Inspiration and Expiration

• Ventilation


  The movement of air in and out of the lungs
• Inspiration


  Inhalation = breathing in
• Expiration


  Exhalation = breathing out
• Mechanics of Breathing


  • Air flows from area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
• Inspiration


  1. Decrease pressure by increasing volume of lungs

  2. Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract

  3. Diaphragm flattens and rib cage moves upwards and outwards

  4. Increasing volume of lungs and decreasing pressure

  5. Air flows into lungs until internal pressure is equal to external
• Expiration


  1. Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles relax

  2. Diaphragm pushes into chest cavity and rib cage moves downwards and inwards

  3. Decreasing volume of lungs and increasing pressure

  4. Air flows out of lungs until internal pressure is equal to external
• Lou Gehrig's disease can cause paralysis of the diaphragm


  Predicted effect on the body: Difficulty breathing as the diaphragm is unable to contract to increase the volume of the lungs and decrease the pressure, preventing air from flowing into the lungs
• 1. Describe what happens to the pressure of air in the lungs during inspiration

  • For air to flow to lungs, pressure must be less than external pressure
  • Decrease pressure by increasing volume of lungs
  • Diaphragm and external intercostal muscles contract
  • Diaphragm flattens and rib cage moves upwards and outwards
  • Increasing volume of lungs and decreasing pressure
  • Air flows into lungs until internal pressure is equal to external
• Emphysema - Description

  • Is a type of lung disease that causes breathlessness
  • A lung condition known as chronic bronchitis (persistent cough) are both features of a common lung diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Generally caused by cigarette smoking or long-term exposure to certain industrial pollutants or dusts
  • Damaged airways don't regenerate and there is no cure, emphysema is preventable and treatable
• Emphysema Causes/Risk Factors

  • Cigarette smoking
  • Long term exposure to certain industrial pollutants or dust
  • Complications include pneumonia, collapsed lung and heart problems
  • Exposure to air pollution
  • Exposure to industrial dust and chemicals
  • Passive smoking, particularly when you are a baby
• Emphysema - Signs and symptoms

  • A persistent cough
  • Phlegm
  • Wheezing
  • Weight loss
  • Swelling of feet/legs --> sign of heart problems
  • Susceptibility to chest infections
  • Fatigue
  • Breathlessness with exertion and eventually breathlessness most of the time in advanced
  • Barrel-shaped chest
  • Cyanosis
• Emphysema - Prevention / Treatment / Management

  • Irreversible damage to lungs
  • Quitting smoking will help prevent emphysema
  • Ways to manage emphysema include:
  • Stopping smoking immediately and completely - this is the most effective treatment for COPD and emphysema
  • Avoiding other air pollutants
  • Respiratory (pulmonary) rehabilitation programs
  • Raspatory (pulmonary) rehabilitation programs
• Lung Cancer - description

  Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs go in a uncontrolled way.

  • It may start to grow in the lungs first (primary cancer) or may spread to the lungs from a cancer from somewhere else in the body (secondary cancer)
  • It comes in different types depending on the affected cells
• Lung cancer - Causes and risk factor

  • Chronic exposure to second-hand smoke
  • Tobacco smoking
  • Environmental factors such a passive smoking, radon exposure and occupational exposures, such as asbestos and diesel exhaust
  • A family history of lung cancer
  • Previous lung diseases such as lung fibrosis.
  • Older age
  • Exposure to certain elements such as asbestos and heavy metals (carcinogens)
• Lung cancer - signs and symptoms

  • Blood in sputum coughed up from the lungs - this is called haemoptysis
  • A new or change cough
  • Chest and/or shoulder pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hoarseness
  • Unexplained weight loss/loos of appetite
  • A chest infection that doesn't go away
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Breathlessness
  • Finger clubbing (change of finger shape)
  • Persistent cough
• Lung cancer - prevention and treatment

  • Prevention: Avoiding known risk factors, such as smoking and asbestos
  • Treatments include:
  • Surgery
  • Radiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Sometimes a cure isn't possible and therefore hospice is the only thing for a patient
• Pneumonia - description

  • An infection of lung
  • Characterised by pus or fluid filled lungs
  • It makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the bloodstream
  • There are two types, bacterial and walking Pneumonia
  • Many different subgroups of the infection most of which are preventable
• Pneumonia - causes, risk factors

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses (influenza and adenovirus)
  • Mycoplasma
  • Often cause by
  • When experiencing cold or flu symptoms, germs gain access to the alveoli which eventually can lead to pneumonia.
• Pneumonia - signs and symptoms

  • Rapid breathing
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Fever
  • General malaise
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal pain
  • Headache
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Blue colouration of the skin around the mouth
• Pneumonia - prevention and treatment

  • Vaccinations can prevent some types of Pneumonia
  • Pneumococcal Vaccine (if have diabetes, HIV or cancer)
  • Hospital admissions
  • Plenty of fluids
  • Antibiotics
  • Medications
  • Rest
  • Annual flu shots
  • Room with humidifier
  • Drink fluids
• Asthma - description

  • It affects the airways (breathing tubes) which when inflamed makes it difficult to breathe.
  • Different people have different triggers. Everyone affected by asthma should have an asthma management plan.
  • It can threaten life in asthma attacks.
  • It is a long term illness as it cant be cured only treated an managed.
  • Most common reason for hospitalization in children
  • Long term Lung condition that is caused narrowing of the airways.
• Asthma - causes and risk factors

  • Triggered by dust mites, pollen, pets, moulds, cigarette smoke, infections, cold air, exercise and some medication
  • Causes are family history, premature birth, low birth weight, mother who smoked, household smokers, exposure to air pollution or mould
  • Cigarette smoke
  • Viral infection - For example cold or flus
  • Cold air or changes in weather
  • Work related triggers - for example wood dust, chemicals, metal salts
  • Some medication
• Asthma - symptoms

  • Chest tightness
  • Wheezing - a whistling noise when breathing
  • Coughing
  • Breathlessness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Lack of energy
  • These symptoms are often worse at night
• Asthma - prevention and management

  • See your GP for regular check up
  • Reliver/Inhaler - act quickly to relax muscles around the airways  - used during asthma attacks
  • Regular medication
  • Preventers - slowly make airways less sensitive to triggers and reduce inflammation
  • Combination therapies - two different medicines