Pulmonary Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan

🫁 Pulmonary Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan: Asthma, COPD, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, ARDS & PFTs

In this advanced pathophysiology lecture, we explore pulmonary disorders from infancy through older adulthood—connecting clinical symptoms to underlying mechanisms that drive disease.

Topics covered:

🌬️ Asthma: airway inflammation, remodeling, and triggers

🧓 COPD: chronic bronchitis vs. emphysema, V/Q mismatch, and CO₂ retention

💨 Pneumothorax: pathophysiology of air leaks and lung collapse

🫧 Pneumonia: immune response, exudate formation, and oxygenation failure

🩸 ARDS: diffuse alveolar damage, cytokine storm, and ventilator implications

📊 Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): interpreting FEV₁/FVC ratios, restrictive vs. obstructive patterns

Learning objectives:
✔️ Understand lifespan variations in pulmonary structure and function
✔️ Differentiate obstructive and restrictive lung diseases
✔️ Interpret PFT data in clinical context
✔️ Apply pathophysiologic reasoning to diagnosis and management

Ideal for: Nurse practitioner students (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, CRNA), medical students, and clinicians seeking to strengthen clinical reasoning in pulmonary care.