The primary aim of this paper is to analyze the physiology entailing the specifics of significant parts of the respiratory system. Moreover, it will address the critical health history concerns of the respiratory system. A review and the objective data and the projected normal physical evaluation results, special physical analysis methods or approaches to the evaluations, adaptation of the physical evaluation skills or methods to incorporate the unborn children, expectant mothers and geriatric populations, one primary condition of the process specific to the respiratory system and the probable abnormal environmental analysis results that may be linked to the disease process.
Physiology (structure and function). Various organs combined to form the respiratory system, which is essential in the taking in of oxygen, which enters the bloodstream through a process called respiration. Additionally, the respiratory system also functions to eliminate waste carbon dioxide from the body through the internal respiration after diffusion of oxygen into the blood. The reaction of glucose and oxygen in the cells produces carbon dioxide, water, and energy. In summary, the human body is responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. Various organs participate in the respiratory process comprising of:
- Nose and nasal cavity-the nasal cavity is the tubular space existing within the nose and skull and contains a line of hair and mucus membrane. The nasal cavity functions to allow air to enter where it is warmed, moisturized, and eliminates particles before allowing the air to enter the lungs.
- Pharynx- it is the part that connects the nasal cavity and the larynx.
- Larynx- its primary purpose is to guard the lower airway by abruptly shutting when stimulated mechanically, thereby stopping the respiration and preventing foreign matter from entering the airway.
- Trachea-it is the segment that connects the lungs and the larynx.
- Bronchi-they allows transmission of the air into the lungs.
- Lungs- this a primary organ to the respiratory system. The main function of the lung is the processing of gas where oxygen is allowed to enter while carbon dioxide is expelled as waste through metabolism.
- Alveoli-these are small sacs found in the lungs, which enables the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream.
Critical questions linked to history.
Health analysis of a sick person is instrumental in the establishment of a correct diagnosis. Advanced nursing practices can rival the care offered by physicians. There is a need for the nurses to have the skills that are critical in sieving through a wide range of information from reliable sources and be capable of synthesizing the information for safe application to the patient for them to provide exceptional care (Fencl & Matthews, 2017). The patient is a crucial source of information that will be analyzed by the nurse. The history questions tailored to the respiratory system designed for the patient are intended to collect information related to the patient present and previous respiratory ailments. Comprehension of the risk factors of the patients seeking attention is very crucial. Asking questions is the approach of obtaining a picture of the patient’s problem. The responses provided by the patient will provide important information concerning the issue affecting the patient and the historical data, which may have an impact on the respiratory problem. Some of the issues to be embedded in the interview form of the patient include the present medications, respiratory problems, the current habitat, and smoker or whether the house contains persons that smoke. Some of the particular questions incorporated according to RNCeus interactive (2006) include:
- Kindly provide a description of the problem that made you come here today?
- What has been the influence of the condition to your life?
- What is the frequency of occurrence of this condition?
- Are you experiencing any chest pains during breathing? If so, could you describe the pain, the time of occurrence, and what suppresses it?
- Are you coughing? If yes, how does the cough sounds like, when does it happen, do you release phlegm during coughing, what is the color of the phlegm? The usual sputum is thin, whitish in color, and lacks odor and taste. Yellow-green sputum depicts the presence of bacterial infection, and pneumonia is indicated by rust-colored sputum.
- Are occasions where you experience short breath? If so, does it happen when resting or during the activity? Inquire from the patient the exact details regarding shortness to breath and the influence in their daily lives like being capable of carrying groceries from care or being able to do laundry and cleaning.
- Do you experience any problems while breathing at night? If so, do you use a pillow to assist in the ability to breathe easier?
- Do you have a history of allergies? If yes, what is the influence of allergies on your breathing?
- Do you smoke or have a smoking history? If yes, how long have you been smoking, and how many pack of cigarettes per day?
- What is your occupation? Were you subjected to substances like chemicals, asbestos, or cigarette smoke in your work environment?
- Do you a history of asthma, cancer of lungs, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, emphysema in your family, or any other condition of lungs? (Rnceus® Interactive, 2006).
Overview of the objective data and projected regular physical analysis.
Inspection is the first phase when a nurse is conducting an evaluation. There is a need for a nurse to establish the number of respirations, how deep, and the strength incorporated by the patient during the breathing process. Additionally, it is prudent for the nurse to check for productive and non-productive cough. In establishing the tenderness, masses, or lesions, palpation can be done. To establish the variance between air and fluid, percussion is conducted. Auscultation should be carried out in listening to abnormalities that emerge from things like excess fluid (Jarvis, 2012). Evidence of breathing difficulties and the production of vesicular lungs sound during breathing will not be revealed through normal physical evaluation. Vesicular sounds while breathing are soft and low pitched, whose quality is rustling and are often softer during exhalation. There exist two common auscultated breath sounds which emerge from the surface of the lungs.
The regular examination will not establish the presence of phlegm or sputum in the system. Moreover, there will be no evidence of fluid in the lungs during percussion.
Special techniques for analysis
Through finding the history of the infant, it is critical to interrogate the parents on respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) among children or other members of the family, exposure to passive smoke, or history of premature or mechanical ventilation. Some of the questions the parent should be asked to determine the infant’s history include the history of asthma, factors linked to episodes of asthma, adequacy of the asthma treatment administered and whether the kid has previously experienced incidences of breathing difficulties, swelling of lymph nodes, sore throat and pain on the face (RnCEUS Interactive, 2006)
If the patient in question is an adult, he or she ought to interrogate to ascertain if the patient has been immunized of pneumonia and annual flu. Inquire about any recent adjustments in the exertional capacity, fatigue, adjustments in the number of pillows required for sleep at night, any critical change in weight, history of sweating at night, or swelling of legs and hands (ibid., 2006).
The main disease process that are specific to the respiratory system
Asthma is the acute inflammation of the lung airways, which leads to coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, or difficulties in breathing. It is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory condition of the airways which is characterized at the molecular level by up-regulated expression of gene-encoding inflammatory proteins (e.g., inflammatory receptors, adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokines), mediator-synthesizing enzymes, and dysregulated apoptosis in some inflammatory cells (Heffler, et al., 2017).
Wheezing is a common symptom of asthma. This is a scratchy or whistling sound produced while breathing. Other signs include breathing difficulties, tightness of the chest, chronic coughing, and trouble while sleeping because of the cough.
The symptoms of asthma are referred to as the asthma flare-ups, or asthma attacks are often emerge due to allergies and subjection to an allergen like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, or mold. Some of the non-allergic triggers include pollution, smoke, or chilly weather conditions. An examination of asthma will show the symptoms that have been mentioned previously. The most predominant chronic symptoms of the respiratory conditions in children and adults is the dyspnea and wheezing. There is a variance in chronic respiratory diseases despite common pathophysiologic factors. The differences are mainly in clinical manifestation, comorbidities, exacerbations, progression, and mortality (Beghe, Contoli, & Papi, 2017).
In summary, analysis is essential in the determination of the causes of diseases. Critical information concerning the present problem of the patient and the background data reveals the factors that could be triggering the disease process. Present medications, respiratory problems, present habitats, and exposure to smoke, history of the family, allergies, the prevalence of symptoms, and duration are instrumental in the establishment of a blueprint for suspected illness. Evaluations ought to be thorough and tailored to medicine to enhance the correctness of the diagnosis.