Problem: Mrs. Kim is 80 years old female who presented to the ER C/o SOB for one week. She denies any chest pain, nausea or vomiting, headache, or hemoptysis. She lives alone and her four children live in New York. She is not a smoker, but her deceased husband smoked for 40 years. Mrs. Kim's cough is getting weaker, less sputum is produced, and she is getting more fatigued. She was diagnosed with COPD and has a history of Heart failure. You are Mrs. Kim's nurse, and she is afraid that she will not be able to take care of herself anymore
1) Explain the pathophysiology of COPD and why we give a low amount of oxygen to these people.