NUR 326 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Dry-Powder Inhaler, Metered-Dose Inhaler, Restrictive Lung Disease

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: Nursing
• Course: NUR 326
• Professor: Amy Beasley

Document Summary

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airway walls associated with a varying amount of airway obstruction. When activated by stimuli, the bronchial airways become inflamed and edematous, leading to constriction of air passages. Signs and symptoms include wheezing, dyspnea, cough, and chest tightness (greater at night or in the morning): airways become inflamed and edematous = airway constriction, bronchial cells produce more mucous = airway obstruction. Chronic bronchitis is a progressive lung disease caused by smoking or chronic lung infections. Bronchial inflammation and excessive mucous production cause an airway obstruction. May cause hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide retention) and hypoxemia (decreased blood oxygen) which results in respiratory acidosis. Increases camp, which results in dilation of the bronchioles. Epinephrine non-selective sympathomimetic alpha1, beta1, and beta2 agonists promotes bronchodilation and elevated blood pressure (emergency situations) Indication: acute asthma attack, control asthma, exercise induced asthma (rapid onset- 30 minutes)