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
- During a warm-up, heart rate and breathing increase. Additionally, during warmups, it increases blood flow to the muscles to prevent fatigue (Warm-up and Cool-down, n.d.).
2. Moderate exercise
- During exercise, the muscles are stimulated, and the body consumes higher amounts of oxygen and produces more carbon dioxide (Your lungs and activity, March 12, 2016).
3. Asthma attack
- During an asthma attack, the lining of the airways becomes swollen and inflamed, and the muscle walls contract. A narrowing of the airways causes this, further aggravated by an increase in secretions from the mucus membrane, which can cause a blockage in the smaller airways. These changes can cause an obstruction to airflow followed by a significant increase in the effort needed to move air within the lungs, which causes coughing and difficulty breathing (Your Lungs - an Asthma Attack - HSE, n.d.).
4. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
- During ascent into higher altitudes, the barometric pressure decreases, which leads to a decrease in oxygen supply in our airways, making us more prone to hyperventilation. This causes periods of rapid breathing and elevated heart rate (San et al., 2013).
5. Pneumonia
- Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. The condition causes the alveoli to become inflamed and fill up with pus, making it difficult for oxygen to enter the bloodstream. This causes difficulty breathing, coughing, chills, and fever (Learn About Pneumonia, n.d.).
6. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
- Phrenic nerve palsy is commonly caused by breech delivery. It may also be caused by high cervical spinal cord injury if it occurs at or above the level of the phrenic motor neurons. This leads to diaphragmatic paralysis necessitating long-term mechanical ventilation unless innervation can be restored (Sieg et al., 2016).
7. Severe tuberculosis with resulting lung scar tissue
- Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue is damaged and scarred (Pulmonary Fibrosis - Symptoms and Causes, 2018). In many cases, pulmonary tuberculosis can cause chronic respiratory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and restrictive lung diseases, leading to chest pain, breathlessness, and severe coughing, which can be life-threatening if not treated.
8. Severe anemia
- Anemia results from a lack of RBC or hemoglobin in the blood, which is caused by an iron or vitamin B12 deficiency or bone marrow failure (Lepage, Ph.D., n.d.). Low hemoglobin levels prevent enough oxygen from reaching the brain; blood vessels swell, and blood pressure drops, resulting in headaches, breathing difficulties, neurological issues, and vertigo (10 Symptoms of Anemia You Shouldn’t Ignore, 2020).
9. advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- With COPD, the lungs’ airways become inflamed and narrowed; they tend to collapse when breathing in and out and can become clogged with mucus. This reduces airflow through the bronchial tubes leading to airway obstruction and making breathing difficult.
10. Advanced Pregnancy
- Advanced pregnancy or geriatric pregnancy is a term used to describe a pregnant person who is 35 years of age or older and is considered a “high-risk” pregnancy (Clements, J., 2021). During pregnancy, the chest increases in size, the diaphragm moves towards the chest, and an increase in the amount of air breathed in and out can be observed. Additionally, there is a decrease in the amount of air that the lungs can handle (The Lungs in Pregnancy, n.d.).
Resources:
Warm-up and Cool-down. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://extension.psu.edu/warm-up-and-cool-down
Your lungs and exercise. (2016, March 12). National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818249/
Your lungs - an asthma attack - HSE. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/lungs.htm
San, T., Polat, S., Cingi, C., Ezkiismir, G., Oghan, F., & Cakir, B. (2013, April 17). Effects of High Altitude on Sleep and Respiratory System and their Adaptations. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3654241/#:~:text=At%20altitude%2C%20the%20reduced%20oxygen,at%20altitudes%20above%206000%20ft.
Learn About Pneumonia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/learn-about-pneumonia
ClinicalKey. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.clinicalkey.com/
Pulmonary fibrosis - Symptoms and causes. (2018, March 6). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690
Villines, Z. (2019, June 21). What to know about pulmonary tuberculosis. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325526
Does tuberculosis cause COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or restrictive lung disease? (2019, January 9). Yashoda Hospitals. https://www.yashodahospitals.com/blog/does-tuberculosis-cause-copd-pulmonary-fibrosis-or-restrictive-lung-disease/#:~:text=In%20many%20cases%2C%20pulmonary%20tuberculosis,of%20tuberculosis%20patients%20is%20high.
Lepage, Ph.D., R. (n.d.). Anemia: The disease that makes you feel like you’re running a never-ending marathon. Biron. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.biron.com/en/education-center/specialist-advice/anemia-breathing/
10 Symptoms of Anemia You Shouldn’t Ignore. (2020, July 24). Texas Medical Institute. https://www.texasmedicalinstitute.com/10-symptoms-of-anemia-you-shouldnt-ignore/
COPD’s effect on the lungs. (2021, July 6). MyHealth.Alberta.ca. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=ug1539abc
Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC, J. (2021, September 2). What is a ‘Geriatric pregnancy,’ and why may it be at higher risk? GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/parenthood-pregnancy/geriatric-pregnancy
The Lungs in Pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/family-resources-library/the-lungs-in-pregnancy