Question

D. D. is a 66 year-old female suffering from shortness of breath. She smoked 2 packs a day until she quit 2 years ago. She has a history of bronchiolitis, hyperinflated lungs, pulmonary edema, and syncope. Her primary care practitioner suspects she also has pulmonary hypertension (PH). After examination, D. D. has a PAP of 35mmHg and mild CHF What is pulmonary hypertension and how could D. D. have developed PH -How does her history fit in with her new diagnosis? -How many patients are suffering from COPD in the United States? Do COPD sufferers die of respiratory causes or other causes? (Be sure to cite the data.)

Answer 1

Pulmonary hypertension

It is a very rare case and is characterised by the high blood pressure level in the arteries of the lungs. Normal Pulmonary artery pressure is 8- 20 mm Hg. If the PAP is going beyond 25 mm of Hg , it is considered as Pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension can be caused by unknown factors, certain drug use( methamphetamine), rare disease like scleroderma( tightening and hardening of connective tissue and skin), pulmonary embolism, certain lung diseases and valvular heart disease.

DD 's history shows that she has bronchiolitis, smoking habit and emphysema. These lung disease may give rise to the complication of Pulmonary hypertension. Her PAP is 35 mm hg. A PAP of above 25 mm hg considered as Pulmonary hypertension. Heart failure also one of the major cause of Pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD)

COPD also known as chronic obstructive lung disease. Any group of diseases characterised by the pathological limitation of airflow in the airways that is not fully reversible. COPD may be caused by reactive airways, chronic infection, congenital defects or most commonly cigarettesmoking.

COPD in US

Statistics show that Around 24 million US people are suffering with COPD. Approximately 12 million people are diagnosed with it. Yearly 120,000 people are dying because of COPD.

( Carl Roth, NIH RePORT, NIH Research Timelines. https://report.nih.gov./nihfactsheets/viewfactsheet.aspx?csid=77)

Most of the COPD patient's deaths are due to respiratory faiure and  pulmonary embolism. Heart failure also one of the major cause of death in COPD patients.