What factors affect Respiratory Function? 

Pgs. 1246-1247 

• Age
• Environment
• life Style 
• Health Status
• Medications
• Stress

What age factors affect respiratory Function?

Pg. 1246

In older adults you see: 

• Chest wall & airways become rigid/less elastic
• Amount of exchanged air is decreased
• cough reflux and cilia action are decreased
• mucous membranes become drier and fragile
• decrease in muscle strength & endurance occurs.
• If osteoporosis is present, adequate lung expansion may be compromised. 
• Immune system is decreased 
• Higher risk of aspiration due to Gastroesophageal reflux disease being more common. 

What Environment factors affect Respiratory Function:  

Pg. 1246

• Altitude
• Heat and Cold
• Air pollution

What Lifestyle factors affect Respiratory Function?

Pg.1246

• Physical exercise or activity
• Asbestos workers
• Coal miners
• Organic dust disease in farmers
• Agricultural workers

What Health status, Medications, and Stress Factors Affect Respiratory Function: 

Pg. 1247 

• Health Status: Diseases of the respiratory system.
• Medications: Sedative hypnotics and antianxiety meds such as Ativan and valium. 
• Stress: Hyperventilate due to stress.

What Things can effect oxygenation?

Pgs. 1247-1248 

• Patency (Open Airway)
• The movement of air into or out of the lungs
• The diffusion of oxygen and carbo dioxide between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries. 
• The transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide via the blood to and from the tissue. 

Lifespan considerations for Respiratory Development? 

Pt. 1248

• Infants: 30 breaths per minute. They rely on abdominal breathing due to lack of diaphragmatic movement.
•  Children: 25 breaths per minute for preschooler age and 12-18 by late adolescence. Upper Respiratory infections of common. Asthma and cystic fibrosis is diagnosed at this time commonly. 
• Older Adults:  Increased risk for COPD, pneumonia, emphysema, chronic bronchitis etc. 

Assessments utilized when assessing for Impaired Oxygenation? 

Pt. 1248-1249

• Nursing History
• Physical Examination
• Diagnostic Studies
• Pulmonary Function Tests

What is the Pulmonary Function Test? 

Pg. 1249

• Used to measure lung volume and capacity. Usually carried out by a respiratory therapist. 

What is a normal hemoglobin and hematocrit Level? What is the difference between the two? 

Pg. 1245

• Hemoglobin: 97%
• Hematocrit: 40-54% in Men 37-50% in Woman

Hemoglobin is oxygen carrying red pigment in the RBC's and Hematocrit is the percentage of the blood that is erythrocytes. 

Teaching Patients

(Oxygenation) 

Pg. 1259 -Home Use

Pg. 1252- Pursed lip breathing

Pg. 1252- Cough and Deep breath

Pg. 1253-  Huff coughing

Pg. 1256- Incentive Spirometry