Question

Using the information on the introduction to activity 2, how do conditions such as emphysema and asthma affect a person’s ability to breathe?

Answer 1

Emphysema, is a condition in which the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn,reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream. the alveoli cannot support the bronchial tubes, as a result the tubes collapse and cause an obstruction, which traps air inside the lungs, as in this condition there are fewer alveolis less oxygen wiil be able to move into the blood,as a result your body tries to compensate for the low oxygen by breathing more. This process makes it difficult for those with emphysema to breathe. all these factors cause symptoms like shortness of breath, especialy when doing daily activities or step climbing or any light exercise. Emphysema can cause hyperinflation a condition in which you have too much air in your lungs, which will make it harder for you to breathe.

During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, or spasm, and the lining inside the airways swells or thickens, and gets clogged with lots of thick mucous. This makes the airways much skinnier than usual so it is harder to move air in and out of the air sacs.

During an asthma it is much harder to breathe out than breathe in. Since it is so hard to breathe out during an asthma attack, more and more air gets trapped inside the lungs which gives a feeling that you cannot breathe out or in.. If the asthma gets worse, a whistling or rattling sound known as wheezing may be heard while breathing out.