New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

In patients with COPD, respiration is controlled by what factor?

1. High oxygen levels

2. Carbon dioxide levels

3. Low oxygen levels

4. Blood pressure

The correct answer is: Low oxygen levels

In patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), respiration is primarily driven by low oxygen levels, a process known as hypoxic drive. In healthy individuals, the main stimulus for breathing is the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. However, many patients with COPD have adapted to high carbon dioxide levels over time due to their deteriorating lung function. This adaptation alters their respiratory drive, causing it to rely more on oxygen levels rather than carbon dioxide levels. When the oxygen levels drop sufficiently in these patients, it triggers the urge to breathe. Therefore, in the context of managing COPD, it is critical to monitor and maintain appropriate oxygen levels because excessive oxygen administration can suppress the patient’s respiratory drive, leading to respiratory failure. This reflects the importance of understanding how the body adapts to chronic respiratory issues and how treatment approaches must be carefully tailored to keep the balance in such patients.