NURS 251 Portage Study Guide 7
x x x x x x
x
main xfunction xof xthe xrespiratory xsystem x- x(1) xto xdeliver xoxygen xto xthe xcells xof xthe
xbody x
x
(2) xremove xcarbon xdioxide xfrom xthe
xbody.
x
upper xrespiratory xtract x(URT) x- xoutside xthe xchest xcavity xand xincludes xthe xnose,
xand x
x
nasopharynx x(down xto xthe
xlarynx).
x
lower xrespiratory xtract x(LRT) x- xincludes xthe xorgans xwithin xthe xchest xincluding
xthe x
x
trachea, xbronchial xtree, xand
xlungs.
x
alveoli x- xmicroscopic xsacs xin xlungs, xthat xoxygen xdiffuses xacross xwhen xa
xperson x
x
breathes xand xis xexchanged xfor xcarbon
xdioxide
x
Asthma x- x- xgeneral xterm xfor xrecurrent xand xreversible xshortness xof xbreath xresulting
xfrom xthe xnarrowing xof xthe xbronchi xand xbronchioles x
- xThe xnarrowing xof xthe xbronchioles xcan xbe xcaused xby xbronchospasm,
xinflammation, xedema xand xthe xproduction xof xmucus. xThis xultimately xobstructs
xairflow xmeaning xthat xthe xcarbon xdioxide xcannot xget xout xand xthe xoxygen xcannot
xget xin. x
x
allergic xasthma x- xcaused xby xoutside xfactors xsuch xas xallergens x
x
intrinsic xasthma x- xcaused xby xunknown xfactors. x
In xsome xcases, xcertain xfactors xhave xprecipitated xthe xasthma xattack xsuch xas
xrespiratory xinfections, xstress, xor xcold xweather. x
x
COPD/chronic xobstructive xpulmonary xdisease x- xConsists xof xboth xemphysema
xand x
x
chronic
xbronchitis:
x
Emphysema xis xa xdisease xprocess xinvolving xinflammation xof xthe xalveoli. x
x
Chronic xBronchitis xis xcharacterized xby xchronic xinflammation xor xirritation xon xthe
xlower x
x
respiratory xtract, xspecifically xthe
xbronchi.
x
primary xdrugs xused xin xthe xtreatment xof xboth xasthma xand xCOPD x- xbronchodilators
xand x
x
a xvariety xof xanti-inflammatory xand xantiallergic
xagents.
x
, similarity xbetween xthese xdiseases: x- xall xinvolve xobstruction xof xairflow xthrough
xthe x
x
airways
x
Chemical xMediator x- x- xa xsubstance xreleased xfrom xmast xcells xand xwhite xblood
xcells xduring xinflammation xand xallergic xreactions. x x
- responsible xfor xmost xof xthe xsymptoms xand xcomplications xassociated xwith
xasthma xand xCOPD. x x
- Only xchemical xmediator xwith xknown xinvolvement xwhere xdrug xtherapy xhas xbeen
xshown xto xhelp xsymptoms xis xleukotrienes. x
x
Leukotrienes x- x- xpotent xbronchoconstrictors xwith xa xlong xduration xof xaction. x x
- stimulate xreceptors xresponsible xfor xbronchoconstriction, xedema xand xother
xinflammatory xactions. x x
- Class xof xdrugs xthat xinhibit xthese xactions xand xhave xan ximportant xrole xin xtreating
xasthma xspecifically--leukotriene xinhibitors x
x
Emphysema x- x- xoccurs xwhen xthe xair xspaces xwithin xthe xbronchioles xenlarge xas xa
xresult xof xthe xdestruction xof xthe xalveolar xwalls. x x
- As xwalls xare xdestroyed, xthere xis xless xsurface xarea xavailable xfor xoxygen xand
xcarbon xdioxide xexchange. x x
- The xcause xappears xto xbe xenzymes xthat xare xreleased xin xresponse xto
xinflammation. x x- xThese xenzymes xare xincreased xby xair xpollution, xtobacco xsmoke,
xand xother xirritants xto xthe xrespiratory xtract. x x
- Hyperinflation xis xthe xresult xof xthe xair xspaces xbeing xenlarged. x x
- These xpatients xhave xdifficulty xexpelling xair xfrom xthe xlungs. x x
- This xresults xin xa xreduction xin xgas xexchange xand xthe xfeeling xof xshortness xof
xbreath. x x- xEmphysema xcauses xirreversible xlung xdamage xover xtime. x
x
Chronic xBronchitis x- x- xChronic xirritation, xusually xfrom xcigarette xsmoke xor xother
xenvironmental xpollutants, xcan xlead xto xchronic xbronchitis. x x
- The xirritants xcause xmucus xsecretions xto xincrease xand xthicken xwhich xcan xthen
xbegin xto xinterfere xwith xgas xexchange xwithin xthe xlungs. x x
- Patients xoften xpresent xwith xa xchronic xcough, xdifficulty xbreathing, xand xincreased
xrespiratory xinfections. x x
- Drug xtherapy xcan xprovide xrelief, xbut xit xcannot xreverse xthe xdamage. x
x
treatment xof xboth xasthma xand xCOPD x- x Historically:
xbronchodilation
x
Now: xalso xincludes xanti-inflammatory
xcomponent
x
Drug xclasses: x
Beta2 xadrenergic xagonist x(bronchodilators) x
Anticholinergic x(bronchodilators) x
Xanthine xderived xbronchodilator x
Inhaled xcorticosteroids x(ICS) x(Anti-inflammatory) x
Leukotriene xInhibitors x(anti-inflammatory) x
x
Beta2 xadrenergic xagonist x(bronchodilators) x- xExamples: x x
- Short xActing xBeta xagonist x(SABA)- xalbuterol, xlevalbuterol x
x x x x x x
x
main xfunction xof xthe xrespiratory xsystem x- x(1) xto xdeliver xoxygen xto xthe xcells xof xthe
xbody x
x
(2) xremove xcarbon xdioxide xfrom xthe
xbody.
