Respiration is one of the seven characteristics of life. Without it, life would not be possible. Respiration is the conversion of food chemicals into waste products and a chemical which provides energy for life. There are a few different types of respiration, the main of which is aerobic respiration. The other main type of respiration […]
Laryngectomies, like tracheostomies, are another airway management tool. Laryngectomies tend to be inserted when people have had cancers of the voice box and had the airway itself altered. The trachea, which normally reaches the mouth and nose, is sealed off where the voice box used to be. The only entry for air to go into […]
Basic airway management is a vital skill and consists of maintaining a clear and healthy airway. Should the airway become blocked, a patient’s life will cease after roughly eight minutes. Therefore it is one of the most essential parts of any assessment. The airway The airway is one of the main parts of the respiratory […]
Tracheostomy patients are people who have had problems with their airway in the past, meaning a tracheostomy has had to be put in place. This could be due to things like cancer, trauma, or being in intensive care for a long period of time where the patient had to have assistance with their breathing. The […]
A stroke can occur when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or ruptured. This means parts of the brain become starved of oxygen. This is very serious, as your body constantly needs oxygen, especially the brain. If you suspect a stroke, you must call the emergency medical services immediately. An estimated 150,000 people […]
A heart attack is when a blockage occurs in the heart which starves itself of blood and therefore oxygen. Lots of people think that a sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack are the same. However, a sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, however […]
The function of the respiratory system is not only the intake of oxygen into the body but also the removal of carbon dioxide out of the body. This process is called Gas Exchange. Oxygen is vital for our survival, and carbon dioxide is toxic to the human body in large quantities – therefore this process […]
