Question

D. D. is a 66 year-old female suffering from shortness of breath. She smoked 2 packs a day until she quit 2 years ago. She has a history of bronchiolitis, hyperinflated lungs, pulmonary edema, and syncope. Her primary care practitioner suspects she also has pulmonary hypertension (PH). After examination, D. D. has a PAP of 35mmHg and mild CHF. Citing scholarly resources, answer the following questions: What is pulmonary hypertension and how could D. D. have developed PH? How does her history fit in with her new diagnosis? In addition to the two questions above, select ONE other question from the list below to complete your discussion post. Be sure to cite the sources of your information and clearly identify which supplemental question you chose to answer. How many patients are suffering from COPD in the United States? Do COPD sufferers die of respiratory causes or other causes? (Be sure to cite the data.) What two separate diseases are the main COPD diseases? Give background on each disease. How does COPD correlate with left ventricular pressure and primary heart failure? What are the three types of bronchodilators, and how do they function to alleviate the symptoms of COPD? What are other possible treatments for COPD? Through which mechanism does bronchiolitis cause destruction of alveoli? Is emphysema genetic? Can environmental factors increase the risk of emphyzsema? Why or why not? Is lung transplantation a solution for emphysema? Can new technology be useful in the treatment of emphysema? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Main COPD diseases

# Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long term cough with mucus.

# Emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time.

There is not a direct connection between COPD and left sided heart failure.However, the two conditions can exist together and exacerbate one another. COPD can cause low oxygen level in the blood, thereby placing an additional pressure on the heart and worsening symptoms of left sided heart failure.

Three typed of brochodilators

1) Beta - adrenergic bronchodilators : dilate bronchial airways by relaxing the muscles that surrounding the airways.

2)Anticholinergic bronchodilators : block the parasympathetic nerve reflexes that cause the airways to constrict, so allow the air passages to remain open.

3)Xanthine derivatives : these are the mild stimulants and bronchodilators.

Treatment for COPD

# Corticosteroids

# Antibiotics

# Smoking cessation.

# Anti- anxiety treatment.

#opioids

#Oxygen therapy

Breathing indoor pollutants like fumes from heating fuels as well as outdoor pollutants like car exhaust for instance increase your risk for emphysema.

Medical treatment and respiratory rehabilitation are the main treatment for emphysema. However, a subset of patients with severe emphysema not response to medical treatment may benefit from surgical treatments. Available surgical options are bullectomy, lung volume reduction snd lung transplantation. So lung transplantation also a solution for emphysema.