x
upper xrespiratory xtract x(URT) x- xoutside xthe xchest xcavity xand xincludes xthe xnose,
xand x
x
nasopharynx x(down xto xthe
xlarynx).
x
lower xrespiratory xtract x(LRT) x- xincludes xthe xorgans xwithin xthe xchest xincluding
xthe x
x
trachea, xbronchial xtree, xand
xlungs.
x
alveoli x- xmicroscopic xsacs xin xlungs, xthat xoxygen xdiffuses xacross xwhen xa
xperson x
x
breathes xand xis xexchanged xfor xcarbon
xdioxide
x
Asthma x- x- xgeneral xterm xfor xrecurrent xand xreversible xshortness xof xbreath xresulting
xfrom xthe xnarrowing xof xthe xbronchi xand xbronchioles x
- xThe xnarrowing xof xthe xbronchioles xcan xbe xcaused xby xbronchospasm,
xinflammation, xedema xand xthe xproduction xof xmucus. xThis xultimately xobstructs
xairflow xmeaning xthat xthe xcarbon xdioxide xcannot xget xout xand xthe xoxygen xcannot
xget xin. x
x
allergic xasthma x- xcaused xby xoutside xfactors xsuch xas xallergens x
x
intrinsic xasthma x- xcaused xby xunknown xfactors. x
In xsome xcases, xcertain xfactors xhave xprecipitated xthe xasthma xattack xsuch xas
xrespiratory xinfections, xstress, xor xcold xweather. x
x
COPD/chronic xobstructive xpulmonary xdisease x- xConsists xof xboth xemphysema
xand x
x
chronic
xbronchitis:
x
Emphysema xis xa xdisease xprocess xinvolving xinflammation xof xthe xalveoli. x
x
Chronic xBronchitis xis xcharacterized xby xchronic xinflammation xor xirritation xon xthe
xlower x
x
respiratory xtract, xspecifically xthe
xbronchi.
x
primary xdrugs xused xin xthe xtreatment xof xboth xasthma xand xCOPD x- xbronchodilators
xand x
x
a xvariety xof xanti-inflammatory xand xantiallergic
xagents.
x
, similarity xbetween xthese xdiseases: x- xall xinvolve xobstruction xof xairflow xthrough
xthe x
x
airways
x
Chemical xMediator x- x- xa xsubstance xreleased xfrom xmast xcells xand xwhite xblood
xcells xduring xinflammation xand xallergic xreactions. x x
- responsible xfor xmost xof xthe xsymptoms xand xcomplications xassociated xwith
xasthma xand xCOPD. x x
- Only xchemical xmediator xwith xknown xinvolvement xwhere xdrug xtherapy xhas xbeen
xshown xto xhelp xsymptoms xis xleukotrienes. x
x
Leukotrienes x- x- xpotent xbronchoconstrictors xwith xa xlong xduration xof xaction. x x
- stimulate xreceptors xresponsible xfor xbronchoconstriction, xedema xand xother
xinflammatory xactions. x x
- Class xof xdrugs xthat xinhibit xthese xactions xand xhave xan ximportant xrole xin xtreating
xasthma xspecifically--leukotriene xinhibitors x
x
Emphysema x- x- xoccurs xwhen xthe xair xspaces xwithin xthe xbronchioles xenlarge xas xa
xresult xof xthe xdestruction xof xthe xalveolar xwalls. x x
- As xwalls xare xdestroyed, xthere xis xless xsurface xarea xavailable xfor xoxygen xand
xcarbon xdioxide xexchange. x x
- The xcause xappears xto xbe xenzymes xthat xare xreleased xin xresponse xto
xinflammation. x x- xThese xenzymes xare xincreased xby xair xpollution, xtobacco xsmoke,
xand xother xirritants xto xthe xrespiratory xtract. x x
- Hyperinflation xis xthe xresult xof xthe xair xspaces xbeing xenlarged. x x
- These xpatients xhave xdifficulty xexpelling xair xfrom xthe xlungs. x x
- This xresults xin xa xreduction xin xgas xexchange xand xthe xfeeling xof xshortness xof
xbreath. x x- xEmphysema xcauses xirreversible xlung xdamage xover xtime. x
x
Chronic xBronchitis x- x- xChronic xirritation, xusually xfrom xcigarette xsmoke xor xother
xenvironmental xpollutants, xcan xlead xto xchronic xbronchitis. x x
- The xirritants xcause xmucus xsecretions xto xincrease xand xthicken xwhich xcan xthen
xbegin xto xinterfere xwith xgas xexchange xwithin xthe xlungs. x x
- Patients xoften xpresent xwith xa xchronic xcough, xdifficulty xbreathing, xand xincreased
xrespiratory xinfections. x x
- Drug xtherapy xcan xprovide xrelief, xbut xit xcannot xreverse xthe xdamage. x
x
treatment xof xboth xasthma xand xCOPD x- x Historically:
xbronchodilation
x
Now: xalso xincludes xanti-inflammatory
xcomponent
x
Drug xclasses: x
Beta2 xadrenergic xagonist x(bronchodilators) x
Anticholinergic x(bronchodilators) x
Xanthine xderived xbronchodilator x
Inhaled xcorticosteroids x(ICS) x(Anti-inflammatory) x
Leukotriene xInhibitors x(anti-inflammatory) x
x
Beta2 xadrenergic xagonist x(bronchodilators) x- xExamples: x x
- Short xActing xBeta xagonist x(SABA)- xalbuterol, xlevalbuterol x
