Pulmonary emergencies in the elderly

The aging process results in changes in pulmonary physiology that make the elderly population more susceptible to pulmonary disease. These physiologic changes also alter the clinical presentation of such diseases, making the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders particularly challenging for the clinician. It is important for the clinician to have a high index of suspicion for pulmonary disorders to make the proper diagnosis. It is essential to keep in mind the subtle differences between pulmonary diseases in the elderly compared with younger patients.