Week 1 Flashcards
Respiratory Conditions
What is asthma?
A chronic condition that affects the airways (the breathing passage that carries air into the lungs).
What is COPD?
A chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.
What is comorbidity?
Refers to the presence of one or more additional chronic health conditions that coexist with a primary condition.
What is multimorbidity?
Refers to the presence of two or more chronic health conditions, but the conditions may or may not be related to each other.
What are preventers?
Assist in controlling asthma symptoms and prevent attacks. They reduce the inflammation in the airways, making them less sensitive.
What are relievers?
Medicines are used for the rapid relief of asthma symptoms when they occur. these medications include salbutamol and terbutaline.
COPD symptoms
Difficulty breathing, wheezing and increased mucus production.
What is emphysema?
Condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest airway passages of the lungs are destroyed because of damaging exposure to cigarette smoke and other irrigating gases.
What is chronic bronchitis?
Condition in which there is chronic inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. Characterised by daily cough and mucus production.
Non-pharmacological interventions (COPD)
-Reduce risk factors: Avoid risk factors such as tobacco smoke and air pollution, supporting smoke cessation, and recommend annual influenza vaccine.
-Optimise function: Encourage regular exercise and physical activity, review nutrition, provide education, and develop GP management plan.
Pharmacological interventions (COPD)
- Short-acting relievers, such as SABA.
- Long-acting bronchodilators, such as LABA and LAMA.
Symptoms of asthma
Wheezing, laboured breathing, sleeping problems, chest pain and feeling tired.
Treatment for asthma
- symptoms are usually reversible, either with or without treatment.
- severity of asthma ranges from mild, intermittent symptoms, causing few problems for the individual, to severe and persistent wheezing and sob.
Asthma education
- Identify and minimise exposure to triggers.
- Assess asthma control.
- Understand their asthma treatment plan.
What does ‘good asthma control’ mean?
- no nighttime asthma symptoms.
- no asthma symptoms of waking.
- no need for asthma reliever medication.
- no restriction for day-to-day activities.
Nurses’ role during asthma emergencies
- sit the person comfortably upright.
- give 4 puffs of blue/grey puffer. repeat until 4 puffs have been given.
- wait 4 minutes.
- after 4 minutes: either call 000 (giving 4 puffs every 4 minutes), or get them to a doctor for a check-up.
What are the bedside safety checks?
- working oxygen and air wall outlets.
- clean and working wall suction canister and tubing insitu.
- check emergency equipment.
Indications for tracheostomy
- tumours of the face/mouth/neck.
- vocal cord paralysis.
- severe neck or mouth injuries.
- COPD.
Inspect
- ease of breathing.
- quality of breathing.
inspect and palpate the posterior and lateral chest wall
- thorax is symmetrical.
- colour of skin and whether it is intact.
- checking if spinous processes are in a straight line.
Auscultate the posterior and lateral chest wall
- vesicular breath sounds over the lung peripheries and lateral chest.
- bronchovesicular breath sounds over the large airways.
Inspect anterior chest
- shape and configuration of the chest.
- the ribs are sloping downwards.
- symmetrical intercostal spaces, and the costal angle is within 90 degrees.
Palpate anterior chest
- noting any tenderness, superficial lumps or bumps, skin temperature and moisture.
Palpate symmetrical chest expansion
- as the person inhales deeply, my thumbs should move apart symmetrically.
