Gas Exchange Diseases

The two body organ systems involved in gas exchange are the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. O2 and CO2 cross the cell membrane via simple diffusion. Because cells all throughout the body require oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide, this simple method of diffusion is the best way to transport such small molecules over a large area as efficiently as possible.

The presence of fluid in the alveolar space could potentially cause the lung capacity to be effected as well.

Gas exchange is when oxygen is delivered from the lungs to the blood stream and carbon dioxide is taken out of the bloodstream and into the lungs. Gas exchange occurs within the lungs between the alveoli and capillaries which are in the walls of the alveoli. The walls of the alveoli share a membrane with the capillaries in which oxygen and carbon dioxide move freely between the respiratory system and the bloodstream. Oxygen molecules attach to red blood cells, which travel back to the heart. At the same time, the carbon dioxide in the alveoli are exhaled out of the body.

* COPD: Chronic obstructive lung disease decreases the lungs ability to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. As the disease progress the patient has to work harder and harder to breathe often feeling as if they are suffocating. These disease are often link to a lifetime of smoking but be due to environmental factors.

The respiratory system is a complex organ structure of the human body anatomy, and the primary purpose of this system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood vessels to carry the precious gaseous element to all parts of the body to accomplish cell respiration. The respiratory system completes this important function of breathing throughout inspiration. In the breathing process inhaling oxygen is essential for cells to metabolize nutrients and carry out some other tasks, but it must occur simultaneously with exhaling when the carbon dioxide is excreted, this exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood (McGowan, Jefferies & Turley, 2004).

The complexity of the respiratory system and the physiology behind pulmonary respiration can be considered extraordinary high. Within the single system, individual organs, actions and co-ordinations are culminated to equate in the survival of humans. The respiratory system carries out many roles within the body; control of bodily pH, aid in speech production and olfaction, regulation of blood pressure and promotion of venous and lymphatic flow. Although these function are necessary to optimally function, the exchange of gases from the internal bodily environment to the external bodily environment is the most important function and role of the respiratory system (Martini, Ober, Nath 2011).

Small air sacks called alveoli are at the tips of the bronchioles. When air reaches them, the oxygen concentration is high, which causes diffusion into red blood cells travelling through pulmonary capillaries (7). The red blood cells then distribute the new oxygen to the rest of the body. When they reach the alveoli again, they exchange carbon dioxide (a form of cell waste) for new oxygen, and repeat the process. The carbon dioxide is moved through the bronchioles, bronchi, and trachea in the form of exhalation.

As you already know, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), manifests itself when the passageway of air to the lungs is severely obstructed, thus preventing sufficient flow of oxygen into the bloodstream.1 The pathophysiology of COPD is a complex process that is the result of multiple airway diseases that simultaneously contribute to the impairment of airflow in the lungs.1 Specifically, the overlapping outcome of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is the pathogenesis of COPD.1 The risk factor for the COPD is influenced by the individual’s genetics, age, gender, exposure to air pollution, socioeconomic status, and the use of tobacco products.1 The use of tobacco products can increase the development of COPD.1 However, individuals that don’t smoke can also attain COPD.1 Therefore, COPD is not exclusive to individuals that smoke on a daily basis.1 In fact, genetics and the natural aging process plays a part in the development of pulmonary issues.1 For example, it has been proven that a deficiency in the alpha -1 antitrypsin gene is correlated with the development of COPD.1 The natural deterioration of lung tissue, coupled with the long term exposure to environmental elements, explains why the risk of attaining COPD increases as one progresses to the latter stages of their lives.1 In a healthy individual, goblet cells secrete about one liter of mucous that provides a moist surface over the lungs, trachea, and esophagus.1 The cilia on the pseuodocolumnar epithelial cells continuously sweep the mucus in the lungs in an upward motion.1 The cilia sweeps the mucosal trapped debris up, and removes pathogens and other foreign particles out the pulmonary tissue.1 In individuals with COPD, the pathogenesis of the disease creates structural modifications of the lung tissue, which result in deformed and nonfunctioning cilia.2 The lack of functioning cilia leads to the buildup of mucous, pathogens, and subsequent respiratory infections.2 Furthermore, the body tries to combat

Progressive, persistent airflow limitation and chronic airway inflammation are both characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A combination of diffuse small airway disease and destruction of lung parenchyma, also known as emphysema, are the results that cause persistent airflow limitation. Spirometry is used most often to diagnose. The ratios that are checked are forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. COPD is diagnosed in stages ranging from mild to very severe. The diagnosis is also based on age and sex of the patient. Age is a factor because due to the fact that as we age the FEV1/FVC declines. (European Lung White Book Chapter 13)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a disease that effects the respiratory system. It is a progressive disease, which means the get gets worse as time passes ("What Is COPD?"). Although their are different types of COPD, the common similarity in the disease is increasing breathlessness. The main symptoms are increasing of breathlessness, frequent coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest. One major issue is that when people age they assume that these COPD symptoms are symptoms of aging. People think their bodies are just waring out. This makes it hard to diagnose people with the disease, because they are unaware of the symptoms.

Emphysema damage to the alveoli causes a significant decrease in the surface area available for adequate gas exchange ability.

One of the most common forms of COPD is emphysema. A major sign of emphysema is a feeling that the patient cannot take a deep breath. This is because alveoli, which are small sacs in the lungs that hold air, decompose and form larger sacs. This causes the sacs to become less flexible

Disease that makes it hard to exhale all the air in the lungs, and when the airways becomes narrow that cause the air to come out slower is considered Obstructive airway disease. In addition patient with obstructive airway disease find it difficult to breathe while increased activity or exertion. Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, and Cystic Fibrosis are some of the obstructive airway disease. In details, COPD is a group of conditions characterized by obstruction to airflow in the lungs. Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, and emphysema are condition of COPD. Smoking is the common cause of COPD. “persons with COPD are unable to maintain normal blood gases by increasing their breathing effort. Hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and cyanosis develop, reflecting an imbalance between ventilation and perfusion”(Porth, 2011, p. 582).

According to the Australian Nurses’ Dictionary (King, J, et.al, 2012) COPD is defined as “A combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema in which there is disruption of air flow into or out of the lungs. Dyspnoea, wheezing and cough predominate, often made worse by any exertion or pollution in any environment. Patients may be severely disabled and require oxygen for long periods of time.” The most common cause of COPD is chronic cigarette smoking, although only 25% of smokers will develop COPD of a moderate severity. Others may develop COPD as a result of a normal decline in lung function as age progresses, these patients may suffer airflow obstruction without abnormal inflammatory changes. The airflow limitation results in three different pathological mechanisms: thickening of small airways, emphysema and luminal obstruction with mucus and plasma exudate.

Gas Exchange is a physical process. During that physical process diffusion is involved which are two main gases oxygen (O2) which is needed for respiration, Carbon dioxide (CO2) that is produced in respiration.