Problem
The respiratory system is responsible for ventilation (breathing). Breathing is movement of air inside the lungs (inhalation) and out of the lungs (exhalation). The first breath the newborn takes is the toughest and it requires more energy than a subsequent breath.
However, our environment and ourselves can make it more difficult for our respiratory systems to function properly. For example, cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients.
Task
Using the information provided in the overview and from the reading,
1. Describe the mechanism of breathing, and make sure to include all the events that cause inspiration and why it is important for the chest wall to expand.
2. Discuss and differentiate normal alveoli from the patient who has COPD.
3. As a nurse, create a care plan for a patient who has COPD. Write a brief dialogue of what you would say to this patient.