POST-LECTURE ACTIVITY: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
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
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As exercise starts, our breathing increases in direct proportion to the intensity and metabolic needs of the exercise. This happens in order for you to get more oxygen to make more energy.
2. Moderate exercise
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As we do moderate exercise, our bodies will use more oxygen and produce more carbon dioxide. In order to facilitate this demand, our breathing will increase from about 15 times a minute to 40-60 times a minute during exercise.
3. Asthma attack
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An asthma attack happens when the airways in the lungs become swollen and inflamed. The muscles around the airways contract and the airways produce extra mucus which causes the bronchial tubes to narrow.
4. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
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When one abruptly ascends into high altitudes, that person’s barometric pressure falls and consequently, there is a reduction in the partial pressure of oxygen resulting in a hypoxic challenge to the individual.
5. Pneumonia
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When someone experiences pneumonia, the infection it brings causes the alveoli to become inflamed and fill up with fluid or pus. As a result, it makes it hard for the oxygen we breathe in to get into our bloodstream.
6. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
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Paralysis of the phrenic nerve causes the diaphragm to weaken and as a result, people will be unable to control their voluntary breathing. They may also have difficulty maintaining adequate gas exchange since the lungs are not able to inhale and exhale outside air efficiently.
7. Severe tuberculosis with resulting lung scar tissue
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Tuberculosis makes our airways smaller which increases air velocity and displaces air to unobstructed areas. Since it has resulted in scarring, it makes our lungs stiffer and less elastic so they are less able to move and take oxygen from the air we breathe.
8. Severe anemia
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People with severe anemia experience respiratory difficulties because their lungs overcompensate in order to bring in more oxygen. Their low levels of hemoglobin also prevent adequate oxygen from reaching their brain.
9. Advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
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Advanced COPD causes the airways and tiny air sacs in the lungs to lose their ability to stretch and shrink back causing respiratory difficulties. Flare-ups may happen more often to the person experiencing this and they tend to be more severe.
10. Advanced pregnancy
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During advanced pregnancy, a woman’s enlarging uterus takes up more space resulting in pressure against her diaphragm which results to respiratory difficulties. The increase in the hormone progesterone during advance pregnancy may also result to such difficulties.
References:
Respiratory Responses to Exercise — PT Direct. (2022). Ptdirect.com. https://www.ptdirect.com/training-design/anatomy-and-physiology/acute-respiratory-responses
Asthma attack - Symptoms and causes. (2021). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20354268
Imray, C., Wright, A., Subudhi, A., & Roach, R. (2010). Acute Mountain Sickness: Pathophysiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 52(6), 467–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2010.02.003
Phrenic Nerve: Anatomy & Function. (2022). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22270-phrenic-nerve#:~:text=Your%20phrenic%20nerves%20are%20critical,of%20breath%20and%20sleep%20problems.
What is pulmonary fibrosis? - British Lung Foundation. (2016, August 30). Asthma + Lung UK. https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/pulmonary-fibrosis/what-is-pulmonary-fibrosis
Ravimohan, S., Kornfeld, H., Weissman, D., & Bisson, G. P. (2018). Tuberculosis and lung damage: from epidemiology to pathophysiology. European Respiratory Review, 27(147), 170077. https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0077-2017
10 Symptoms of Anemia You Shouldn’t Ignore | Texas Medical Institute. (2020, July 24). Texas Medical Institute. https://www.texasmedicalinstitute.com/10-symptoms-of-anemia-you-shouldnt-ignore/#:~:text=With%20anemia%2C%20the%20lungs%20overcompensate,oxygen%20from%20reaching%20the%20brain.
Why Do Some Pregnant Women Have Trouble Breathing? (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. (2016). Kidshealth.org. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breathing.html