HYPOXIA AND ABNORMAL RESPIRATORY RHYTHMS

Terms Related to Hypoxia

• Respiratroy Insufficiency, inability of the lungs to maintain normal arterial bloods gas levels when the individual is breathing 21% oxygen (at sea level)
  
• Hyperpnea, excessively high rate of alveolar ventilation
• Hypopnea, low rate of alveolar ventilation, that is, underrespiration
• Hypocarbia (hypocapnia), depressed blood carbondioxide level
• Acapnia, absence of carbonedioxide in the blood (this state is incompatible with life)

Signs of Hypoxia

• Increased rapid pulse
• Rapid, shallow respirations and dyspnea
• Increased restlessness or lightheadedness
• Flaring of the nares
• Substernal or intercostal retractions
• Cyanosis
  

Abnormal Respiratory Rhythms

• Cheyne-Stokes breathing. Marked rhythmic waxing and waning of respirationsfrom very deep to very shallow breathing and temporary apnea (cessation of breathing); common causes include congestive heart failure, increased intacranial pressure and drug overdose.
• Apneustic breathing. Prolonged gasping inspiration followed by a very short, usually inefficient, expiration; associated with central nervous system disorders.
• Biot's breathing. Shallow breaths interrupted by apnea; may be seen in healthy people and in clients with central nervous system disorders.

Does Thermal Biofeedback Combined with Progressive Muscle Relaxation Blood Pressure in Clients with Essential Hipertension?

This study measured the effect of thermal biofeedback training combined with progressive relaxation training in the treatment of female client who were diagnosed with essential hypertension. The sample consisted of 19 adult women 30 to 59 years of age who were not taking antihypertensive medication. Blood pressure decline was measured on the treatment group of 11 clients, who underwent thermal biofeedback combined with progressive muscle relaxation training, and on the control group of 8 clients who underwent only progressive muscle relaxation training.

For both groups, baseline blood pressure was measured four times for 2 weeks. For the treatment group, blood pressure was measured twice, once before and once after each of the eight sessions of thermal biofeedback training for 4 weeks. For the control group, blood pressure was measured at every other visit to a clinic for progressive muscle relaxation self-training, twice before and after the self-training. On average, the treatment group[ experienced a decline in systolic blood pressure of 20.6 mm Hg and a decline in diastolic blood pressure of 14.4 mm Hg. In the control group, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure tended to increase.

Implications: Nurse should be knowledgeable about thermal biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation techniques so that they can teach clients effective ways to manage essential hypertension in conjunction with other physician-prescribe treatments.