Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper

The respiratory system is the general name of all the organs involved in breathing. The larynx, trachea, pharynx, bronchi, lungs, and nose are organs contained in the respiratory stem (Peate, 2018). The key role of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen to the body and to do away with carbon dioxide out of the body. A critical role of gaseous exchange is carried out by all respiratory organs. Gaseous exchange refers to the mechanism by which ambient oxygen is breathed into the lungs through the nostrils and distributed to the body tissues while carbon dioxide is taken out from the tissues and eliminated through the nostrils. For metabolic activities that produce energy, the oxygen that inhaled is essential. Carbon dioxide concentration in the body as a waste material is harmful and could lead to death. The kidney, brain, and heart are organs requiring continuous oxygen supply. These organs are regarded as the body’s vital organs and are vulnerable to organ dysfunction if they lack oxygen. The respiratory system consists of significant organs that are mainly active in the flow of oxygen.

Nevertheless, the respiratory system is backed by accessory organs. Hairs that serve the purpose of cleaning the oxygen before getting into the lungs are found along the respiratory tract. The oxygen is warmed in the nose and dusts are caught prior to entry to the lung. These processes support the respiratory system in its ultimate operation. The pharynx and the nose are called upper airway and they serve the function of cleaning, warming, and moistening oxygen before it enters the lower airway (Levitzky, 2018). The separation between the upper and lower airways is marked by the epiglottis. The bronchioles, lungs, larynx, bronchi, and trachea constitute the organs that form the lower airway.

Ring-like structures that are found along the respiratory tract assist in holding the tissues firm to prevent breakdown. This function assists in keeping open the respiratory tract to allow unrestricted flow of air. Both sides of the human chest have two lungs, which are the right and the left lungs, and are both joined by bronchi. Extensions of the bronchioles called alveoli are found within the tissues of the lung. Alveoli are tiny sacs that allow a wide surface area to conduct the diffusion process. The alveoli are ideal for the purpose of diffusion. They are adapted to transport rich-blood air that raises gas diffusion rate and eventual distribution to parts of the human body. The alveoli are also strongly moistened to aid in breaking down the gases for fast distribution.

Health History Questions Related to the Respiratory System

Subjective data provides a healthcare professional with an insight into the patient’s state of health. Subjective data are typically followed by other concerns, including frequency, severity, duration, and onset of illness (Cowan, 2017). When evaluating the state of the respiratory system, the following interview questions are appropriate:

  1. When inhaling and exhaling air, do you experience pain in the chest area? if so, please explain what the pain feels like? At what moment does the pain begin, what exacerbates and alleviates the pain?
  2. Have you ever suffered from coughs? If so, could you explain the cough sounds? At what moment does the cough begin and does it last for a long or a short duration? Is it a wet or dry cough, and if wet, what quantity does it produce? What color are the contents of the cough? A cough that is white, odorless, thin, and clear is normal. Bacterial infection is suggested by a wet cough that generates yellow-green sputum. A pneumonia infection is suggested by highly brownish sputum Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

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  3. Have you ever had breath shortness? If so, specify how it begins, if it happens during intense exercise or at rest. Are regular tasks like walking, washing surfaces, and offloading items from the car impaired by shortness of breath? have you ever experienced dizziness or falls as a result of breath shortness?
  4. Do you have overnight breathing difficulties? If so, do you always use pillows for easy breathing in a relaxed position? How many pillows are you making use of? Please demonstrate the way you position the pillows?
  5. Do you experience any allergies or hypersensitivity concerns? If you do have an allergy, when it happens, how does it influence breathing? Explain your allergy, encounters, and strategies of coping?
  6. Do you smoke tobacco at the moment, or do you have a smoking history? If yes, for how long have you been smoking? How many cigarette packs do you/did you used to smoke daily?
  7. Where do you work? In the place of work, are you subjected to things like cigarette smoke, asbestos, exhaust chemicals, and dust? What is the daily work duration, and how many days in a week are you set to work?
  8. Do you have a member of your family who has ever struggled with emphysema, tuberculosis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, or asthma? Have you ever encountered airway obstruction complications? If so, please explain when it happened and how long it lasted Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

Overview of Objective Data

The state of the external respiratory system and the related tissues may be disclosed through observing the patient. This involves observing the overall appearance of the patient. Nervous expressions and pursed lips are correlated to respiratory distress. The abdomen and chest areas are intently monitored for movement rate and symmetry during an examination. During inhaling and exhaling, movements of the chest ought to be symmetrical. Asymmetrical movements of the abdomen and chest areas suggest an issue with the muscles around them. Strong muscles that regulate movements of the chest are connected to the respiratory system. Another pointer for evaluating the condition of the respiratory system is the respiration rate. A healthy individual has a respiratory rate that varies from 12 to 25 respirations per minute. Using a pulse oximeter, oxygen saturation can be assessed. Additionally, skin and palm color observations will show the concentration of oxygen. the issue of oxygen deficiency is indicated by pale to bluish skin color. Extremity cyanosis observation may include critical details about the level of oxygen— Auscultate for wheezing sounds or rales. During auscultation, the occurrence of fine wheezes or crackles is indicative of asthma Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

Special Physical Assessment Techniques

The implementation of techniques is needed for a thorough physical examination. The first technique in the assessment of the respiratory system is inspection, which includes monitoring the movements of the chest. What is being observed is whether the patient uses a lot of energy during chest movement. The use of additional effort to move the muscles of the chest is required due to resistance when breathing. When evaluating the swelling around the neck region and skin color, inspection can also be applied. During the assessment of respiratory structures, auscultation can also be beneficial. Breath sounds are likely to be disclosed during auscultation. The medical practitioner can perceive and identify an underlying problem with the kind of breathing sound. The mass along the respiratory tract, particularly the neck, can be evaluated by palpation (Hill & Annesley, 2020). Neck region muscles are palpated for growths that can lead to blockage of the respiratory tract Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

