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 35 mm hg and mild chf.
1. what is the prevalence of copd in the united states? use the most recent data available and provide a citation for your data.
2. do copd sufferers die of respiratory causes or other causes? why?
3. what are the three different medication classes/types of bronchodilators, and how do they each function to alleviate the symptoms of copd?
4. what type of heart failure is d. d. developing - left, right, or biventricular? explain your answer.
5. is lung transplantation a solution for emphysema patients like d. d.? why or why not?