Respiratory And Gas Exchange Are Diseases That Disrupt The Normal Function Of Gas

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that impacts a person’s and their family’s quality of life. In people with asthma, their airway becomes constricted with swelling and excessive mucous. This constriction or narrowing of the airway makes it difficult for the person with asthma to breath (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2009). If asthma is left uncontrolled, it leads to further wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, tiredness, and stress. (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2009).

Both rapid, shallow breathing patterns and hypoventilation effect gas exchange. Arterial blood gases will be monitored and changes discussed with provider. Alteration in PaCO2 and PaO2 levels are signs of respiratory failure. Patient’s body position will be properly aligned for optimum respiratory excursion, this promotes lung expansion and improved air exchange. Patient will be suctioned as needed to clear secretions and maintain patent airways. The expected outcome is that the patient’s airway and gas exchange will be maintained as evidence by normal arterial blood gases (Herdman,

During a major asthma attach the lung not ventilating properly caused respiratory acidosis. This makes the lungs retain carbon dioxide. When carbon dioxide mixes with water, it become carbonic acid. Decrease of oxygen levels in the blood stream causes hypoxemia, increase levels of carbon dioxide cause hypercapnia. The body attempts to compensate by getting the CO2 of the lungs, but with asthma patient they cannot breathe, therefore they keep retain the carbon dioxide. The increasing levels of carbon dioxide let the carbon dioxide cross the blood-brain barrier causing vasodilation of the cerebral blood vessels, which in turn central nervous system changes of headaches, blurred vision, muscle twitching and psychological disturbance leading to lethargy and coma (Grossman & Porth, 2014). Hypercapnia, hypoxemia all leads to

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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).

The following case study is of a 37-year old Hispanic male weighing 145 lbs and 70 inches tall found unconscious by his girlfriend. According to her he was unconscious for about 15 hours and she was concerned because he would not wake or respond and was breathing shallow and slow. She then called 9-1-1. The patient entered the ER by emergency vehicle and on my initial assessment Pt had an altered mental status, was very unresponsive showing symptoms of a possible drug overdose. The girlfriend told the physician the Pt had taken 75 mg of methadone and an unknown amount of Xanex and other amounts of Benzodiazepines. On assessment, the doctor noticed his altered mental status and unconscious status. He had a gag

Respiratory disorder, mostly affect the upper or lower respiratory tract, however bacterial or viral infection are the causative agent and the disease is common in all ages. In addition, the lungs and the bronchi can also be affected, causing inflammation and obstruction of the airflow resulting in wheezing, chest tightness, stridor, low grade fever, cough, and hemoptysis due severe damage to the lung tissues. Most common diseases of the respiratory system include; pneumonia, croup, asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, and tuberculosis, affected disease location determines the signs and symptoms. Hereditary and environmental factors such as allergens and other irritants can be a contributory factor, especially in children. However, respiratory compromise occur as a result of incomplete airway development among this vulnerable population predisposing them to chronic asthma (Huether & McCance, 2012).

Allen here to speak to you about the most common diseases we see here in the Pediatric Pulmonary Department. I will start by telling you what they are and I am sure you have heard them before. First there is Acute Bronchiolitis (inflammation of the bronchioles). Acute Bronchiolitis is usually accompanied by tachypnea (rapid breathing), chest retraction (sinking in of soft tissues of the chest), and wheezing (whistling or rattling sound on the chest). Next is Tuberculosis (bacterial infection spread through lymph nodes and blood stream into other part of the body). TB is very contagious due to the fact it is airborne. Children are most susceptible to this disease. They can get it by being in contact with someone who has active TB. This disease is very fatal to children as it can result in death. The bad thing about TB is that it can not be detected and it can sometimes lay dormant in the system and never be active, so sometimes we wont ever know if a child has it until they appear sick and get tested for the disease. The last condition we will discuss is Sleep Apnea (interruptions of breathing while sleep). Sleep Apnea occurs when the muscles in the mouth and your tongue relax to the point of blocking your air way, sometimes it causes you to make noise like snoring and other times and blocks your breathing completely to where you can not

2) Asthma (ICD-10-CM-J45). This is a chronic disease that is characterized by difficulty in breathing due to narrowing and swelling of the bronchial airways. Some of the symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. Asthmatic attack can be triggered by dust particles in the air, pollen, stress or exercise (Gillman & Douglass, 2012).

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), one out of ten children have asthma in the United States (2016). “Asthma is the leading chronic disease in children, it is also the top reason for missed school days.” (AAFA, 2016, para 3). Asthma is described as the inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs. The narrowing of the bronchi makes it difficult to breath, due to the inflammation; a wheezing sound might be heard during an acute asthma attack. Bronchi are small branches in the lungs that helps deliver air or oxygen into the lungs when inhaled, and helps remove carbon dioxide out of the body during expiration. Learning the anatomy of the lungs will be beneficial in learning how asthma affects the body. When a person breaths, the air goes through the nasal cavity, to the pharynx and larynx, then to the trachea and into the lungs, where the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli are located.

Breathing is a vital process for every human. Normal breathing is practically effortless for most people, but those with asthma face a great challenge. During an asthma attack, breathing is hampered, making it difficult or even impossible for air to flow through the lungs. Asthma is an increasingly common problem, and has become the most common chronic childhood disease. At least 17 million Americans suffer from it(1), and although it can be fatal, it is usually not that severe(4). There is no cure for asthma, but with proper care, it can usually be controlled.

I chose Cystic Fibrosis as the disease I will be discussing about for this paper. Cystic Fibrosis also known as “CF” is a genetic disease that causes lung infections and it starts to limit the ability to breathe progressively. Cystic Fibrosis causes numerous of symptoms such as persistent coughing with mucus at times, numerous lung infections including bronchitis or pneumonia, Gasping or shortness of breath, reduced growth or weight gain even if the person has a good appetite, as well as Male infertilely (Cff.org). People with CF get a heavy buildup of mucus which then stops the release of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break

Shortness of breath and sudden chest pain are the primary symptoms. The chest pain is typically localized to the affected side. Tiredness may also be a symptom.

When my mom delivered me, the doctor turned me around to see a large mass on my spine. I was born with Spina Bifida. I was intubated at birth because I had to get an operation to get the mass removed. I spent fifteen days in the NICU. Every year I had to go to doctor appointments at the hospital. The hospital was a comfort zone for me as weird as that sounds. I found them fascinating, because I knew even as a girl that someone’s life was being saved somewhere in the hospital. My brother had many asthma attacks and my dad had bronchitis, so respiratory problems occur in my family. After watching them suffer with these conditions I realized that we take a breath for granted everyday. A breath is the difference between life and death.