Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System

CTAE Resource NetworkCreated by Christy Bryan and Dr. Frank Flanders

January 2010

Objectives

• List the diseases of the respiratory system.

• Discuss symptoms, treatments, and preventions

What is a Respiratory Disease?

• A disease that attacks the organs that are involved in breathing.

• The respiratory system of vertebrates consists of the following: – Nose – Throat – Larynx – Trachea – Bronchus – Lung

What Do You Know About…

These are only a few of the major diseases. There are many more related to the Respiratory System.

• Lung Cancer• Fibrosis• Bronchitis• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease• Pneumonia• Asthma• Tuberculosis• Emphysema• Sleep Apnea

Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer is cancer that begins in the lungs, the two organs found in the chest that help you breathe.

• Lung cancer starts as cells that line the air tubes in the respiratory system.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

• Cough that doesn't go away• Coughing up blood• Shortness of breath• Wheezing• Chest pain• Loss of appetite• Losing weight without trying• Fatigue

Treatments of Lung Cancer

• Treatment depends on the specific type of lung cancer. Each type is treated differently. Chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery may be needed.

Prevention of Lung Cancer

• If you smoke, quit. It is never too late to stop smoking. You should also avoid breathing in the smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.

• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent some cases of lung cancer.

Sleep Apnea

• When the muscles relax while you sleep, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and breathing momentarily stops.

• This may lower the level of oxygen in your blood.

• Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway.

• This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)

• Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea

• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea

• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

• Morning headache• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

Treatments of Sleep Apnea

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

• Adjustable airway pressure devices

• Oral appliances • Surgery

Prevention of Sleep Apnea

• Lose excess weight.

• Avoid alcohol and medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills.

• Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back.

• Keep your nasal passages open at night.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Pulmonary Fibrosis involves scarring of the lung. • Gradually, the air sacs of the lungs become replaced by

fibrotic tissue. • When the scar forms, the tissue becomes thicker,

causing an irreversible loss of the tissue’s ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.

Some causes may be…• Inhaled environmental and occupational pollutants• Cigarette smoking• Diseases such as Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis,

Lupus, and Sarcoidosis

Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion• Chronic dry, hacking cough• Fatigue and weakness• Discomfort in the chest• Loss of appetite• Rapid weight loss

Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis

• There are currently no medical treatments for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

• Because of the origin, the development of the disease is not completely understood, which makes it hard to treat.

Prevention of Pulmonary Fibrosis

• Not smoking

• Avoid environmental and occupational pollutants

Bronchitis

• An obstructive pulmonary disease caused by inflammation of the of the lungs

• It can be short term or long lasting

Symptoms of Bronchitis

• An expectorating cough• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)• Fatigue and/or malaise• Mild fever• Mild chest pains

Treatments of Bronchitis

• Rest• Lots of liquids• Aspirin• Tylenol for fever• Oxygen therapy• Bronchodilator drugs• Antibiotics • Lung volume reduction surgery

Prevention of Bronchitis

• Short term– Lots of rest– Lots of fluids

• Long-lasting– Eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and

other environmentally hazard fumes

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Lung diseases referred to as COPD generally include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

• While bronchitis involves inflammation and scarring of the main airways--the bronchial tubes--and emphysema is permanent damage to the walls of the air sacs and loss of lung elasticity, both cause obstruction of the normal air flow.

Symptoms of COPD

• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing • Increased mucus or sputum• Frequent clearing of the throat • Cough• Wheezing• Yellow, green or bloody sputum• Ankle or leg swelling • Sleep difficulties• Overall fatigue• Forgetfulness, confusion, or slurred speech

Treatments COPD

• Respiratory care medications (bronchodialators, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids, expectorants, diuretics)

• Oxygen therapy• Home air purifiers• Home humidifiers

Prevention COPD

• Do not smoke• Avoid respiratory irritants (pollen, dust, air

pollution)• Flu and pneumonia immunizations

Pneumonia

• Inflammation of the lungs• Caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection• Ranges from mild to severe to even fatal• Severity depends on age and health of the

person

Symptoms of Pneumonia

• Cough with greenish or yellow phlegm• Fever with shaking chills• Sharp chest pain• Rapid, shallow breathing• Shortness of breath • Headache• Excessive sweating • Clammy skin• Loss of appetite• Excessive fatigue• Confusion in elderly people

Treatments of Pneumonia

• Antibiotics if the cause is bacteria• In hospital: Intravenous antibiotics & oxygen

therapy• In home: Drink fluids to loosen secretions and

bring up phlegm, get lots of rest, control fevers with aspirin

Prevention of Pneumonia

• Wash hands frequently• Do not smoke• Wear a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy

areas

Asthma

• Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe.

• Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

Symptoms of Asthma

• Hard breathing caused by irritants.• Asthma inducers: If you breathe in something you're

allergic or if you have a viral infection- for example, a cold or the flu your airways can become inflamed.

• Asthma triggers: If you breathe in an asthma trigger like cold air or smoke, or if you exercise, the muscles around your airways can go into spasm and squeeze together tightly. This leaves less room for air to pass through.

• It's important for every person with asthma to know what they triggers and inducers are.

Treatments of Asthma

• Inhalers• These devices (sometimes called

'puffers') contain a gas that will propel the correct dose of medication when the top is pressed down. This is inhaled into your airways. There are two basic categories of inhaler medicines that are used for asthma:– Relievers - which treat your symptoms – Preventers - which can prevent your

symptoms

Prevention of Asthma

• Remove allergens from the home, including dust, dust mites, cleaning chemicals, pets and carpets.

• Use only allergen-proof pillows and blankets.

• Asthma patients should leave the house during cleaning.

• Repair any water leak immediately to discourage mold.

• Establish a no smoking policy in the home.

• Drink at least eight glasses of water daily, to thin mucus in the respiratory system airways.

Tuberculosis

• Airborne infection

• Caused by Bacillus Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

• Spreads person to person or through air

• Most are infected but do not develop the disease

• Forms small black lesions in the lungs

Symptoms of Tuberculosis

• Ongoing cough• Constantly tired• Loss of weight• Loss of appetite• Fever• Night sweats• Coughing up blood

Treatments of Tuberculosis

• Curable by various combinations of antibiotics.

• The regimen must include several drugs to which the organisms are susceptible.

• The patient must take the medication on a regular basis.

• Therapy must continue for a sufficient time.

Prevention of Tuberculosis

• Keep your immune system healthy. • Get tested regularly.• Consider preventive therapy.• Finish your entire course of medication.

Emphysema

• Chronic (long-lasting or recurrent) lung disease

• Usually caused by exposure to or inhalation of toxic chemicals and tobacco smoke

• Loss of elasticity of lung tissue

Symptoms of Emphysema

• Shortness of breath (on exertion)• Hyperventilation (arises in order to maintain

proper oxygen levels in the body)• Clubbing of the fingers (which is associated with

many lung and heart diseases)

Treatments of Emphysema

• Supplemental oxygen is taken by patient

• Lung transplant (very dangerous operation)

Prevention of Emphysema

• No smoking

• Avoiding other lung irritants

Summary of Major Respiratory Diseases

• Respiratory Diseases attack the – Nose – Throat – Larynx – Trachea – Bronchus

– Lungs • There are numerous

Respiratory Diseases.