An, elderly, 70 year olf paitent recently retired from her long term job in fort worth. Last week she moved to denver, CO, to live closer to her daughter. Denver is at a much higher elevation than fort worth. She went to the emergency room for breathing difficulty, and upon examination you discover she has developed a viral infection in the lungs. She has fast, shallow breathing and a wet, wheezy cough. Fluid in the lungs is called pneumonia. How does fluid in the lungs affect gas exchange? How did moving to a higher altitude possibly contribute to her respiratory problems.
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