A 58-year-old Latino male presented with shortness of breath and chest discomfort. A chest x-ray revealed a pneumothorax on the right side, so the patient underwent a chest tube thoracotomy. Later, follow-up x-rays showed bilateral pulmonary edema. The patient was given Lasix and bipap trials but could only tolerate the bipap for 15 minutes due to discomfort. Medications were continued and the patient was monitored for recurring pneumothorax and to keep oxygen levels above 92%.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot lodges in the pulmonary artery of the lungs, blocking blood flow. Risk factors include surgery, prolonged immobility, smoking, pregnancy, and oral contraceptive use. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and leg swelling. Diagnosis involves tests like chest imaging, blood gas analysis, pulmonary angiography, and lung scanning. Treatment depends on severity but may include blood thinners, clot removal procedures, or thrombolytic drugs to dissolve clots. Complications can include heart failure, recurrent clots, or bleeding from blood thinners.
A 58-year-old Latino male presented with shortness of breath and chest discomfort. A chest x-ray revealed a pneumothorax on the right side, so the patient underwent a chest tube thoracotomy. Later, follow-up x-rays showed bilateral pulmonary edema. The patient was given Lasix and bipap trials but could only tolerate the bipap for 15 minutes due to discomfort. Medications were continued and the patient was monitored for recurring pneumothorax and to keep oxygen levels above 92%.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot lodges in the pulmonary artery of the lungs, blocking blood flow. Risk factors include surgery, prolonged immobility, smoking, pregnancy, and oral contraceptive use. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include difficulty breathing, chest pain, and leg swelling. Diagnosis involves tests like chest imaging, blood gas analysis, pulmonary angiography, and lung scanning. Treatment depends on severity but may include blood thinners, clot removal procedures, or thrombolytic drugs to dissolve clots. Complications can include heart failure, recurrent clots, or bleeding from blood thinners.
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in
the lungs. As a result, your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema
makes it hard to catch your breath. You may also have a chronic cough and have
trouble breathing during exercise.
The most common cause is cigarette smoking.
If you smoke, quitting can
help prevent you from getting the disease. If you already have emphysema, not smoking
might keep it from getting worse. Treatment is based on whether your symptoms
are mild, moderate or severe. Treatments include inhalers, oxygen, medications
and sometimes surgery to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system characterized by symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. It can be classified based on the type of stimulus that triggers it (extrinsic, intrinsic, or mixed) or severity of symptoms (mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent). Common causes include allergens, air pollution, certain drugs, and infections. Treatment involves use of bronchodilators, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene antagonists to manage symptoms and reduce inflammation, along with non-pharmacological strategies like avoiding triggers and exercise.
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in
the lungs. As a result, your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema
makes it hard to catch your breath. You may also have a chronic cough and have
trouble breathing during exercise.
The most common cause is cigarette smoking.
If you smoke, quitting can
help prevent you from getting the disease. If you already have emphysema, not smoking
might keep it from getting worse. Treatment is based on whether your symptoms
are mild, moderate or severe. Treatments include inhalers, oxygen, medications
and sometimes surgery to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system characterized by symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. It can be classified based on the type of stimulus that triggers it (extrinsic, intrinsic, or mixed) or severity of symptoms (mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent). Common causes include allergens, air pollution, certain drugs, and infections. Treatment involves use of bronchodilators, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene antagonists to manage symptoms and reduce inflammation, along with non-pharmacological strategies like avoiding triggers and exercise.