Signs and symptoms of resp disease Flashcards
Name some common symptoms of resp disease
-dyspnoea
-wheeze
-cough
-sputum
-haemoptyis- coughing up blood
-chest pain
-weight loss or loss of appetite
What kind of questions are asked when someone presents with dyspnoea?
-are you short of breath?
-can you describe it to me?
-are you short of breath at rest?
-are you short of breath when walking on the flat?
-what about a slope or stairs?
-and on excersise?
-does anything make it worse?
-what relieves it?
-how long have you been experiencing it?
-speed of onset?
What kind of questions are asked when a patient presents with wheeze?
-is the wheeze audible?
-is it inspiratory or expiratory?
-does patient have wheeze at any time?
-is it worse at night time?
-are there any aggravating factors?
-how long does it last?
-what relieves it?
What kind of questions are asked when patients present with a cough?
-how long have you had a cough?
-was there an event which started the cough?
-is it constant?
-does it wake you at night?
-are their any triggering factors?
-is it a wet or dry cough?
-what does it sound like?
-are you bringing up any sputum?
What kind of questions are asked when patients present with sputum and haemotysis?
-are you producing sputum?
-what colour is it?
-has the colour changed recently?
-how much sputum are you producung?
-how long have you been producing sputum?
-have you ever noticed blood in your sputum?
-if so when and how much?
What kind of questions are asked when patients present with chest pain?
-is there chest pain when breathing?
-if so, what is it like?
-is it a sharp pain or a dull pain?
-has the doctor told you what it is?
-have you had any medication for it?
-is it constant or occasional?
-how long have you had it?
-does anything aggrevate it?
Name some physical signs of resp disease
-posture
-gait
-speed of movement/mobility
-rate and depth of breathing
-pursed lip breathing
-smell of amoke
-stained hands
What is nail clubbing?
-can develop in a matter of weeks
-tissue under nail plate becomes thicker. can be caused my a number of conditions that lead to a decreased amount of oxygen in your blood such as a lung or heart disease. Exact cause is uncertain
What kinds of conditions can cause finger clubbing?
-Lung cancer
-Bronchiectasis
-Empyema
-Congenital heart disease
-Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
-Cystic Fibrosis
-Mesothelioma
-Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
What are some signs on hands that could indicate a resp disease?
-nicotine staining
-finger clubbing
-peripheral cyanosis-nailbeds
-splinter haemorrhages
-warm hands-peripheral vasodilation
-sweaty palms-increased sympathetic nervous system activity
-tremor- fine tremor-B2 agonists, hand flap-hypercapnia
What should we check in a patients past medical history?
-general (any illness/surgery)
-family
-social( maritual statuc, accom, who lives with them,any help, hobbies,pets,smoking,alcohol,illegal drug use
-occupational(current, previous, any exposure to chemical or biohazards)
-drug history (current med)
-allergies (important in asthma patients including drug allergies)
Name some tests we can do to test for resp disease
-x-ray
-spirometry
-complex RFTs
-CT chest
-bronchoscopy
-ABGs
-blood tests
-other
