Question

An elderly patient with a 1-week history of productive cough and wheezing notices an increase in difficulty breathing when grocery shopping. Further assessment reveals pursed lip breathing, rhonchi, and minimal jugular vein distension. Which diagnosis should the provider suspect? 1) COPD 2) Pulmonary embolism 3) CHF 4) Epiglottitis

Answer 1

The provider should suspect COPD as the diagnosis for the elderly patient due to the symptoms described in the question.

Step-by-step explanation:

The provider should suspect COPD as the diagnosis for the elderly patient. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a chronic lung disease characterized by a persistent cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The symptoms described in the question, such as productive cough, wheezing, pursed lip breathing, and rhonchi, are all common in COPD. Additionally, the minimal jugular vein distension suggests that the patient is not experiencing heart failure (CHF), and the absence of symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath at rest make it unlikely to be a pulmonary embolism or epiglottitis.

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