Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Chapter 4: The Respiratory System Objectives 1. Understand diseases and disorders of the respiratory system. 2. Identify the basic anatomy of the respiratory systems included the lung, alveoli, gas and exchange chamber. 3. Analyze the effect of infections and neoplasms on the human body. 4. Describe respiratory diseases, including obstructive and restrictive respiratory diseases, respiratory failure, infections related to respiratory system, and the kinds of carcinomas in the lungs. 4.1 Obstructive Diseases Obstructive respiratory diseases are lung diseases in which it becomes difficult to exhale air in the lungs. Due to this difficulty, people suffer from shortness of breath. As the lungs get damaged and airways inside the lungs become narrowed, the exhalation process becomes slow and a high amount of air may linger in the lungs. The major obstructive diseases of the respiratory system are studied below. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammation in the lungs that leads to obstruction in the airflow from the lungs. COPD is caused by exposure to irritating gases like cigarette smoke, cigar smoke, passive smoke, exposure to dust, fumes and air pollution, or other particulate matter for a long period of time. Symptoms of this disease are difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, tightness in chest, cyanosis, increase in frequency of respiratory infections, unintendedweight loss, weakness, cough, wheezing, and production of sputum. Complications of COPD include development of cardiac diseases, cancer in the lungs, respiratory infections, hypertension, and depression. Asthma When airways get narrow, swell, and therefore produce extra mucus, this is known as asthma. Asthma can range from mild to severe, whereby a severe case can attribute to life-threatening attacks. It is not possible to cure this disease but physicians can generally control its symptoms. Symptoms include shortness of breath, mostly while sleeping; tightness and pain in chest; coughing and wheezing; wheezing sound at the time of exhalation; and worsened cough and wheeze when attacked by respiratory virus. If the individual has to use the quick-relief inhaler more often, this means that the asthma is getting worse and needs immediate attention. Asthma can flare up in certain situations like exercise, and exposure to chemical fumes, gases, dust, and allergens like pet dander or pollen. Asthma is triggered by a number of factors like airborne allergens, respiratory infections, cold air, physical activity, air pollutants, medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, beta blockers, and naproxen), stress, food preservatives, and fastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

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