Respiratory Disorders

Asthma

• Condition where smooth muscle that lines the airways contracts, making it difficult to breathe.– Allergy-induced Asthma– Cold-induced Asthma– Exercise-induced Asthma

Asthma

• Medicine-containing inhalers (“puffers”) are prescribed to make breathing easier.– Bronchodilaters: chemicals that help open up the bronchioles– Steroids: to strengthen the lung tissue

Bronchitis

• Inflammation of the bronchial lining and excessive mucous production.

• Persistent cough, coughing up phlegm (mucous), which is often discoloured.

• Discomfort when breathing.– Acute Bronchitis – bacterial / viral

infection (e.g., bad cold)– Chronic Bronchitis – allergens,

airborne pollutants

Pneumonia• Infection of alveoli: air sacs and terminal

bronchioles become filled with mucous.• Difficulty breathing, chest pain,

coughing up discoloured phlegm/mucous.

• Shows up on X-rays.

Emphysema

• Alveolar damage:– Cilia that line the airways become

damaged and cannot filter debris from air;

– Debris and mucous build up in bronchioles causing them to; become constricted/blocked

– Air pressure increases and causes thin alveolar walls to tear, creating empty spaces.

• Drastic reduction to surface area for gas exchange.

Emphysema

• A form of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) – serious, fatal, and avoidable!

• Can be a result of chronic bronchitis or exposure to tobacco smoke.

• Body compensates by breathing harder, which puts a strain on the heart.

• Eventually requires assisted breathing devices.

Cystic Fibrosis

• Autosomal recessive genetic disorder.

• Abnormally thick mucous blocks airways – mucous so thick that it is difficult to remove debris and difficult to breathe.

• Mucous also blocks digestive tract pathways.

• Prone to respiratory and digestive difficulties.

• Shows up in early childhood.• Medical advances have made it

possible for affected individuals to live into adulthood.

Environmental Hazards

Asbestos• once used as insulation, now known to cause diseases of the

pleura and often leads to lung cancer

Silica• major component of rock and sand, irritates in respiratory

tract, causes lungs to become less elastic and more rigid

Recycled Air• causes “sick building syndrome” (nausea, headaches, fatigue,

mucous membrane irritation) by recycling indoor air pollutants

Smoking & Second-hand Smoke• Causes lung cancer and contributes to respiratory

diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

• Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals in its mixture of gases, liquids, and other particles, which linger in the air for a long time.

Smoking & Second-hand Smoke• Tar is the most carcinogenic (cancer-causing) component of

cigarettes, but is 70% more concentrated in second-hand smoke!• Many tobacco companies claim their cigarette brands have built-

in filters, but they do not filter out all the substances, and second-hand smoke victims have no filters!