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Resp. System & Colds
Respiratory System Alterations and Cold Medications
Question | Answer |
---|---|
What causes most viral infections? | Rhinovirus or Influenza Virus(Flu) |
What is used to treat the common cold? | Combined use of antihistamines, nasal decongestants, antitussives, and expectorants. |
Does treatment cure the common cold? | No, treatment of the common cold is symptomatic only not curative. |
what do anthistamines do? | They act as anthistaminic, anticholinergics and sedatives. |
What is the mechanism of action for antihistamines? | They block the action of histamine at the H1 receptor sites. It competes with histamine for binding at unoccupied receptors. It cannot push histamine off the receptor if already bound. |
What are the effects of histamine vs. antihistamine in the small blood vessels? | Histamines effects the dilation and increased permeability, allowing substances to leak into tissues. Antihistamine effects the dilation of blood vessels and reduces the increased permeability of blood vessels. |
What are the effects of histamine vs. antihistamine in the smooth muscle? | Histamine effects salivary, gastric, lacrimal and bronchial secretions. Antihistamines reduce salivary, gastric, lacrimal and bronchial secretions. |
What are the effects of histamine vs. antihistamine in the immune system? | Histamine-effects mast cells release histamine and other substances resulting in allergic reactions. Antihistamine-binds to histamine receptors, thus preventing histamine from causing a response. |
What are antihistamine used for? | Nasal allergies, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis(hay fever), allergic reactions, motion sickness and sleep disorders. |
What effects does antihistamines have on the skin? | They reduce capillary permeability, wheal-and-flare formation and itching. |
What are some of the side effects of antihistamines? | Dry mouth, difficulty urinating, constipation, changes in vision and drowsiness. |
What are two examples of tradition antihistamines? | Diphenhydramine(Benadryl) and Chlorpheniramine(Chlor-Trimeton) |
What are a few examples of antihistamines that were developed to eliminate unwanted side effects mainly sedation that last longer but take longer to work? | Fexofendadine(Allegra), Loratadine(Claritin and Centirizine(Zyrtec) |
What are some nursing implications for antihistamines? | Use caution in increased intraocular pressure, cardiac or renal fosease, hypertension, asthma, COPD, peptic ulcer disease, BPH, or pregnancy. |
What is nasal congestion? | Excessive nasal secretions, inflamed and swollen nasal mucosa usually caused by allergies and upper respiratory infections like the common cold. |
What is the mechanism of action for nasal decongestants? | Blood vessels surrounding nasal sinuses. |
What is one of the three main types of decongestants? | Adrenergics which is the largest group and acts sympathomimetics. |
What route is the fastest for relief of congestion? | Topical nasal decongestants. |
What can happen if topical nasal decongestants are used for a prolonged period of time? | It causes rebound congestion, making the condition worse. |
What are some of the nursing implications for nasal decongestants? | Pt. should avoid caffeine and caffeine-containing products. They should report a fever, cough, or other symptoms lasting longer than a week. They should also be monitored for intended therapeutic effect. |
What do antitussives do? | Stop coughing. |
What are the two types of cough? | Productive and nonproductive. |
What drugs are used to aid in cough relief? | Opioid and nonopioids. |
When would opioids and non nonopioids be used? | When the cough is non-productive. |
What is one of the non-opioid drugs used to suppress a cough? | Benzonatate(Tessaion Perles) |
What are expectorants? | Drugs that aid in the expectoration of mucus, reduce the viscosity or secretion and disintegrate and thin secretions. |
What is the mechanism of action of expectorants? | Direct stimulation and reflex stimulation. |
What are the actions of direct stimulation of expectorants? | The secretory glands are stimulated directly to increase their production of respiratory tract fluids. |
What are the action of reflex stimulation of expectorants? | They cause irritation of the GI tract and loosen and thin the respiratory tract secretions occur in response to this irritation. |
What is an example of a reflex stimulation? | Guaifenesin |
What are some common side effects of Guaifenesin? | Nausea, vomiting and gastric irritation. |