Introduction To Blood, Lungs & Heart

Question 1

What are the most common broad causes of death from the age of 35 years onwards?

Answer 1

Chronic diseases + conditions e.g. circulatory system disease (heart disease, heart attacks), respiratory system disease (influenza, pneumonia) + lung malignancy/cancer

Question 2

Many cardio-respiratory diseases develop into __ conditions.

Answer 2

Chronic

Question 3

What is the effect of cardio-respiratory disease on the individual, their loved ones + the NHS?

Answer 3

General ill health, incapacity, high medication costs + recurrent hospital admissions

Physical/psychological effects on patient, carers + family often far reaching

Drain on NHS resources or resource inadequacy

So continued search for “innovative” ways to manage this patient population

Question 4

How do we try and manage cardio-respiratory disease?

Answer 4

• Primary + secondary prevention: legislation, reduction in tobacco marketing, smoking cessation programs, pharmacological interventions + procedures & patient education
• Treatment of acute events to prevent admissions
• Ancillary treatment e.g. home oxygen, nebulisers + pacemakers
• Trying to improve quality of life with rehabilitation
• All the administrative work

Question 5

What is mechanical force?

Answer 5

Bulk flow (including movement of matter) down a pressure gradient

Uses muscular work in + elastic recoil out

Applies to large airways + circulation

Question 6

What is diffusion?

Answer 6

Movement of gas down a molecular concentration gradient of that individual gas (no movement of matter)

No muscle work - passive

E.G. gas diffusion from terminal bronchioles to mitochondria of metabolising tissues (both ends of O2 transport system)

Question 7

What are the 4 main roles of the cardio-respiratory system?

Answer 7

1. Transport O2 + nutrients to tissues
2. Remove CO2 + other waste products from tissues
3. Mobility of cell mediated + humoral immunity
4. Transport of hormones, cytokines + other mediators