Final answer:
Cyanosis and dyspnea severity is related to the size of the shunt and tissue affected; affected by diseases like sickle cell anemia, and diagnosed through spirometry measuring lung volumes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The severity of cyanosis and dyspnea is directly related to the size of the shunt and the amount of tissues affected. Cyanosis can occur in conditions such as sickle cell anemia, a genetic disorder that changes the shape of red blood cells, impacting their oxygen transport and movement through capillaries. In the lungs, conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis can severely affect breathing. Respiratory distress syndrome, especially seen in premature infants, results from a lack of pulmonary surfactant, leading to poorly inflated lungs at birth, dyspnea, and impaired gas exchange. Pulmonary fibrosis, on the other hand, decreases the lungs' size and compliance, thus reducing the surface area available for gas exchange.
To diagnose lung diseases and assess the severity of these conditions, a spirometry test might be used, measuring lung volumes and capacities. Spirometry measures include the forced expiratory volume in one second and the total forced vital capacity, indicating how well air can move out of the lungs. In cases of lung fibrosis, these values can demonstrate a restrictive pattern, where the lungs cannot fully inflate due to scarring and stiffness.