Alterations in Respiratory Function - Hannah

What is the primary driver for breathing?

• Oxygen levels in the blood

• Carbon dioxide levels in the blood

• Blood pressure

• Heart rate

The term for normal work of breathing?

• Tachyponea

• Euponea

• Bradyponea

• Apnoea

Hypoventilation is best described as:

• Decreased rate and/or depth of breathing

• Regular breathing at a normal rate

• Complete absence of breathing

• Increased rate and depth of breathing

Answer explanation

Remembering that HYPO standards for less and HYPER standards for more (think hypothermia vs hyperthermia OR hypoactive vs hyperactive). Thus hypoventilation is the decrease of breathing or depth, which will result in insufficient Co2 elimination.

Which clinical sign indicates the use of accessory muscles during breathing?

• Apnoea

• Productive cough

• Cyanosiis

• Nasal flaring and shoulder elevation

Type 1 respiratory failure is characterized by:

• Normal oxygen and normal CO2 levels

• Low oxygen and normal or low CO2 levels

• Normal oxygen and high CO2 levels

• Low oxygen and high CO2 levels

Which of the following are the two most common causes of COPD?

• Emphysema and pneumonia

• Chronic bronchitis and asthma

• Emphysema and chronic bronchitis

• Asthma and pulmonary edema

The main modifiable risk factor for COPD is:

• Age

• Heredity

• Smoking

• Air pollution

Answer explanation

Age and hereditary factors are non-modifiable.

Air pollution and smoking are modifiable, smoking being the most prominent risk factor.

Tachypnoea refers to a respiratory rate slower than normal for age.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Tachy meaning FAST and Brady meaning SLOW. i.e. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate and bradycardia is a slow heart rate. Thus the answer is false. A slower heart rate would be bradyponea.

Aponea is the absense of breathing

• False

• True

Productive cough is associated with expelling mucus from the respiratory tract.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The body gets rid of mucus because it traps dirt and germs, resulting in a cough that helps push the mucus out to keep the lungs clean.