NURS 371 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Aspirin, Prednisone, Fluticasone Propionate
Document Summary
Includes disease characterized by increased resistance to airflow as a result of airway obstruction or airway narrowing. There are several types of obstructive pulmonary diseases. Chronic inflammatory disease of airways or airway hypersensitivity. Recurrent periods of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, soa. Usually at night or early in am. Triggers: allergens, fungi, molds, exercise, animal dander, air pollution, respiratory tract infections, Classifications: based on occurrence: intermittent: symptoms less than 2x/week, mild: symptoms more 2x/week but not daily, moderate: daily symptoms with exacerbations 2x/week, severe: continuous symptoms, frequent exacerbations, that limit patient"s quality of life & activity. Remodeling: inflammation causes changes in bronchi wall. Why is it hard to breathe: bronchoconstriction of airway. Trachea overreacts to stimuli and swells: excessive mucous production, mucosal edema. Sx: hyperventilation, expiratory wheezing, productive cough, tachypnea, use of accessory muscles while breathing, increased pulse and bp. Dx: abgs- pao2 decreased, paco2 increased, chest xr- rule out other causes, pulmonary function study: most definitive; gold standard.
