure on the surrounding organs and decreases adequate perfusion and…
Imagine hearing a cough so loud, it is as if an avalanche is rumbling out of someone’s body. Imagine seeing someone’s chest stop rising and falling as they sleep, knowing they stopped breathing. Imagine witnessing the horrifying scene of black tar shooting out of a person’s lungs. That is COPD. COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.…
COPD is very similar to emphysema because they both limit persons inspiration and expiration (the process of breathing in and out). A normal alveolus has an avascular macrophage that cleans up the alveoli and protects it from diseases or infections and the blood cells will exchange oxygen with carbon dioxide, and there is supposed to be a balance between the antiprotease (build up the protease) and the protease (breakdown alveoli), however, with emphysema there is an imbalance of the antiprotease and protease. The more protease, the more damage there will be and the less protease there is, the less damage will be done to the alveoli. Emphysema and COPD can result in dyspnea ,or shortness of breath (SOB), from the destruction that has been done inside the liver. Other symptoms of emphysema include, but are not limited to, wheezing, which is also a symptom of asthma (inflammatory disease), coughing and discoloration of the skin (epidermis), lips (labia) or nails (onyx).…
Bree Edwards October 12, 2015 Respiratory Therapy 210 What Does a Respiratory Therapist Do? Respiratory therapists are important health care professionals who provide care for patients with acute and chronic abnormal cardiopulmonary systems. They are educated and trained professionals who focus on providing quality respiratory care to patients. Almost seventy five percent of respiratory therapists work in a hospital setting while the other twenty five percent work in clinics, sleep study research and skilled nursing facilities. The main goal of a respiratory therapist is to deliver appropriate care of a patient by helping treat or identify the problem in order to assist the patient in reversing or helping with their illness or condition.…
This reduces the surface area of the lungs and also reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the bloodstream. With emphysema, the body does not get the amount of oxygen it needs. This problem of air being trapped is known as airflow limitation. A person with airflow limitation takes a much longer amount of time to empty the air from the lungs. When a person with emphysema exhales, the damaged alveoli do not work properly and old air becomes trapped.…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung disease that causes inflammation and stops the airflow from the lungs. Symptoms such as cough, sputum and wheezing are related to this condition. The main cause of the disease is cigarette smoke and exposure to irritating gases for a long time. People with COPD are at a much higher risk of developing heart diseases and other conditions. Contributing conditions to COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.…
It also causes shortness of breath or dyspnea because of an expansion of the alveoli or the lung sacs. Due to the enlargement of the alveoli, it stops exchanging gases when breathing. Thus, Emphysema is also known as obstructive lung disease (eMedicineHealth, 2015). The lung sacs called alveoli helps exchanging the oxygen gases for carbon dioxide in the blood stream. However, the lung disease called emphysema creates a small hole in the alveoli, which stops transferring enough oxygen in the blood stream and destroys the airways (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2015).…
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a progressive disease that makes breathing difficult. When having this disease, lung damage is produced. The disease worsens over time, although it is not treated, it can be slowed down. This is mainly caused by smoking, chemical fume, dust, and air pollution. Although there are many causes to this disease, smoking is the most common.…
Some symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis are cough, shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing, and lack of exercise tolerance. The most common type of Pulmonary Fibrosis is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Idiopathic means that the cause of PF is not known. For regular PF, the major causes are certain environmental toxins, certain medications, and inflammation and explanation. Some of the medical issues that Pulmonary Fibrosis can lead to are collapsed lung, lung infections, blood clots in your lungs, respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, fatigue, weight loss for no known reason, aching muscles and joints,clubbing (which is the widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes), heart failure, and lung cancer.…
“Respiratory care, also known as respiratory therapy, has been defined as the health care disciple that specializes in the promotion of optimal cardiopulmonary function and health” (Heuer, Kacmarek, & Stoller, 2013, p. 10). Respiratory therapists or RTs are trained health care professionals who take care of people with respiratory needs. They ensure that patients have the utmost care provided to them. Who trains these respiratory therapists? Who and where are all the information obtained that provide guidelines to not only respiratory therapists but to everyone involved in respiratory care?…
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or bronchi, that bring air into the lungs. Inflammation is a chemical reaction in the body that produces redness, swelling, and pain. When the cells lining the bronchi are irritated, the tiny hairs (cilia) that normally trap and eliminate things from the outside stop working. Formation of material associated with irritation swelling also increases; causing the passages to become clogged. The same viruses that cause colds, often cause acute bronchitis.…