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Chapter 21 - Pulmonary issues in the elderly

from Section III - Care of the elderly by organ system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2016

Jan Busby-Whitehead
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Christine Arenson
Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Samuel C. Durso
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Daniel Swagerty
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Laura Mosqueda
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Maria Fiatarone Singh
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
William Reichel
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
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Summary

Physiologic changes of the respiratory system occur with aging; for example, the chest wall stiffens, airway size decreases, and the diaphragm becomes less efficient. However, these changes alone should not cause significant breathing difficulties unless there is an underlying disease process. The most commonly encountered pulmonary diseases in the geriatric patient population are obstructive lung diseases, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, interstitial lung diseases, nontuberculous mycobacterium infections, and sleep disorders. Due to their increased likelihood of comorbidities, older patients have numerous special diagnosis and treatment considerations. Practitioners should focus on utilizing the most effective therapies to optimize lung function while minimizing potential harm to the patient.
Type
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Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
, pp. 298 - 310
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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