Unit 4 Additional Readings

Question 1

Asthma

Answer 1

chronic airway inflammation, airway sensitivity to variety of stimuli and obstruction
- Partially reversible
- More common in children > adults
- Causes: smooth muscle spasms in walls of smaller bronchi and bronchioles, edema of mucosa of airways, increased mucus secretion, and/or damage to epithelium of airway

Question 2

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Answer 2

chronic and recurrent obstruction of airflow → increases airway resistance
- 4th leading cause of death in US
- More common in men > women
- Preventable b/c it’s commonly caused by smoking
- types: emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Question 3

emphysema

Answer 3

destruction of walls of alveoli → produces large air spaces that remain filled w/ air during exhalation ⇒ less surface area for gas exchange → reduced O2 diffusion across damaged respiratory membrane → any exercise that raises O2 requirements ⇒ breathlessness ⇒ “barrel chest:” added exertion increasing size of chest cage

Question 4

chronic bronchitis

Answer 4

excessive secretion of bronchial mucus → narrows airway and impairs ciliary function → inhaled pathogens multiply in embedded airway ⇒ productive cough that lasts for at least 3 months of year for 2 successive years

Question 5

Lung cancer

Answer 5

leading cause of cancer death in men and women
- Most people die within a year of diagnosis
- Emphysema is common precursor to its development
- Tx: partial or complete surgical removal of diseased lung, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
- types: Bronchogenic carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinomas, Small (oat) cell carcinomas, Bronchogenic tumors

Question 6

Pneumonia

Answer 6

acute infection or inflammation of alveoli when microbes enter lungs → damages alveoli and bronchial mucous membranes → inflammation and edema → fills alveoli w/ fluid → interferes with ventilation and gas exchange
- Most common infectious cause of death in US
- More commonly affects elderly, infants, immunocompromised, smokers, obstructive lung disease pts
- Tx: antibiotics, bronchodilators, O2 therapy, increased fluid intake, chest physiotherapy
- Cause: pneumococcal bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 7

Tuberculosis

Answer 7

bacteria inside lungs multiply → inflammation → bacteria escapes to blood and lymph to infect other organs
- Affects people with HIV b/c of impaired immune system
- Tx: medication isoniazid
- If healthy immune system: bacteria remain dormant for life b/c neutrophils and macrophages engulf bacteria to stop spread

Question 8

Pulmonary edema

Answer 8

abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces and alveoli of lungs
- Cause: increased permeability of pulmonary capillaries or increased pressure in pulmonary capillaries
- Tx: administering O2, drugs dilating bronchioles and lower bp, diuretics to rid excess fluid, drugs that correct acid-base imbalances, suctioning of airways, mechanical ventilation