CASE STUDY #2 1s am 18-year-old track athlete in seemingly good health. Despite

Question

CASE STUDY #2 1s am 18-year-old track athlete in seemingly good health. Despite suffering from a slight cold, wi 05ng one morning with his running buddy, Al. After a few minutes of exercise, Will could hardly . Even though he stopped jogging, he continued to breathe rapidly and wheeze forcefully get enough air. cnae nis condition was not improving, Al took him to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. Using a stethoscope, the emergency room doctor discovered that air movement in Will's lungs was poor. addition, n arterial blood gas measurement revealed that Will had a PO2 of 60 mm Hg and a PCO2 of 30 mm Hg, Although Will had no previous history of asthma, the emergency room doctor was convinced he was having an asthma attack. Asthma is a clinical condition characterized by airway inflammation that episodically results in shortness n decreases of breath, coughin compliance, which makes expansion of the lungs more difficult. An asthma attack can be provoked by a viral infection, exercise, or exposure to environmental irritants, such as pollen or cigarette smoke. 1. Are Will's arterial blood gas values above or below normal? 2. Why did the asthma attack cause Will to breathe more rapidly and wheeze forcefully? 3. Explain Will's blood PO2 and PCO2 values. 4. Is Will's blood pH lower or higher than normal? What effect does this blood pH normally have on respiration rate? Why didn't that happen? 13

Explanation / Answer

1) Normal  blood gas values are

PO2 is 75-100mm Hg

PCO2 is 38-42mm Hg

So will's blood gas values are below normal.

2) in asthma there occurs constriction of the bronchus which results in lesser amount of air to be reached to the lungs. Hence will was breathing more rapidly and forcefully

3) wills amount of PO2 and PCO2 are both reduced that means he needs supplemental oxygen as PO2 is reduced.

Low PCO2 can be due to the blood being acidic so it may be due to the compensatory mechanism

4) higher than normal.

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