Final answer:
Concern with deep breathing or coughing arises when patients have conditions that affect lung compliance, resistance, and respiratory control, leading to discomfort or difficulty in breathing. Disorders like bronchitis, fibrosis, asthma, emphysema, and central sleep apnea can all impact the ability to breathe deeply or cough effectively, and are therefore causes for concern in affected patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
There is a concern with deep breathing or coughing in some patients due to various modifications in respiratory functions that can occur in response to different health conditions. Breathing and gas exchange may be impacted by a range of diseases that alter the lung's compliance and resistance. In cases of bronchitis, for example, there is inflammation and mucus build-up in the bronchial tubes, which can make deep breathing or coughing painful or difficult. Conditions like fibrosis can decrease lung compliance, causing the airways to stiffen and collapse upon exhalation, leading to trapped air and difficult breathing. Conversely, diseases like asthma or emphysema increase airway resistance, also resulting in trapped air and difficult breathing.
Increased ventilation is required in situations such as exercise, where hyperpnea or forced breathing occurs, and during forced breathing, additional muscle contractions are involved beyond the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. When respiratory volumes and capacities are altered, patients may experience discomfort or difficulty with deep breathing or coughing. In central sleep apnea, the brain's respiratory centers do not respond appropriately, causing irregular breathing patterns and even temporary cessation of breathing, which can be a concern during sleep. Additionally, pharmacologic agents like morphine can depress the respiratory rate, leading to concerns about the adequacy of breathing in affected patients.