Respiratory Flashcards
What is asthma?
A condition in which a person’s airways become inflamed, narrow & swell + produces mucus making it difficult to breathWh
What is the pathophysiology of asthma?
When mast cells are activated, it releases several chemicals called mediators. These chemicals perpetuate the inflammatory response, causing an increase of blood flow, vasoconstriction, fluid leak from the vasculature, the attraction of WBC t o the area & bronchoconstriction. Due to allergens this results in release of mediators from mast cells that directly contract the airway. As asthma becomes more persistent, the inflammation progresses & the other factors may be involved in airway limitation
What are the S&S of asthma?
- cough
- dyspnoea = general tightness in chest
- wheezing = expiration
What is the cause of asthma?
- allergy
- chronic exposure to airway irritants
- exercise
- stress/emotional upset
- medications
What are the risk factors of asthma?
- family hx
- allergies
- smoking
- obesity
- viral respiratory infection
- occupational exposures
- air pollution
What is peak flow monitoring & what are normal values for men + women?
Peak flow measures the highest airflow during a forced expiration & should be done before + after taking meds as it shows whether they are working or not
Men = 100L/min. Women = 85 L/min
What are the medications for asthma?
- bronchodilator
- steroid
- anti-inflammatory
What is the nursing management of asthma?
- administer/enc medications
- treat cause/prevent another attack
- inhaler + meds education
- action plan
- annual flu vaccine
- CXR
- assess vitals + resp assessment
What does COPD stand for?
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What is COPD?
Disease state characterised by airflow limitation that is cannot be reveresed
What are the 2 classifications of COPD?
Chronic bronchitis + emphysema
What is the clinical diagnosis of chronic bronchitis?
Daily productive cough for/> than 3 months in at least 2 consecutive years
What are symptoms of “blue bloaters” (chronic bronchitis)
- overweight + cyanotic
- increase hemoglobin
- peripheral oedema
- rhonchi + wheezing
How does chronic bronchitis happen?
pollutants/allergens irritate airway & lead to production of sputum by mucus-secreting glands & goblet cells
What is the pathological diagnosis of emphysema?
Permanent enlargement & destruction of airspaces distal to the terminal bronchiole
What are the symptoms of pink puffer? (emphysema)
- older & thin
- severe dyspnoea
- quiet chest
- tachy
- pink in colour
- barrel chest
- low diaphragm
How does emphysema happen?
Impaired CO2 & O2 exchange, the exchange results from the destruction of the walls of overdistended alveoli
What is the pathophysiology of COPD?
inflammation of the airways causes change and norrws the airways. Number of goblet cells & enlarged submucosal glands increases causing hypersecretion of mucus. Scar formation + wall destruction occurs = narrowing + loss of elasticity. Chronic inflammation affects pulmonary vasculature & causes thickening of the vessel lining & hypertrophy of smooth muscle
What are the S&S of COPD?
- chronic & progressive dyspnoea
- cough
- sputum production
- wheezing + chest tightness
- fatigue
- weight loss/anorexia
- rib fractures
- ankle swelling
- depression + anxiety
What are host risk factors of COPD?
- genes
- childhood respiratory infection
- immune hyperactivity
- familial aggregation
- socioeconomic status
- age/race/sex
What are environmental risk factors of COPD?
- tobacco smoking
- heavy exposure to occupational dusts + chemicals
- air pollution
What are the nursing interventions for someone with COPD?
- vital obs = SpO2 88-92% & high RR
- administer meds + O2
- enc effective coughing or suction to remove any secretions
- position pt (HOBE)
What is the medication/management of COPD?
- stop smoking
- bronchodilators & expectorants
- check MDI technique (include spacer)
- physiotherapy
- teach early recognition of infection
- annual flu vaccine
- steroids/BiPAP for severe exacerbation
- ?O2 therapy
What is pneumonia?
Acute inflammation of the LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT + it’s an inflammatory process
