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Pulmonary Health
Pulmonary circulation is the movement of blood from the heart to the lungs and back again. Ask questions about how to maintain a healthy heart here.
589 Questions
How many people have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
It's not such a simple answer I'm afraid.
If you are asking how many people have 2 deficient genes for the production of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in the liver (and other parts of the body) then the answer is between 1 in 2000 live Caucasian births to one in ever 10 or 20,000.
Right now in the USA and Canada there are roughly 10,000 identified alphas and estimates of another 90,000 undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
It is the number one autosomal recessive genetic condition humans face.
As with many such conditions, having the deficiency is not a disease in and of itself. Being deficient simply means that you any or all of the skin, liver and/or lung diseases that can occur because of the deficiency.
What is bibasilar subsegmental atelectasis?
A subsegmental atelectasis is a collapsed lung due to an obstructed bronchus. Symptoms include an increase in temperature, a drop in blood pressure or a person may have no symptoms at all.
What gas to plants release into the air that animals use to start respiration?
CO2 (carbon dioxide) is exhaled by animals and needed by plants for photosynthesis.
How many hours do you need to fast for a cholesterol blood test?
For decades, a cholesterol test required fasting: 8-12 hours with absolutely no food or drink other than water. Not even gum or breath mints.
This is a hassle, sure, but not too onerous as long as your appointment is first thing in the morning. But if you can't nab an early morning appointment, this can be terribly inconvenient (unless you are a teenager, in which case it's no trouble at all - and gets you out of school).
Why is Fasting Important?
The reason fasting has traditionally been required for cholesterol testing is simple: lipid levels (and blood sugar levels) change hour-by-hour and depending on food consumption. It was believed that cholesterol levels could be elevated by as high as 20 points if the patient had not been fasting - and this could result in more aggressive treatment than necessary. Thus, fasting before cholesterol testing helped ensure that test results would not be skewed by a recent meal.
Is Water OK?
Water is not only permissible for a fasting blood test, it's important. First it can help stave off the hunger pangs. But more importantly, it is difficult for the phlebotomist to draw blood from a patient who is dehydrated. So unless you don't mind repeated arm pricks to find a vein, make sure you drink plenty of water before most any blood test - even a fasting blood test.
No More Need For Fasting?
But fasting may not be needed for accurate cholesterol testing, according to a study published in November 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In this large study of more than 200,000 people (half women) in Canada, average total cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol varied less than 2 percent among those who fasted and those who did not fast. For LDL (bad) cholesterol, the difference was less than 10 percent and for triglycerides it was less than 20 percent.
Dr. Christopher Naugler, an assistant professor of pathology at Calgary University and an author of the study, said, "It may even be that knowing a lipid level in a nonfasting state is a better way to estimate risk. No one knows yet."
Should You Fast Before a Cholesterol Test?
It may be that you do not need to fast before a cholesterol test. Or it may be that your doctor is very concerned about an accurate triglyceride reading and still wants you to fast. Your best bet is to ask your doctor what is best for your personal situation.
Dr. Christopher Naugler, an author of this Canadian study, said, "Eliminating fasting as a general requirement for cholesterol testing could greatly increase convenience for patients without significantly altering test results."
Things change in the medical community. The common belief that fasting is necessary for cholesterol testing has been challenged by this Canadian study, among others. While many doctors may still believe fasting before a cholesterol test is needed (and may be if a very accurate triglyceride level is important), this study questions that requirement. And that's good, because a non-fasting test may encourage many more people to have their cholesterol tested on a regular basis.
Pulmonary embolism.
An Embolism .
Can you describe a pulmonary embolism and how it develops in a right leg?
Pulmonary embolisms usually start out as a DVT or deep vein thrombosis or a blood clot in one of the major veins. These can form for a number of reasons. If someone has blood that is more prone to clotting than others or if they don't move for an extended period of time which would allow the blood to pool in the vein. When the clot has formed it will stay in the limb that it had started in for a period of time, mine was stayed in my leg a week before moving. When it moves it follows the blood flow to the lung, then it gets stuck there again causing the pulmonary embolism or lung blood clot. The sequential order of a blood clot in the leg or DVT is pieces of thrombus break off and travels up the vein to the inferior vena caba to the right atrium, through the biscupid valve to the right ventrical, then through the pulmonic valve into the pulmonary artery into the lung. Until it gets to a portion of artery that is so small the clot can't pass any further. At that point the clot forms an obstruction.
Do people vomit when they die?
It depends on the death. There are types of death that can cause or are caused by vomiting.
What is the cardiac cause of pulmonary edema?
Cardiac pulmonary edema - also known as congestive heart failure - occurs when the diseased or overworked left ventricle isn't able to pump out enough of the blood it receives from your lungs.
Which chamber does the pulmonary artery comes from?
The pulmonary artery originates from the right ventricle of the heart. It carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. After passing through the pulmonary valve, the artery splits into the left and right pulmonary arteries, directing blood to each lung.
How do you prevent atelectasis?
