Case Study 3
Disorders of Ventilation and Gas Exchange
Emmanuel and his mother live in an urban community-housing complex. The building is worn down and dirty from the urban dust, cockroaches, and mold. Emmanuel is five years of age and has suffered from asthma for the last two years. One evening, his mother poured him some milk and put him to bed. Shortly afterward, Emmanuel woke up wheezing and coughing. As he gasped for air, he became more and more anxious. His mother ran for his inhaler, but he was too upset and restless to use it. Emmanuel’s skin became moist with sweat, and as he began to tire, his wheezing became quieter. His mother called 911 and waited anxiously for the ambulance to arrive.
1. Emmanuel uses a corticosteroid inhaler
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Because Emanuel has a long history of asthma attacks, his is consider as untreated. The first symptoms that his mother should have noticed would have been his persistent cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. According to (Schiffman, Marks, & Shiel, 2015), nocturnal asthma occur in 90% of the patients because of exposing to the trigger (dust, mold and roaches) the patient's lungs function decrease to 50%. However, roaches could be the main trigger since they usually appear at night in the darkness of the rooms. Emanuel's increase work of breathing required more energy, which cause the oxygen needs to increase, and causing physical fatigue. During asthma attacks, the airways narrow, causing bronchospasm, edema of the bronchial mucosa and mucus build up. As the attack continues with the obstruction both inspiratory and expiratory breathes are effected, inspiratory by decrease amount of air in and expiratory taking longer and having more carbon monoxide. Then hyperinflation of the lungs occurs as a response to the air being trap. According to the Papiris, Kotanidou, Malagari, & Roussos (2002), the results are hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and lactic …show more content…
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
First then RN should evaluate the current needs of the patient by assessing them to see which outcomes have been met and re-advise or update the ones that have not been meet. With-in 24 hours of starting the treatment for pneumonia the patient has had some improvements which suggest at this time the treatment is working.
Mrs Levchenko has tachypnoea, as her respiratory rate is over 20 breaths per minute. Her rapid breathing would be a cause of impaired gas exchange. Which could be caused because of her smoking, and
In a relatively healthy human body, the CO2 in the bloodstream is held in a tight range and commands the automated breathing rate through the medulla oblongata and pons, which are portions of the brainstem. Let's say the CO2 level in the blood elevates for some reason, the brain stem will react by raising the number of inhalations per minute to blow off the raised CO2. If the CO2 level gets too high, and the brain determines it's an emergency then coma will follow.
As of 2009, studies conducted by the CDC have shown that asthma impacts approximately one in every twelve people, and the numbers only continue to grow (CDC, 2011). Some of the most common symptoms can range anywhere from coughing (especially at night or during exercise), wheezing and chest tightness, to shortness of breath. Asthma is often a chronic condition and while many times it can present itself as being mild, it can also sometimes lead to death if a person suffers an asthma attack. Asthma can be genetic, but it can also be caused, as well as exacerbated by, environmental factors such as air pollution. Studies have shown that children living in the Bronx are experiencing asthma at levels eight times higher than the national average. In addition, rates of death from asthma are a whopping three times higher than the national average, and hospitalization rates at about five times higher.” (Ruppell, 2000). Asthma is not a disease that targets only one group of people, yet the Bronx still exhibits disproportionately high levels of asthma especially in neighborhoods that are poorer areas of the city. In fact, people from these poor areas are 21 times more likely to be hospitalized due to asthmatic conditions compared to people from more affluent parts of the city (Ruppell,
Asthma is a serious problem nationwide. It is also a significant problem in the state of Massachusetts, especially in communities in Boston. However, according to Harvard School of Public Health and NIEHS Center for Environmental Health, Roxbury and North Dorchester are highly noticeable hotspots (Backus, Terrell, Wool, & Straubel, 2012, p. 23). For the purpose of this paper, the main focus will be on asthma cases in
The effect of asthma can range from mild, irregular symptoms causing minor problems for an individual to severe and sudden asthma attacks. The extent of what causes asthma is not well known or fully understood but some common triggers include, cold temperatures, dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, sickness, mould and animal hair. When triggered, the airways in the lungs become inflamed and constricted causing shortness of breath, chest pain and wheezing [R]. Currently, there is no cure for asthma however symptoms can be managed with medication and improved living standards [R]. Asthma symptoms are commonly controlled with the use of inhalers, either preventers (taken to desensitizes airways to triggers) or relievers (provides instant relief by relaxing the muscles) [16].
Asthma is a long-term lung disease. Those with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which triggers a flare up. When this flare up happens the muscle around the airways squeeze tight and the airways swell, become narrows and produce more mucus. (Anon., 2016) All these things make it harder for a person to breathe. Asthma effects the human body’s respiratory system. Asthma causes a spasm and constriction of the bronchial passages and the swelling and the inflammation of the mucous lining. The body responds by defence cells from the immune system, which causes the airways to swell and the muscles surrounding the airways to contract. Which is what cuts off the airflow. While a person is in asthma attack, the asthmatic cannot breathe which
This results in the person having repetitive periods of insufficient ventilation and jeopardized gas exchange. This occurs when the inhibitory input to the brain exceeds excitatory output; or in simpler terms the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe.
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.
Childhood asthma impacts scores of youngsters and their families. In fact, the bulk of kids develop respiratory illness before the age of
Disorders of ventilation and gas exchange are diseases that disrupt the normal function of gas exchange of the lungs (Porth, 2015). The main function of our lungs is to remove carbon dioxide and to supply oxygen to the blood (Porth, 2015). The respiratory disease that I will be mainly focusing on is Bronchial asthma in children. Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses that children In the United States are rushed to the emergency department for; miss the most days of school, and are hospitalized for (Porth, 2015). “Asthma is a condition in which you airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath” (M.C, 2015).
The child I helped take care of was a 15-year-old adolescent male. He was brought into the hospital due to an asthma attack. According to his mom, he has had asthma for years and sometimes has more severe attacks causing him to come into the hospital. Throughout this paper, this child’s developmental stages and medical diagnosis will be discussed.
Some things in the environment make her asthma get worse. If there is dust in the air she starts to have trouble breathing. When this happens she has to get away from the dust or her breathing will get a lot worse. Also, if someone is cooking on the grill the smoke in the air makes it hard for her to breathe. She cannot be around people that smoke because it will make her sick. Certain types of perfume will make her unable
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.
In this research more to service of ventilations in the building. In general, the ventilation system in building is the process deliberate replacement of warm inside air with cooler outside air. Ventilation process is the process fresh of air that is contaminated air is removed from an occupied space is termed ventilation. By using naturally occurring air temperature and pressure differences, or by mechanical means such as exhaust fans & air-Cond system.