Respiratory Signs and Symptoms Flashcards

1
Q

State six common respiratory signs and symptoms

A
  • Breathlessness
  • Cough
  • Wheezing
  • Chest pain
  • Haemoptysis
  • Sputum
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2
Q

State five chronic causes (within months / years) of breathlessness

A
  • Emphysema
  • Chronic Bronchitis
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Interstitial Lung Disease
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
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3
Q

State five causes of sudden onset (within minutes) breathlessness

A
  • Foreign body
  • Pulmonary oedema
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Analphylaxis
  • Pneumothorax
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4
Q

State three causes of rapid onset (within hours) breathlessness

A
  • Asthma
  • Pneumonia
  • Pulmonary oedema
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5
Q

What is an explanation for sputum having a yellow / green tinge?

A

Myeloperoxidase from neutrophils and eosinophils

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6
Q

What is an explanation for sputum having a putrid taste / odour?

A

Anaerobic infections i.e. abscess

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7
Q

What is an explanation for large volumes of sputum being coughed up? Give 2 causes

A

Failed mucus clearance i.e. in Bronchiectasis or Bronchoalveolar carcinomas

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8
Q

Give 6 causes for Haemoptysis (coughing up blood)

A
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Pulmonary oedema
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Lung cancer
  • Pneumonia
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9
Q

What does sputum look like in patients with Pulmonary oedema?

A

Pink and frothy

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10
Q

What does sputum look like in patients with Pneumonia?

A

Rusty sputum

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11
Q

What medication can cause patients to have a chronic cough?

A

ACE Inhibitors

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12
Q

Why do ACE Inhibitors cause coughs?

A

Prevent breakdown of Bradykinins

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13
Q

Why does Pleuritic chest pain always affect the Parietal pleura and not the Visceral?

A

No pain receptors in the lungs / visceral pleura

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14
Q

Give 2 examples of conditions which may cause a Wheeze

A

Asthma

COPD

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15
Q

Why do Wheezes occur?

A

Some form of the respiratory tree is obstructed

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16
Q

For central cyanosis, oxygen saturation must be what %?

A

Below 80%

17
Q

What is Asterexis? What is it caused by in a respiratory pathology?

A

Flapping tremor, can be caused by CO2 retention

18
Q

Why might Intercostal indrawing occur?

A

Visualised in patients with reduced air pressure in lungs, and helps generation of a bigger intrathoracic pressure

19
Q

Pursed lip breathing is seen in COPD patients because…?

A

Helps generate a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP)

20
Q

Position of the trachea is used to assess what?

A

Mediastinal shift