LO's respiratory conditions Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the pathophysiology of asthma and relate to signs & symptoms
A
- asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that results in narrowing of the airway in response to various triggers
- during an asthma attack the muscles around the airway tighten and the airway wall becomes swollen and produces thick mucus that narrows them more making it hard to breathe
- The increased airway resistance reduces both airflow into and out of the lungs. Thus, there is a V/Q mismatch which leads to decreased oxygen in the blood and tissues. Air retention and hypercapnia can also occur
triggers
- pollen
- smoke
- pollution
- cold weather
- mold
- pet dander
- dust mites
- shellfish
- eggs
- peanuts
- soy
- respiratory infections
- exercise
- stress
symptoms
- coughing
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- tightness in your chest
2
Q
Describe the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis and relate to signs & symptoms
A
- cystic fibrosis is a recessive condition that results in abnormality in chloride channels (decreased chloride secretion into the ECF)
- mucus coats the surface of the airways, trapping in inhaled bacteria and viruses, the mucus becomes thick and dry and the cilia are unable to sweep it away. the mucus can also build up and clog the airways thus recurrent infections are common, and can make breathing difficult
- the mucus becomes abnormally thick and sticky because the recessive gene codes for decreased chloride secretion and increased sodium ions in the cell- this leads to a higher concentration of ions in the cell than outside therefore water leaves the mucus by osmosis so it thickens and dries out
- in the digestive ducts mucus builds in the ducts and clogs then and prevents them from releasing the digestive enzymes so food can not be broken down properly leading to malnurtition
signs and symptoms caused by defective CFTR
- malnutrition
- abnormally salty sweat
- difficulty breathing
