Respiratory Issues

Respiratory Issues What effects our Respiratory System?

Coughs and Colds • Many different organisms can cause the common cold and cough and the symptoms often feel the same • All conditions are infections of the upper respiratory tract, they affect breathing passages above the lungs

Coughs and Colds • Viruses are usually responsible for these types of illnesses • There are over a hundred different types of viruses that cause coughs and colds • Unfortunately these viruses cannot be destroyed by antibiotics • Bacteria, such as staphylococcus will respond to drugs

Coughs and Colds • Colds usually start with a virus attack—a fever / inflammation of the nose lining and air-filled spaces called sinuses may become blocked or infected • Nasal linings produce lots of mucus, fill up and cause uncomfortable blockage of sinuses • Bacteria may also attack inflamed areas causing painful sinuses, coughing and sore throats

Coughs and Colds • Sneezing occurs as the body tries to get rid of irritation in air passages • A fine spray of mucus and tiny water droplets packed with infectious particles is produced • This sneeze spray may be shot out of the mouth at speeds of up to 100mph and travel as far as 6 ft. away from you

Coughs and Colds • Sneeze spray can be easily inhaled by another person, thereby spreading the infection • PLEASE, ALWAYS SNEEZE INTO THE CROOK OF YOUR ARM! • Wash your hands regularly too (with soap and warm water please, for the duration of a short song), particularly after blowing your nose

Strep • The throat/pharynx may become infected with streptococcus bacteria • Strep causes severe sore throats • Tonsilitis (inflamed tonsils) • Pharyngitis (inflammation of the back of the mouth)

Influenza • Contagious virus • Characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract • Fever • Muscle pain

Pertusis • Whooping Cough • Cold like symptoms • Highly contagious, spread through coughing and sneezing • May lead to pneumonia • Nasal or throat culture,Swab test • