Respiratory System Age-Related Changes in The ElderlyVernon MullinsHLTHST 410

Normal Respiratory System Changes Related to Aging

Anatomical changes of the spine and chest wall structures

As we age our bones become thinner and weaker. This can result in structural changes to the rib cage and spine such as kyphosis and scoliosis1.

These structural changes can reduce the functional space needed for the lungs to properly expand and contract, causing breathing to become more difficult and labored

Normal Respiratory System Changes Related to Aging Muscular weakness and atrophy

The muscular weakness that accompanies the aging process also effects the muscles of the respiratory system

Diaphragm and other muscles near airway structures are weakened, decreasing their ability to keep lung structures fully open and able perfuse oxygen appropriately2

Normal Respiratory System Changes Related to Aging Decreased Immune System

Eventually with aging most people experience a decrease in their body’s immune response

This decrease or weakening of the immune system puts the elderly at increased risk of contracting respiratory infections and diseases3

Normal Respiratory System Changes Related to Aging

Decreased Mobility Often times the elderly have a

decreased ability to be mobile due to progressing illness, disease, and or advanced aging

Decreased mobility limits the opportunities of elderly persons to exercise which aides in strengthening respiratory muscles. With limited mobility comes weaker respiratory muscle strength4

Secondary/Abnormal Respiratory System Changes Related to Aging Pulmonary Disorders

Asthma: Inflammation and narrowing of the airways causing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and at times respiratory distress5

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder): Progressive disease that worsens with time. Similar symptoms with asthma as well as increased respiratory mucus production causing increased cough and airway irritation6

Pulmonary Hypertension: Changes in arterial pressure in the pulmonary arteries, making it difficult for the heart to get blood to the lungs to receive oxygen, causing shortness of breath7

Sleep Apnea: Pauses in the breathing cycle during sleep usually caused by changes to the respiratory structures of the throat and larynx8

Statistics Asthma:

“It is estimated that asthma accounts for about 250 000 annual deaths worldwide9”

“From 2001 to 2010, the estimated average annual prevalence of current asthma among US elderly was 7.0%. Estimates of lifetime asthma, COPD, and co-occurring current asthma and COPD were 9.9%, 9.7%, and 3.0%, respectively9”.

Statistics COPD

A study in 2010 suggested that 17% of all men in America met criteria to be diagnosed with COPD10

Women are less effected by COPD, with the same study suggesting a decrease in 7% of women having the disease10

COPD diagnosis percentages are doubled in populations of persons who have reported smoking and are over the age of 5011

Statistics Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)

Females over the age of 65 are more likely to have PH than males

“Pulmonary hypertension is quite prevalent among elderly patients with diastolic heart failure”12

In 2010 Idaho was in the top 9 states for the highest age-standardized death rate per 100,000 population caused by PH13

Statistics Sleep Apnea

“Sleep apnea occurs significantly more often in adults older than 60”14

“People with atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure are more at risk of central sleep apnea”15

Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of dementia primarily in elderly women16

Common Respiratory Illnesses of The Elderly Pneumonia: Inflammatory infection of the lungs that

can be both viral and bacterial

Bronchitis: Swelling and inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, making it harder to breathe and causing other symptoms

Atelectasis: Partial collapse of portions of the lung causing shortness of breath and impairing oxygen perfusion

Treatment Methods Most treatment options for both respiratory illness and

disease involve the use of prescribed bronchodilators, such as inhalers or medicine inhaled through a nebulizer machine17

Bronchodilators are inhaled medications designed to dilate the bronchiole tubes of the lungs, increasing air flow and decreasing respiratory resistance

Treatment Methods Antibiotics are prescribed to

treat bacterial infections such as bacterial pneumonia

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders are often prescribed inhaled corticosteroid medications for longer lasting relief of their symptoms18

Treatment Methods Treatments for sleep apnea include:

Weight loss Positional therapy Oral devices CPAP machines Surgery (last result)

http://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/treatment-options.html

Treatment Methods Treatment methods for most pulmonary

hypertension symptoms are prescribed medications that are designed to relax the blood vessels of the lungs19

More severe cases of PH are treated with surgery targeted towards repairing the damaged or impaired regions of the pulmonary arteries that are causing the problem

Affects of Respiratory Changes On The Elderly Decreased Oxygen

All of the pulmonary disorders described in the aging process have shortness of breath (SOB) as a primary symptom.

SOB causes a feeling of being winded, limiting a persons cardiovascular endurance to perform even simple tasks of daily living without feeling out of breath and exhausted

Supplemental oxygen is often prescribed in efforts to increase blood oxygen levels

Affects of Respiratory Changes On The Elderly Poor Sleep Quality

Respiratory changes with aging can cause frequent coughing and SOB, disrupting the ability to have uninterrupted sleep and rest

Effects on Support System Frequent visits to medical providers, chronic

coughing, the use of durable medical equipment and portable oxygen tanks, and monitoring medications among other elements are all aspects of patient care that can place hardship upon family and social support systems

Ways To Adapt And Cope With Age-Related Respiratory Changes Avoid smoking and other known respiratory irritants

Participate in physical exercise to increase lung function with a physicians guidance20

Stay active and engaged in your daily life. Being sedentary increases the risk of respiratory mucus production, muscle weakness, and lung infections

Stay Informed – Take time to educate yourself on your condition and ways to improve or help prevent furthering your symptoms.

Support Groups The American Lung Association

www.lung.org Better Breathers Club of Meridian

Kgoold@lungmtpacific.org  www.dailystrength.org

COPD & Emphysema Support Group www.copdfoundation.org American Sleep Apnea Association

Treasure Valley A.W.A.K.E Group (Meridian ID) 208-898-0202

Pulmonary Hypertension Association www.phassociation.org ID-TreasureValley@PHASupportGroups.org

Educational Materials The following link will direct you to the main webpage

for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. There you will be able to search for information regarding asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and PH: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

Sleep apnea educational content can be found at www.sleepfoundation.org.

The following link provides very helpful information regarding rehabilitation and therapy methods for individuals with various pulmonary disorders: https://www.aacvpr.org/Portals/0/resources/patients/PR%20Fact%20Sheet%202.12.pdf

Sources/Reference List1. http://healthool.com/kyphosis/2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004011.htm3. Jannsens, JP, Pache JC, Nicod LP. ‘Physiological changes in respiratory function

associated with ageing,’ European Respiratory Journal. 1999, 13(1):197-2054. Sharma G, Goodwin J. Effect of aging on respiratory system physiology and

immunology. Clin Interv Aging. 2006;1(3):253-260.5. http://

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/basics/definition/con-20026992

6. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/basics/definition/con-20032017

7. http://www.webmd.com/lung/pulmonary-hypertension-18. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/sleep-apnea-topic-overview9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2276531310. http://www.cdc.gov/copd/11. http://

www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/What-is-COPD.aspx

12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2080619613. http://

www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_pulmonary_hypertension.htm

14. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/risk-factors/con-20020286

15. http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/sleep-apnea-linked-increased-risk-dementia-elderly-women

16. http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/sleep-apnea-linked-increased-risk-dementia-elderly-women

Sources/Reference List17. http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=4379218. http://

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/breathing-better/treatment-options.htm

19. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pah/treatment.html20. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004011.htm21. http://arjunaardagh.com/breathe-totally/ (Breath of life photo)22. http://www.seniorsafetyissues.com/seniorsafetyhoustontx/2013/06/03/senior-hom

e-safety-issues-houston-tx/ (Senior receiving aid photo)

23. http://www.phototravels.net/new-york/ny03n/new-york-n-26.html (Elderly walking Photo)