Test #3 Flashcards
What possibly could a persistant, dry cough indicate?
Tumor, congestion, or hypesensitive airways
What possibly could a productive cough indicate?
If clear= viral infection
If colored= bacterial infection or secondary infection (something that began as a viral infection)
What is hemoptysis?
Blood in mucous
What could hemoptysis possibly indicate?
Infection, inflammation, tumor, or infarction
What does pleuritic mean?
Sharp chest pain that gets worse with coughing or sneezing
What are the signs and symptoms of pulmonary disease? (x4)
Cough (persistant.dry, productive), hemoptysis, dyspnea, and chest pain
What is asthma?
An increased responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to stimuli–they respond with too much vasoconstriction, hence why it gets difficult to breath)
What is the most common chronic disease in children and adults?
Asthma
What percentage of all Americans have asthma? What percentage of children?
2-3% of Americans
4% of children
True or false:
The prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of asthma has not increased over recent years.
False…it is increasing
When does asthma classically appear?
Before the age of 5
True or false:
A child that has “grown out of asthma” could potentially have it occur later in life. Why or why not?
True…this could be the case with high school athletics (increased training and use of lungs) or with smoking
Is asthma more commonly diagnosed in children or adults?
Adults
What are two history questions that make a patient more likely to suffer from asthma?
- history of allergic rhinitis
- FHx of asthma
Describe the pathophysiology of asthma.
The smooth muscle cells in the bronchial tree are hyperactive and thus constrict in response to stimuli. Additionally, inflammation is another component. This causes edema and increased mucous production which also leads to a smaller airway
What are the signs and symptoms of asthma?
- recurrent episodes of coughing or wheezing
- dyspnea
- chest pain
- prolonged expiration
- signs of respiratory difficulty
What is the most common cause of chest pain in children?
Asthma
What are the 4 categories of asthma? How often does symptoms occur in each category?
1) Mild intermittent (symptoms 2 times per week but
What is a typical asthma treatment regimen?
Step Theory: 1- short-acting beta agonist 2- inhaled corticosteroid +/- long actin beta agonist 3- leukotriene antagonist 4- oral steroids (for severe asthma)
What is the goal for use of a rescue inhaler?
Use it less than 2 times per day
What should be used in an acute asthma attack?
Nebulizers, oral or iv corticosteroids, or O2
Why should asthmatic patients check their peak flow every morning?
The reading tends to drop before they have symptoms (can indicate a possible attack)
When using an inhaler, how much of the medicine is actually deposited into the lungs? What device could help improve this percentage?
10-30%…a spacer device can help this
What is the other name for exercise induced asthma (EIA)?
Exercise induced bronchospasm