Reference no: EM133753839

Question

Leona, an 89-year-old retired widow, lives in a large city. She retired from her job as a unit secretary in a community hospital approximately 10 years ago. Before working at her job in the hospital, she worked with her husband in the dry-cleaning business that they owned. She lives in a two-family house: her son and daughter-in-law live in the upstairs apartment, and she lives in the downstairs apartment. She smokes two to three packs of cigarettes per day and has smoked since she was 17 years old. She visits her geriatrician with the chief complaint of "increased weakness and worsening cough." Assessment reveals a chronic cough that is productive of large amounts of thick, white-yellow sputum. She reports that it seems worse now. Her blood pressure is 130/82, heart rate 96, respirations 22. Lung sounds include bilateral wheezing with prolonged expiratory phase. She has dyspnea on exertion (5-6 steps cause moderate level of dyspnea, able to walk about ½ block). She has decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping due to frequent awakenings related to shortness of breath. Her previous weight was 115 and is now 106. She is 5 feet, 8 inches tall. 1. What age-related changes occur in the