chronic bronchitis Flashcards
what is bronchitis?
bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, it caused by viral infections, bacterial infection, or exposure to irritants such as smoke, pollution and chemical fumes
what are the two type of bronchitis?
-Acute bronchitis: usually caused by viral infection, it lasts for a short period
-chronic bronchitis : A more serious condition that lasts for at least three moths and often recurs over several years, it is often associated with smoking and long-term exposure to irritants
where are goblet cells located and what are their function?
the epithelial layer inside the airway contains goblet cells, which are responsible for producing mucus
what is bronchitis response to chemical irritants?
excessive mucus production
what can the accumulation of mucus cause in the lungs in bronchitis?
this causes continual irritation as the chemical tar smoke and other substances just sit there causing the bronchi to become inflamed
what is another way the airway trys to clear its self from harmful substances other than mucus production?
activation of the cough reflex is activated. when bronchi detect the presences of irritants in the airway or excess mucus, sensory endings in the airways signal the brain to initiate coughing
what can the act of chronic coughing in bronchitis cause?
the act of continuous coughing causes irritation and inflammation which can worsen symptoms and lead to more coughing
what can chronic inflammation in the lungs cause in bronchitis?
chronic inflammation can cause structural changes in the airway as well as hypertrophy which is an enlargement of existing goblet cells, which increase mucus production, it also causes hyperplasia this refers to an increase in the number of goblet cells further contributing to excessive mucus secretion
what condition can you develop due to chronic inflammation and irritation in bronchitis ?
pulmonary fibrosis which is scarring and thickening of lung tissue, in bronchitis and chronic inflammation desposition of collagen and other fibrous proteins can occur which can cause the airway walls to stiffen
what can thickening and stiffing of the bronchial walls cause in bronchitis?
there is reduced airway aperture which means the lumen of the airway becomes narrower which then makes it harder for air to pass and exacerbate breathing difficulties
what can impaired lung function due to pulmonary fibrosis cause in bronchitis
The lung function is impaired because the lungs cannot expand and contract effectively during breathing.
Patients may experience increased shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance due to this impaired functionality.
what are the three ways you can treat bronchitis?
-anti-inflammatory medications
-pulmonary rehabilitation
-oxygen therapy
as bronchitis progresses and theirs a buildup of mucus and pulmonary fibrosis, what does this lead to and what is retained in the lungs?
hypoxia and CO2 retention (hypercapnia)
what are peripheral chemoreceptors and where are they located?
peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the carotid and aortic bodies they are sensitive to changes in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
-Side note: normally chemoreceptors signal to the brain to increase the rate and depth of breathing in response to rising CO2 levels (hypercapnia) and falling oxygen levels (hypoxic)
how does prolonged CO2 retention affect the peripheral chemoreceptors?
the chemoreceptors become desensitised to the changes in CO2 diminishing their ability to signal the brain to drive breathing effectively, this contributes to the state of hypoventilation where the patient does not breathe deeply or frequently enough to meet the bodies oxygen demands and clear CO2
