Med Students, Why are more doctors using albuterol and xopenex to treat pneumoni!


Question: Med Students, Why are more doctors using albuterol and xopenex to treat pneumonia and CHF!?
please explain in detail!. medical jargon is understood!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Albuterol and xopenex are b2 agonist that act by relaxing smooth muscle surrounding the bronchioles!. But, bronchiolar smooth muscles are not usually constricted in patients with pneumonia or CHF!. Pneumonia is an infectious inflammatory disease of the alveoli and surrounding bronchioles!. Bronchial walls become inflamed and edemitous, but it doesn't usually cause smooth muscle constriction unless you have some kind of underlying bronchospastic disease also like asthma or COPD with a reversible component!.

Albuterol and Xopenex relax Smooth muscle only and do nothing for airway inflammation and alveolar consolidation (fluid), as in both of these diseases!. Corticosteroids are usually prescribed to treat the inflammation as well as an antibiotic to treat the infection!.

For the mucus and fluid in the lungs B2 agonist are useless!. Bronchial Hygeine Therapy such as deep breathing and coughing exercises, intrapulmonary percussion and PEP therapy via the Accapella, maybe even CPT are appropriate!. Also some Hyperinflation therapy to recruit collapsed alveoli such as Incentive Spirometry or IPPB!. Increasing fluid intake to thin secretions is also appropriate!.

Some people say that the moisture alone from the treatments willthin secretions but this is false!. Nebulized albuterol and xopenex particles are about 0!.5 microns in size and do NOT reach the terminal bronchioles and alveoli where the fluid and infection are!. It would take particle sizes of at least one tenth of that size to get there!.

If the Patient's oxygen saturations are affected by the consolidation Oxygen Therapy should be started!. Breathing treatments do not increase oxygen saturations in the blood!.

Patients with CHF don't need to be given any more fluid, they need to be given Diuretics such as Lasix or Bumex to get rid of some of the fluid that is pertuding into the lungs!.

Patients with pneumonia will improve their condition without Bronchodilator Therapy if all of the other treatment is correct, provided they don't have an underlying asthma like condition!. Likewise Patients with CHF will improve if they are diuresed properly!.

The ONLY indication for Bronchodilator Therapy with such drugs as Albuterol or Xopenex is BRONCHOSPASMS!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Because their patients be relieved by the effects of those medicines!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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