Physiological Changes in Elderly

(Respiratory System)

By: Levi Posadas, R.N.

 General Function:
The major function of the respiratory system is to:
• Deliver oxygen to the body
• Remove Carbon Dioxide in the cells
through the process of Respiration

Gas exchange from

air to blood, & blood to
body cells.
• Protector of the systemic circulation by
filtering debris/particles.
Anatomy & Physiology
Respiratory System is composed of 2 Parts:

Upper Respiratory Tract

Lower Respiratory Tract

Upper Respiratory Tract

This is known as the

upper airway, warms
and filters inspired
air.
Lower Respiratory Tract

This accomplish gas

exchange
Lungs
• The lungs are paired elastic
structures enclosed in the
thoracic cage.
• Primary organ of the
respiratory system.
• It delivers oxygen to the body
through the process of
respiration.
2 Process happening in Respiration:
1. Inhalation
 To breathe in
2. Expiration
 To breathe out
 Pleura

• It is a membrane that lined the lungs & thoracic cage

• Visceral Pleura
• Covers the lungs
• Parietal Pleura
• Covers the thoracic cage
Alveoli

• The functional Unit of

the lungs.
• It is where the process
of respiration happens.
Changes in Elderly
•Muscles and other tissues that are near your airways may lose their
ability to keep the airways completely open.
•Aging also causes the air sacs to lose their shape and become
baggy.
• Bones become thinner and change shape. This can change the
shape of your ribcage. As a result, your ribcage cannot expand and
contract as well during breathing.
• The muscle that supports your breathing, the diaphragm,
becomes weakened. This weakness may prevent you
from breathing enough air in or out.
• These changes in lung tissue can allow air to get trapped in your
lungs. Too little oxygen may enter your blood vessels and less carbon
dioxide may be removed. This makes it hard to breathe.
As a result of these changes, older people are at increased risk
for:
Lung infections, such as:
Pneumonia and Bronchitis
Shortness of breath
Low oxygen level
Abnormal breathing patterns, resulting in problems such
as sleep apnea

Episode of cessation of
breathing during sleep
Prevention
To decrease the effects of aging on the lungs:

• Do not smoke. Smoking harms the lungs and speeds up lung aging.
• Do physical exercise to improve lung function.
• Get up and move.
• Lying in bed or sitting for long periods allows mucus to collect in the
lungs. This puts you at risk of lung infections.
• Keep out to people with respiratory infection
• Avoid crowded areas with poor ventilation.
• Advise patient to maintain an adequate fluid intake 8-10 glasses daily.
• Teach proper technique for inhalation of medication especially MDI
Examples of Metered Dose
Inhalers (MDI)