NUR 311 - COPD/Asthma (Honan Ch. 10)
questions with complete solutions
What is COPD? - correct answer ✔✔a heterogeneous (diverse) lung condition characterized by chronic
respiratory symptoms, due to abnormalities in the airway, and/or alveoli that cause persistent, often
progressive airflow obstruction
__ to __ million Americans have the diagnosis of COPD. - correct answer ✔✔12 to 14
Worldwide, ______ is the third leading cause of death and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the
U.S. - correct answer ✔✔COPD
COPD accounts for an annual cost estimated to be nearly ___ _____. - correct answer ✔✔$50 billion
Describe GETomics. - correct answer ✔✔the pathological changes that characterize COPD are complex
and include interactions between genes (G) and environment (E) over a lifetime (T) of the individual
What is emphysema? - correct answer ✔✔a pathologic condition that is characterized by loss of lung
elasticity, abnormal enlargement of the airspace beyond the terminal bronchioles with destruction of the
walls of the alveoli (parenchymal destruction)
What is chronic bronchitis? - correct answer ✔✔a disease of the small airways, and has the hallmark
feature of a productive cough for at least 3 months per year over 2 consecutive years
Describe the later stages of COPD. - correct answer ✔✔- gas exchange is often impaired
- as the alveolar walls continue to break down, the pulmonary capillary bed is reduced in size
- resistance to pulmonary blood flow is increased, forcing the right ventricle to maintain a higher and
higher pressure in the pulmonary artery
- chronic hypoxemia (low oxygen) increases pulmonary artery pressures and can lead to pulmonary
hypertension which leads to right ventricular hypertrophy and failure (cor pulmonale)
, What are some characteristic changes in chronic bronchitis? - correct answer ✔✔- chronic mucus
hypersecretion has been implicated as a cause of lung function decline, exacerbations, and infections
- thickening of the epithelium, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and airway inflammation are implicated in
remodeling of the airways
Describe how air trapping occurs in emphysema. - correct answer ✔✔- air trapping is increased because
of the loss of elastic recoil in airway support structures; hyperinflated lungs flattens the diaphragm
- air sacs are replaced by bullae and capillary area is proportionally diminished
What are the risk factors for COPD? - correct answer ✔✔- tobacco smoke
- environmental tobacco smoke
- genetic factors
- occupational exposure to chemical agents and fumes
- exposure to particles (organic and inorganic dusts, open fires from wood, animal dung, crop residue,
and coal)
- air pollution
- biomass cooking in poorly ventilated areas
True or False: A host risk factor for COPD is a deficiency of an enzyme inhibitor that is an inherited
mutation in the SERPINA1 gene that protects the lung parenchyma from injury - alpha1-antitrypsin. -
correct answer ✔✔True
_____ __________ _________ accounts for 1%-5% of cases of COPD in the U.S., but it is important to
recognize that not all alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient individuals will develop lung disease. - correct answer
✔✔Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
What are the primary symptoms of COPD? - correct answer ✔✔- dyspnea/adventitious sounds
- chronic cough
- sputum production
- barrel chest/clubbing
- exacerbations (acute respiratory events characterized by increased respiratory symptoms)
questions with complete solutions
What is COPD? - correct answer ✔✔a heterogeneous (diverse) lung condition characterized by chronic
respiratory symptoms, due to abnormalities in the airway, and/or alveoli that cause persistent, often
progressive airflow obstruction
__ to __ million Americans have the diagnosis of COPD. - correct answer ✔✔12 to 14
Worldwide, ______ is the third leading cause of death and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the
U.S. - correct answer ✔✔COPD
COPD accounts for an annual cost estimated to be nearly ___ _____. - correct answer ✔✔$50 billion
Describe GETomics. - correct answer ✔✔the pathological changes that characterize COPD are complex
and include interactions between genes (G) and environment (E) over a lifetime (T) of the individual
What is emphysema? - correct answer ✔✔a pathologic condition that is characterized by loss of lung
elasticity, abnormal enlargement of the airspace beyond the terminal bronchioles with destruction of the
walls of the alveoli (parenchymal destruction)
What is chronic bronchitis? - correct answer ✔✔a disease of the small airways, and has the hallmark
feature of a productive cough for at least 3 months per year over 2 consecutive years
Describe the later stages of COPD. - correct answer ✔✔- gas exchange is often impaired
- as the alveolar walls continue to break down, the pulmonary capillary bed is reduced in size
- resistance to pulmonary blood flow is increased, forcing the right ventricle to maintain a higher and
higher pressure in the pulmonary artery
- chronic hypoxemia (low oxygen) increases pulmonary artery pressures and can lead to pulmonary
hypertension which leads to right ventricular hypertrophy and failure (cor pulmonale)
, What are some characteristic changes in chronic bronchitis? - correct answer ✔✔- chronic mucus
hypersecretion has been implicated as a cause of lung function decline, exacerbations, and infections
- thickening of the epithelium, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and airway inflammation are implicated in
remodeling of the airways
Describe how air trapping occurs in emphysema. - correct answer ✔✔- air trapping is increased because
of the loss of elastic recoil in airway support structures; hyperinflated lungs flattens the diaphragm
- air sacs are replaced by bullae and capillary area is proportionally diminished
What are the risk factors for COPD? - correct answer ✔✔- tobacco smoke
- environmental tobacco smoke
- genetic factors
- occupational exposure to chemical agents and fumes
- exposure to particles (organic and inorganic dusts, open fires from wood, animal dung, crop residue,
and coal)
- air pollution
- biomass cooking in poorly ventilated areas
True or False: A host risk factor for COPD is a deficiency of an enzyme inhibitor that is an inherited
mutation in the SERPINA1 gene that protects the lung parenchyma from injury - alpha1-antitrypsin. -
correct answer ✔✔True
_____ __________ _________ accounts for 1%-5% of cases of COPD in the U.S., but it is important to
recognize that not all alpha-1-antitrypsin deficient individuals will develop lung disease. - correct answer
✔✔Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
What are the primary symptoms of COPD? - correct answer ✔✔- dyspnea/adventitious sounds
- chronic cough
- sputum production
- barrel chest/clubbing
- exacerbations (acute respiratory events characterized by increased respiratory symptoms)
