Respiratory Disorders Case Report (Research Paper Sample)

Respiratory disorders case report
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Respiratory Disorders Case Report.
The 68-year-old male with a long-term history of cigarette smoking that has led to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing with difficulty blowing air out is mainly suffering from Emphysema. Emphysema is a long-term lung disease that is usually caused by smoking for a long period (Emphysema, 2013). Emphysema progressively damages the air sacs in the lungs. The inner walls of the air sacs weaken and burst. This minimizes the surface area of the lungs hence minimum absorption of oxygen into the body. During exhalation, the air sacs do not release the waste gas properly which is absorbed back into the body. This damage makes an individual experience shortness of breath (Emphysema, 2013). This disease is one of the major collection of diseases referred to as the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The main diagnostic test that is used includes: lung function test, the lab test and taking images of the chest. A chest X-ray is used to show advanced emphysema (Maurer, 2012). The images help the doctor be able to expose the level of damage which has been done in the chest. The lab tests mainly include blood taken from the wrist, and the doctor determines how well oxygen is transferred into the body (Emphysema, 2013). The lung function test is used to indicate how long the lungs can be able to hold inhaled air.
Emphysema cannot be cured, but medication and therapy are used to reduce the spread of the disease. Medication used includes bronchodilators and antibiotics. Bronchodilators are used to relieve coughing and the constriction of the airways. Antibiotics are used to prevent any bacterial infection. Therapy used include pulmonary rehabilitation and nutritional therapy (Maurer, 2012). Pulmonary rehabilit...