Question

1. Relate the efficiency and work of breathing to changes in the tidal volume and respiratory rate observed in persons with: A. Decreased lung compliance in fibrotic lung disease

Answer 1

1. Pulmonary fibrosis patients O₂ cannot diffuse into blood as efficiently b/c diffusion pathway considerably lengthened + vol. of air that lungs can contain, been reduced

It also causes :-

- Reduces elasticity of lungs

- Expulsion of air when breathing out is due to lungs springing back in same way as deflating balloon, so lungs need to be elastic

- Fibrosis makes difficult to breather t/f ventilate the lungs

- Shortness of breath, especially when exercising

- Chronic, dry cough

- Pain + discomfort in the chest

- Weakness + fatigue

- Due to considerable vol. of air space w/in lungs being occupied by fibrous tissue, means less air (hence O₂) taken in at each breath

- Thickened epithelium of alveoli, diffusion pathway increased so dif. of O₂ into blood extremely slow

- Loss of elasticity makes ventilating lungs v. difficult, hard to maintain dif. grad