In: Nursing
1) Breathing may be assisted by pursed lips and use of accesory respiratory muscle. Patient may adopt the tripod sitting position. The chest may be hyperresonant and wheezing may be heard
2) As you breath in air, the alveoli stretch, drawing oxygen in and transporting it to the blood. When you exhale, the alveoli shrink, forcing carbon dioxide out to the body. Emphesma destroys the wall between the alveoli. This leads the lungs less able to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. Lung tissue also loses its resilience which prevents it from stretching and Contracting properly. As result the respiratory work load of the patient will increase.
3) COPD can cause many complications including ;
* Lung infection
- flu
- whooping cough
* Collapsed lung ( pneumothorax)
* Poor gas exchange
* Heart problems
* Depression and anxiety
4) she is at the greater risk of respiratory failure.
5) Ascultation finding are hyper inflation, prolonged exhalation, wheezing, rhonchi, crackles.