1.What does the bluish coloration of Mr. L'slips and fingertips indicate? What is a pulse oximeter and why doesit give blood oxygen in percentages?
The doctor comes in and examines Mr. L's legs. His ankles arebluish and swollen, and the doctor says she is worried aboutpulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure).
2. Why is the doctor worried about hypertension(high blood pressure) when Mr. L's blood pressure is only a littlebit above normal? Describe the flow of blood and how hypertensioncould affect it. Also, why can’t the doctor just measure it?
She notes “possible cor pulmonale.”
3. What is “cor pulmonale” and how could thisbe linked to COPD? What are the two major factors controlling bloodpressure (the blood pressure equation)? How is arteriolevasoconstriction (a hallmark of hypertension) related to bloodpressure?
4. Which side of the heart has to do the workof pushing blood through the constricted pulmonary arterioles? Ifthis side of the heart cannot move the blood through the lungs fastenough, where will the blood accumulate and where did you noticethis from earlier?
5. The patient is prescribed beta blockers toreduce heart rate and blood pressure. Describe the mechanism thatbeta-blockers do to achieve this.
