BREATHING LESSONS Q&A

Your name: Michael Wakefield

Date: 2/25/06

Use this interview sheet to keep track of the people to whom you speak and what they
say. Use a new sheet for each interview.

■ 1. WHEN HE ENTERED THE EMERGENCY ROOM, TOM’S

HEARTBEAT RATE WAS HOW MUCH GREATER THAN THE
AVERAGE HEARTBEAT RATE IDENTIFIED IN CLASS?

■ Answer:
• Tom’s was 130bpm, 70-75bpm is considered average. His
was 60bpm higher than normal.

■ 2. GIVEN ONLY HIS HEARTBEAT RATE, WOULD YOU EXPECT

HIS BLOOD PRESSURE TO BE HIGH, LOW OR JUST WHAT IT
SHOULD BE?

o Answer:
• High

■ 3. TOM WAS HYPERVENTILATING. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN

HAPPENING TO TOM’S BLOOD LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE?

o Answer:
• Lowering

■ 4. TOM HAD A BLOOD CLOT IN HIS LUNGS. WHY WAS THE

CLOT CALLED AN EMBOLUS AND NOT A THROMBUS?

o Answer:
• The blood clot had traveled from the originating location
(thrombus) in his leg.

■ 5. WHY DOES A PERSON FEEL SHORTNESS OF BREATH JUST

BECAUSE THERE IS LESS BLOOD FLOWING TO THE LUNGS?

o Answer:
• The lungs detect less blood flow and constrict the alveoli
capillaries. As a result the person will feel shortness of
breath.
■ 6. WHEN CARBON DIOXIDE ACCULMULATES IN AN ACTIVE
MUSCLE, THE BLOOD VESSLES DILATE IN ORDER TO BRING IN
FRESH OXYGENATED BLOOD. THIS IS CALLED
AUTOREGULATION.

 A: HOW DO BLOOD VESSELS IN THE LUNGS RESPOND TO

EXCESS BLOOD LEVELS OF CO2?

o Answer:
• They dilate to allow for O2/CO2 gas exchange with the
aveoli in the lungs.

 B. HOW DO THE AVEOLI RESPOND TO LOW BLOOD FLOW?

o Answer
• They constrict to reduce surface area.

 C. WHAT IS ACCOMPLISHED BY THESE TWO

ADJUSTMENTS?

o Answer:
• Ventilation-Perfusion.

■ 7. “THAT SETS UP A VICIOUS CYCLE OF NO BLOOD FLOW

LEADING TO NO AIR FLOW LEADING TO NO BLOOD FLOW
ETC.” WHAT KIND OF A FEEDBACK CYCLE IS THIS?

o Answer:
• Negative feedback cycle.

■ 8. WHAT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING TO THE BLOOD PRESSURE

IN TOM’S PULMONARY VESSELS?

o Answer:
• Decreasing due to the blockage in his lower extremities.

■ 9. BASED ON YOUR ANSWER TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION,

WHAT ABNORMAL LUNG CONDITION IS TOM GOING TO
DEVELOP AND WHY?

o Answer:
• Respiratory Acidosis
• Unable to get rid of CO2 in the blood

■ 10. BASED UPON WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IN CLASS, WAS

TOM’S BLOOD PRESSURE NORMAL?
 o Answer A:
• Could be considered normal but not for someone of his
age and size.

■ 11. THE ARTICLE IS MISLEADING. WHY DO YOU GIVE A PATIENT

HEPARIN?

o Answer:
• As an anticoagulant, usually during a blood transfusion.

■ 12. WHAT SHOULD YOU GIVE TOM TO GET RID OF A CLOT HE

ALREADY HAS?

o Answer:
• TPA or Streptokinase.

■ 13. FROM LAST QUARTER, WHY WAS TOM FEELING PAIN IN

THE LOWER ABDOMEN?

o Answer:
• The clot triggered inflammation in his lower extremities.