a.

) What are the pathophysiologies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and
emphysema?

COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can be caused by a lot of factors. The most
prominent one is smoking but other than that it can be also caused by occupational dust and
chemicals, outdoor air pollution and second hand smoke. Rarely, it can be also caused by the lack of
the ATT or alpha-1 antitrypsin enzyme. COPD also acts as an umbrella disease to Emphysema.
Emphysema is the gradual destruction of the alveoli. This is done by increasing oxygen in the blood
stream thus making the lungs lose its elasticity and inflates the alveoli causing air trapping and
distension. Patients then form a reddish coloration in their skin and show a puffing breathing
pattern, this is because of the inefficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide thus giving them
constant struggle and shortness of breath.

b.) How does pursed lip breathing promote carbon dioxide elimination in COPD?

Pursed lip breathing works by moving oxygen into your lungs and carbon dioxide out of your lungs.
This technique helps to keep airways open longer so that you can remove the air that is trapped in
your lungs by slowing down your breathing rate and relieving shortness of breath. It is controlled
breathing therefore it forces your breathing muscles to function more and it also puts your body in a
calmer state.

c.) Will Jack’s son’s lungs return to normal once he quits smoking?

Based on statistics it will usually return to its normal state in 20 years but it will be healed in 9
months. He will first feel a drastic change in his lungs after the first month because air circulation
would be better. As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, former smokers may notice less
coughing and shortness of breath. Athletic endurance increases and former smokers may notice a
renewed ability for cardiovascular activities, such as running and jumping. In 9 months time the cilia
begin to function normally and symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath become less
frequent. Around this time, many former smokers notice a decrease in the frequency of lung
infections because the healed cilia can do their job more easily. After 5 years cigarettes contain
many known toxins that cause the arteries and blood vessels to narrow. These same toxins also
increase the likelihood of developing blood clots. The body has healed itself enough for the arteries
and blood vessels to begin to widen again. This widening means the blood is less likely to clot,
lowering the risk of stroke. After 10 years a person’s chances of developing lung cancer and dying
from it are roughly cut in half compared with someone who continues to smoke. After 20 years, the
risk of death from smoking-related causes, including both lung disease and cancer, drops to the level
of a person who has never smoked in their life. Also, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer has
reduced to that of someone who has never smoked.