1. Relationship of Emphysema on body’s pH imbalance and include its pathophysiology.

Emphysema is a type of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which primarily causes

shortness of breath. It is known as the third leading cause of death, first is heart disease and
second is cancer, but it is preventable and treatable. It is also long-term and very progressive in a
person’s lungs that most commonly develops and occurs after many years of smoking and may
also occur to those who frequently inhale in irritants. Cough and sputum are also symptoms that
can be seen in a person with emphysema.

COPD affects the small bronchioles and alveoli in a bad way and destroys the elastic fibers.
Bronchioles become free collapsible and very small, lose surface area, and the alveoli shrink
which makes it hard to get the air out of the lungs.

Body’s pH balance, also known as acid-base balance, is controlled by the lungs through
releasing carbon dioxide. Body’s pH imbalance may lead to two conditions, the acidosis and
alkalosis. If it is caused by exhalation problems, it is referred to as “respiratory”, and “metabolic”
when it’s due to kidney functioning. Emphysema may lead to respiratory acidosis because it is
caused by lungs being unable to remove enough carbon dioxide when exhaling.

2. Pathophysiology of Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome and include the role of

Pulmonary Surfactant.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is considered as the major cause of infant mortality
and infant morbidity and is caused by insufficient pulmonary surfactant production and function
together with the preterm infant lungs’ structural and developmental immaturity, usually occurs
in those born at less than 37 weeks gestation. It occurs more frequently in male infants and
infants with mothers who are experiencing diabetes. Risk will increase with degree of
prematurity. The incidence of RDS is inversely proportional to the gestational age and to the
newborn’s weight.

Type II pneumocytes produce, recycle, and store surfactant. Surfactant is a mixture of

phospholipids, neutral lipids, and proteins and is spread as a film all over the alveolar surface. Its
main function is to decrease or prevent the tendency and possibility of the alveolar collapse and
it also lowers or diminishes the surface tension at the air or liquid interface in the lung. But with
surfactant deficiency, it needs a greater pressure to open the alveoli. And if there’s no adequate
pressure in airway, it will result to diffusely atelectatic lungs which will trigger pulmonary
edema and inflammation. Antenatal steroids and prophylactic surfactant are already proven in
reducing the incidence of RDS.
 3. Expound the relationship of heavy smoking on having lung cancer.

Heavy cigarette smoking is known to be the major risk factor for lung cancer especially using
other tobacco products such as pipes or cigars. It can actually cause a lot of different types of
cancer because the chemicals in cigarette smoke will enter our blood stream and will certainly
affect the entire body.

It commonly takes years for the lung cancer to develop and occurs when there’s
uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells will develop
into a tumour and destroy lung’s normal functioning. Symptoms typically occur only when the
disease is advanced. There are two main types of lung cancer; the non-small cell lung cancer
which is more common of the two and is categorized into squamous cell carcinoma,
adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma and the other one is the small cell lung cancer which
is more aggressive and commonly affects heavy smokers.

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers but it is also one of the most preventable. The
link between smoking and lung cancer is very clear. Quitting or avoiding smoking can lower a
person’s risk of developing this disease and number of years spent on smoking strengthens
cancer risk.