When recovering from surgery, frequent repositioning in bed along with coughing and deep breathing are important. Coughing and breathing deeply every one to two hours after any surgical operation with general anesthesia is recommended
How often should you take a Pulmonary Function Test?
Pulmonary function tests or PFTs measure lung volumes and airflow to diagnose lung disease, monitor its progression, evaluate disability and response to meds. The tests are performed using a device called a spirometer. The patient's age, sex, height, and weight and used to calculate predicted values of a person with normal lung function, and then compared to actual patient results. The patient inserts a mouthpiece, takes a deep a breath as possible, and exhales as hard, fast, and long as possible. Verbal coaching is given to make sure the patient continues blowing out until exhalation is complete. It is normally over in a matter of minutes as long as you follow directions correctly.
What procedure is done when finding a pulmonary embolism?
A D-dimer test can be done to show if the body is breaking down a blood clot. If this test shows positive then a spiral CT scan can be done to try to pinpoint the clot. Also a V-Q (ventilation-perfusion) scan can be done to pinpoint an area of the lung that is not getting blood flow. Regardless of the exact location the clot must be removed, either by surgical excision or by "clot buster" drugs such as streptokinase.
What activities can do of a person with only one lung?
Many people live well with only one lung (after a pneumonectomy). You can do just about any activity - to the reasonable limits of your pulmonary capacity (after checking with your physician and pulmonologist).
Can you use asmanex inhaler past the expiration date?
You don't want to use any medication past the expiration date, as it will not work as effectively as it should. Your asthma may not be as well controlled if you use Asmanex past its expiration date, which is 45 days from when you open it.
So far, the "seasonal influenza" does seem to be worse than the swine flu. See also related questions below.
The Swine Flu is a new type of Influenza. "Flu" is just a shortened form of the word Influenza. The full name of the virus that causes what has been called the 2009 Swine Flu is Influenza Type A, Novel H1N1 Virus (A-H1N1/09).
Other strains of flu circulate each year and are referred to as the "seasonal flu". (Some people call it the "regular flu"). For some reason, each year there are usually one or more predominate strains of influenza that are spreading across the globe . It is not fully understood why there is a "flu season" like this, it is probably related to temperatures and humidity levels that are more conducive to viral replication. Each year in the US and Northern Hemisphere starting in the late fall and continuing through winter and into early spring, the flu season occurs and the "seasonal influenza" virus spreads. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs at the opposite time of year. Hotter weather seems to help cause the flu to fade out; but flu is not exclusive to the cooler time of year, however is the most prominent during the cold seasons.
Comparison between mortality rates of swine flu and seasonal flu in the US:Swine Flu:
3 March 2010 -- As of 12 February 2010, According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated* that since the beginning of the pandemic, the US has had approximately 57 million cases of A-H1N1/09 Pandemic Swine Flu and approximately 11,690 resulting deaths. Based upon this, an estimate of the mortality rate in the US from the pandemic is 0.02%.
Seasonal Flu:
In comparison, the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have estimated that with seasonal flu, "we see over 30 million cases in the United States. We see 200,000 hospitalizations and, on average, 36,000 deaths." (During the entire fall and winter flu season.) Based upon this, the average mortality rate of seasonal flu in the US would be 0.12 %.
*The CDC stopped keeping track a long time ago of how many cases of H1N1 there were on an ongoing basis, due to incomplete counts in the reports. Most cases that are not complicated or requiring medical care aren't reported to the health departments and, of those, only a small number have had confirmation by laboratory testing. However, deaths from this infection have been being reported better and more have been confirmed, those numbers are more accurate. The CDC has developed a method of estimation of total counts based on the numbers of reported cases and deaths.
The demographics of the people who catch the different types of flu does vary somewhat with fewer people in the "elderly" age group (over 65) contracting the Novel H1N1.
Can use spiriva after expiration date?
If this is the nebulized aerosol and the outer foil package has been opened, it probably isn't "unsafe" but it also isn't going to be effective, either. Exposure to temperatures outside the listed acceptable range, exposure to light and age affect all drugs. If you are talking about the metered dose inhaler form of albuterol then, if it has been kept within the acceptable temperature range and is less than one year past its expiration date, it should be every bit as effective. Because albuterol is considered a "rescue" medication, don't even gamble with it- make sure you get your prescription refilled and use the older meds only as a last resort.
Which of the following is a symptom of COPD?
The only way to diagnose COPD for sure is to see a doctor. Symptoms include a chronic "Smoker's" cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. But again, these symptoms don't necessarily mean a person has COPD, so see a doctor to be sure.
What are the treatments of a pulmonary embolism?
The main treatments of a pulmonary embolism are anticoagulant therapy, oxygen and analgesia treatments. Most of the patients are admitted to the hospital in early stages of pulmonary embolisms.
What does the Pulmonary circuit consist of?
The main parts of the pulmonary circulation are the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, and the vessels in the lungs. This circuit contains blood on its way to and back from the lungs.
Why is respiration considered as an exothermic reactinexplain?
in respiration energy is released so it is a exothermic reaction.