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Interviewing Techniques for Special Groups

Pediatrics

Children should in the company of a parent or legal guardian when being assessed or examined. Before initiating the assessment process, make sure that the child and parent feel relaxed. In cases where the child cannot express oneself, the parent or the guardian will need to give more information to the healthcare provider. The child should be asked to mention or point out the issue as this will enable early recognition of the issue. The care provider should adjust the pace of the examination in light of the potential of the child to answer. As they may not recognize what is required at the moment, maintaining patience when examining the child would be necessary. Because children lose focus after a short period, the procedure does not take a prolonged and lengthy duration. When the interviewer is appealing and pleasant, children are inclined to answer questions.

Pregnancy

Ensuring the patient’s privacy before beginning the examination is important. Additionally, before beginning the process, the patient should be relaxed. To avoid taking so long, the questions asked should be precise and short. The healthcare professional should be pleasant and considerate in order to foster a productive therapeutic connection. Some expectant women are emotionally unstable hence; the care provider should treat them with extreme care Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

Geriatrics

The elderly patients are delicate and thus require a high degree of comfort prior to beginning the interview process. A healthcare provider should ask the patient to give feedback. Geriatric patients have several health problems that may not be associated with the respiratory system. As a healthcare provider, ought to remember to inquire about subsidiary health problems even if they are not connected to the issue at hand.

The Major Disease and Physical Findings

One of the major illnesses impacting the respiratory system includes asthma (Boonpiyathad et al., 2019). Asthma is defined by blockage of the airway and excessive production of mucus. This health problem is associated with some symptoms including coughing, breathing difficulty, and wheezing. Other symptoms linked to asthma include rapid heart rates and irritation of the throat.

Summary of key points

The respiratory system comprises the pharynx, larynx, bronchi, trachea, lungs, and the nose. The major role of the respiratory system is to provide the body with oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. Respiratory health assessment involves asking questions relating to difficulty breathing, history of respiratory problems, allergies, history of smoking, and cough Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

This paper will be appraised on the quality of the information, inclusion of at least one evidence-based scholarly source, use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, and organization based on the required components (see the paper headings and content details below). Scholarly sources: Only scholarly sources are acceptable for citation and reference in this course. These include peer reviewed publications, government reports, or sources written by a professional or scholar in the field. Your textbook and lesson are not considered to be an outside scholarly source. For the discussions and reflection posts, reputable internet sources such as websites by government agencies (URL ends in .gov) and respected organizations (often ends in .org) can be counted as scholarly sources. The best outside scholarly source to use is a peer-reviewed nursing journal. You are encouraged to use the Chamberlain library and search one of the available data bases for a peer-reviewed journal article. The following sources should not be used: Wikipedia, Wikis, or blogs. These web sites are not considered scholarly as anyone can add to these. Please be aware that .com websites can vary in scholarship and quality. For example, the American Heart Association is a .com site with scholarship and quality. It is the responsibility of the student to determine the scholarship and quality of any .com site. Ask your instructor before using any site if you are unsure Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper.

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Points will be deducted from the rubric if the site does not demonstrate scholarship or quality. Current outside scholarly sources must be published with the last 5 years. Instructor permission must be obtained BEFORE the assignment is due if using a source that is older than 5 years. The length of the paper is to be no less than 1,500 words, excluding title page and reference list. Create this assignment using Microsoft (MS) Word. You can tell that the document is saved as a MS Word document because it will end in “.docx.” APA format (current edition) is required in this assignment, explicitly for in-text citations and the reference list. Use 12-point Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins and double spacing. See the APA manual for details regarding proper citation. Organize the headings and content of your paper using the outline below: Select a body system relevant to the lesson from the previous week for the topic of this paper. For example, if you are writing this assignment for Week 2, then select the HEENT, Respiratory, or Integumentary system as the focus for the paper (not all three systems). Discuss the physiology (structure and function) of the body system including details about the major organ systems (if applicable). Construct relevant health history questions (subjective data) pertaining to the body system. Provide an overview of the objective data and expected normal physical examination findings for this body system. Explain special physical assessment examination techniques or procedures specific to assessing this body system. Analyze and discuss how you might adapt your physical assessment skills or interviewing techniques to accommodate each of the following specific populations: Infant/pediatric Pregnancy Geriatric Identify one major disease or disease process that may significantly impact this body system. Synthesis and discuss the expected abnormal physical examination findings that may be associated with this disease or disease process. Summarize the key points. References in correct APA format Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper

References

Boonpiyathad, T., Sözener, Z. C., Satitsuksanoa, P., & Akdis, C. A. (2019, December). Immunologic mechanisms in asthma. In Seminars in immunology (Vol. 46, p. 101333). Academic Press.

Cowan, M. L. (2017). Diseases of the respiratory system. Reptile Medicine and Surgery in Clinical Practice, 29, 9-306.

Hill, B., & Annesley, S. H. (2020). Monitoring respiratory rate in adults. British Journal of Nursing, 29(1), 12-16.

Levitzky, M. G. (2018). Pulmonary physiology (No. 1, pp. 1-viii). : McGraw-Hill Education.

Peate, I. (2018). Anatomy and physiology, 10. The respiratory system. British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 12(4), 178-181. Respiratory System Essay Example Discussion Paper