a)gout
b)emphysema
c)leukemia
d)meningitis ummm emphysema... you are asking this because... emphysema B B. B?
duh! B b emphysema
gout is like a skin thing, leukemia is in the blood, and meningitis is just a whole other thing
don't quote me, not an expert on diseases :) Emphysema. IT IS 'B', It's b, but you left out the most important one. Cancer. b The answer is (b). Emphysema.
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), formerly termed chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Emphysema is caused by loss of elasticity (increased compliance) of the lung tissue, from destruction of structures supporting the alveoli, and destruction of capillaries feeding the alveoli. The result is that the small airways collapse during exhalation (although alveolar collapsibility has increased), leading to an obstructive form of lung disease (airflow is impeded and air is generally "trapped" in the lungs in obstructive lung diseases). Symptoms include shortness of breath on exertion (typically when climbing stairs or inclines, and later at rest), hyperventilation, and an expanded chest.
Emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels. Hyperventilation explains why mild emphysema patients do not appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) sufferers often do; hence they are "pink puffers" (able to maintain almost normal blood gases through hyperventilation and not "blue bloaters" (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood). However, any severely chronically obstructed (COPD) respiratory disease will result in hypoxia (decreased bood partial pressure of oxygen) and hypercapnia (increased blood partial pressure of Carbon Dioxide), called Blue Bloaters. Blue Bloaters are so named as they have almost normal ventilatory drive (due to decreased sensitivity to carbon dioxide secondary to chronic hypercapnia), are plethoric (red face/cheeks due to a polycythemia secondary to chronic hypoxia) and cyanotic (due to decreased hemoglobin saturation.
Clinical signs: Clinical signs at the fingers include cigarette stains (although actually tar) and asterixis (metabolic flap) at the wrist if they are carbon dioxide retainers (NOTE: finger clubbing is NOT a general feature of emphysema). Examination of the face reveals a plethoric complexion (if there is a secondary polycythemia), pursed-lipped breathing, and central cyanosis. Examination of the chest reveals increased percussion notes (particularly over the liver) and a difficult to palpate apex beat (all due to hyperinflation), decreased breath sounds, audible expiratory wheeze, as well as signs of fluid overload (seen in advanced disease) such as pitting peripheral edema.
Classically,clinical examination of an emphysematic patient reveals no overt crackles, however, in some patients the fine opening of airway 'popping' (dissimilar to the fine crackles of pulmonary fibrosis or coarse crackles of mucinous or oedematous fluid) can be auscultated.
Thank you. |
