Transcript HS_7-4_Disorders of the Respiratory System

Diseases and Disorders of the
Respiratory System
CTAE Resource Network
Created 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.