R.S. has smoked for many years and has developed chronic bronchitis, a chronic o

Question

R.S. has smoked for many years and has developed chronic bronchitis, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He also has a history of coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial vascular disease. His arterial blood gas (ABG) values are pH = 7.32, PaCO2 = 60 mm Hg, PaO2 = 50 mm Hg, HCO3- = 30 mEq/L. His hematocrit is 52% with normal red cell indices. He is using an inhaled ß2 agonist and theophylline to manage his respiratory disease. At this clinic visit, it is noted on a chest x-ray that R.S. has an area of consolidation in his right lower lobe that is thought to be consistent with pneumonia.

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1.What effects would his respiratory disease have on his cardiovascular function?

Explanation / Answer

His respiratory disease can make him short of breath when he will do some exercises. This shortness of breath is because many years of smoking has damaged his lungs due to which he is unable to exahle all of the air before the air comes in. So this shortness of breath is reduced when at rest but increases with activity as it increases the heart activity and cause the heart to pump faster. This also causes him to have low oxygen in blood and will put a pressure on his heart.

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