General Respiratory Flashcards
Constriction of the airways following use of sympathomimetic bronchodilator. An opposite effect from what is expected.
Paradoxical Bronchoconstriction
An effect that is the opposite of what is expected
Paradoxical Effect
Worsening of nasal congestion following discontinuation of nasal spray
Rebound Congestion
A drug producing the physiological effects characteristic of the sympathetic nervous system.
Sympathomimetic
dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, bowel obstruction, dilated pupils, blurred vision, increased heart rate, and decreased sweating
Anticholinergic Effects
used to prevent or relieve a cough
Antitussive
a medicine which promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs
Expectorant
What two zones make up the Respiratory System
Conducting Zone
Respiratory Zone
• Warms, humidifies, and cleans incoming air
• Cilia remove mucus and debris from the nasal cavity
• Trachea branches to left and right bronchi-passageways for air in and out
• Muscular walls of bronchioles change in size to ̄ or airflow.
Conducting Zone
• Involves structures directly involved in gas exchange
• Bronchioles lead to alveolar sacs where gas exchange takes place
• Resp. rate controlled by medulla oblongata (autonomic nervous system)
Respiratory Zone
• An immune system reaction to a foreign substance- Antibodies are formed
• Mast cells release histamines when the allergen is present
• Common symptoms are sneezing, itching, runny/stuffy nose, red/watery eyes
Allergies
- Chemical mediator of inflammatory response
- Interacts with two receptors: H1 & H2
Histamine
- Found in smooth muscle of vascular system and bronchial tree
- Causes many of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Histamine 1
- Found in stomach
- responsible for peptic ulcers
Histamine 2
Medications for Respiratory Conditions (2)
Antihistamines (H1 Receptor Antagonists)
Decongestants
- natural reflex mechanism
- Serves to forcibly remove excess secretions and foreign material
- Common colds and allergies create _______.
Cough
- Antitussives inhibit cough
- Opioids used to inhibit severe cough
- Expectorants inhibit mucus production
Pharmacotherapy of Cough
Medications to treat cough (2)
Antitussives
Expectorants
Blue discoloration
Cyanosis
Difficulty breathing
Dyspnea
a condition involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort in breathing.
COPD
a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity
Asthma
AKA bronchospasm
Asthma attack
- Approx. 18.7 million adults and 7 million kids in U.S.A. Are affected.
- A chronic disease with inflammation, edema, & bronchospasm
- Excessive mucus sometimes present
- Symptoms involve coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, cyanosis, and chest tightness.
Asthma
- Stress
- Pollutants/allergens
- Infections
- Exercise (exertion)
Exacerbate Asthma Symptoms
Asthma has both _____________ component and __________ component
bronchoconstriction; inflammation
What are the 2 goals of drug therapy?
- To terminate
- To reduce the frequency
What are the 2 broad categories of drug therapy?
Quick-relief meds
Long-acting meds
- To terminate acute bronchospasms in progress
- short-acting beta-adrenergic agonists (sympathomimetics)
Quick-relief medications (emergency)
- Oral Route
- Aerosolize Route
Common routes for pulmonary drugs
- rapid and efficient
- rich blood supply for quick absorption and onset of action
- delivers drug directly to site
- inhalation vs oral
Factors of pulmonary drug choice
- Longer duration of action
- Frequent systemic side effects
- Tolerance may develop
Oral Therapy
- Suspension of droplets or particles in a gas
- Onset of action almost immediate
- Drugs administered for local effect
- Immediate relief of bronchospasm in an emergency
- Loosens thick mucus
- Side effects are reduced!
Aerosol Therapy
- Difficult to measure precise dose
- Usually, only 10 to 50% of drug is placed
- Instruction may be complicated for some patients
- Side effects occur if patient swallows drug or does not rinse mouth after inhalation
Disadvantages of aerosol therapy
- nebulizer
- metered-dose inhaler
- dry powder inhaler
Devices for aerosol therapy
- Vaporizes liquid drug into fine mist
- Uses small machine and face mask
Nebulizer
- Propellant delivers measured dose of drug
Metered-dose Inhaler (MDI)
- Patient inhales powdered drug
- Device activated by inhalation
Dry-powder inhaler (DPI)
- Chronic disease that causes obstructed air flow out of the lungs
- Two types are emphysema and chronic bronchitis
COPD
Alveoli at the end of the bronchioles are
destroyed and hyperinflated
Emphysema
chronic bronchial tube inflammation (daily productive cough)
Chronic Bronchitis
- breathing difficulty
- productive and chronic cough
- wheezing
- chest tightness, cyanosis, lack of energy, frequent respiratory infections, weight loss
Symptoms of COPD
- Most often related to long-term smoking or long-term exposure to irritant
- Treatable but not curable
- The bronchioles lose elasticity, alveoli dilate to try to allow for more air and the client suffers extreme dyspnea.
Cause of COPD
- Most effective drugs for relieving acute bronchospasm
- Activate beta2 receptors in bronchial smooth muscle to cause bronchodilation
- Range from ultrashort to long-acting
Sympathomimetics-Bronchodilators (Beta-Adrenergic Agonists):
