Module

Module Leader:

Thomas Clanton, Ph.D.

Geriatric Objective:

1. Describe the effects of aging on lung volumes such as FEV₁ and FVC (Hazzard: 723).
   
   
2. What happens to resting PaO₂ and diffusing capacity with aging (Hazzard: 722, Fig. 53-3).
   
   
3. Define the purpose of tests of airway reactivity (Hazzard 722-3).  Methacholine is a stable derivative of acetylcholine.  What component of the airways do you think this is working on?  How do methacholine responses change with age?
   
   
4. Table Hazzard: 53-2 summarized predominant effects of aging on the respiratory system.  How do you think these changes might affect the responses to altitude, to pneumonia, asthma or exercise?

Learning Resources:

Chapter 53 "Aging of the Respiratory System", pgs. 721-728 in Principles of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology,  4^th Ed.  Hazzard, Blass, Ettinger, Halter, and Ouslander. (1999).

This text is also available in your ISP library.

Self-Test:

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