Briefly explain the main cause or mechanism of the increase in respiratory rate or depth and/or respiratory difficulties in the following cases: (one to two sentences only)
1. Initiation of exercise
- The main reason for the increase in respiratory rate during exercise is the need for energy to sustain our bodies since we spend more energy when we are exercising. Our bodies need oxygen to produce the energy it needs, thus increasing respiratory or breathing rate.
2. Moderate exercise
- Since our muscles are working harder than usual due to the increase in the level of the activity that the body is doing, it results in our body needing more energy, thus, the need for more oxygen and causing the respiratory rate to increase.
3. Asthma attack
- During asthma attacks, the airways tighten caused by muscle spasms resulting in the airway in swelling and having mucous buildup, thus, making it harder for the patient to breathe. Furthermore, air continuously gets trapped inside their lungs which makes it more difficult for them to breathe.
4. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
- Since air density and pressure are lower in high altitudes, this means that there is more space between each air molecule. This indicates that there is less oxygen available for breathing, thus, resulting in an increase in our respiratory rate.
5. Pneumonia
- Having pneumonia would cause your lungs’ air sacs, the alveoli, to be inflamed or filled with mucous which makes it difficult for oxygen that our lungs produce to get into our bloodstream, consequently causing our respiratory rate to increase.
6. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
- The paralysis of the phrenic nerve can lead to the paralysis of one’s diaphragm (which is essential to breathing), making the patient in having reduced breathing capabilities. The patient may experience shortness of breath as well as have problems sleeping since the lungs are not able to efficiently do necessary gas exchange (inhaling and exhaling).
7. Severe tuberculosis with resulting lung scar tissue
- Tuberculosis causes inflammation of the airway which makes the airway in becoming smaller. Furthermore, the scarring makes one’s lungs stiffer and less elastic, resulting in the difficulty of oxygen being transported in and out of one’s lungs.
8. Severe anemia
- Due to iron deficiency, an anemic person’s body cannot produce sufficient healthy red blood cells (hemoglobin) which are responsible for carrying oxygen. Low levels of hemoglobin hinder enough oxygen to reach one’s brain and result in one being tired and having shortness of breath.
9. Advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- COPD causes inflammation in one’s airways which results in the disability to stretch and the destruction of the walls of the air sacs, thus having less flow of air in and out of the lungs. This makes it difficult for carbon dioxide to be released since less oxygen gets into one’s body tissues.
10. Advanced pregnancy
- During late pregnancy, as the baby gets bigger inside the woman’s womb, the uterus takes up more space and eventually, at some point, it would begin to press on one’s diaphragm. This makes it difficult for one’s lungs to fully expand, thus resulting in shortness of breath.