Physiological Tests- Respiratory System Flashcards
What are the 4 diseases of the respiratory system?
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
How does asthma affect the lungs?
Narrowed and inflamed bronchi and bronchioles
What are the symptoms of asthma?
Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath intermittently
What are the asthma triggers?
Smoking, exercise, dust. Allergies, stress
What are the 2 key factors of asthma?
- Often worse at night and early morning
- In response to a trigger
How does bronchitis affect the lungs?
Inflamed and narrowed bronchi
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
Shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent cough
How does emphysema affect the lungs?
Walls of alveoli break down
What are the symptoms of emphysema?
Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing in and out
What happens in sever cases of emphysema?
Patients need to breathe oxygen through a mask
How does lung cancer affect the lungs?
Tumour in lungs
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Coughing up blood, persistent cough, weight loss
What 3 lung diseases are strongly linked to smoking?
Bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer
What increases the risk of lung diseases?
Infections and atmospheric pollution
What are the 2 diseases that are part of COPD?
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
What is chronic bronchitis?
Inflammation and excess mucus
What does COPD stand for?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Why do people with emphysema struggle to breathe out?
Alveoli loses elasticity so less air is being pushed out
What are the 2 types of tests?
Peak flow meter and spirometry
What is the peak flow method?
- Set meter to 0
- Deep breath in
- Close mouth around mouthpiece
- Exhale as fast and forcefully as possible in a single blow
- Repeat 2 more times and record the highest value
What does the peak flow meter measure?
Peak expiratory flow rate - flow of air achieved when breathing out as hard as you can
What are the limitations in spirometers and peak flow?
- Patient not blowing as hard as they can
- Patient not putting their lips right around the mouthpiece
What are the uses for a peak flow?
Used to measure relative change
1. Before and after medication
2. Before and after asthma trigger
How can you tell the difference between asthma and COPD using peak flow?
Asthma- peak expiratory flow will reduce in response to a trigger and recover with medication
COPD- peak expiratory flow will always be low
Is spirometry more accurate than peak flow test?
Yes
What is FEV1?
- Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
- Volume of air that can be blown out after full inspiration in 1 second
Why is FEV1 not same as PEF?
Peak expiratory flow is less than 1 second
What is FVC?
- Forced vital capacity
- Maximum volume of air a person can exhale from the lungs after maximum inhalation
What is tidal volume?
Volume of air that moves in or out of the lungs with each breath
What are the 2 categories of lung disease?
- Obstructive lung disease
- Restrictive lung disease
What is obstructive lung disease?
Leads to the narrowing of airways
What are examples of obstructive lung diseases?
Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
What is restrictive lung disease?
Causes a decrease in maximum achievable lung volume during inspiration
What is an example of restrictive lung disease?
Scarring of lung tissue due to infection
What is the equation for the percentage of FEV1?
FEV1 / FVC x 100
What does the percentage of FEV1 signify?
The capacity of air that can be expired in 1 second
What do results below 80% show?
Obstructive lung disease
What do results of 80% or above but abnormally low FVC show?
Restrictive disease
What disease can be both restrictive and obstructive?
Cystic fibrosis
How does cystic fibrosis obstruct the lungs?
Sticky mucus
How does cystic fibrosis restrict the lungs?
Scar tissue
What is a flow volume curve?
A loop graph a spirometer creates
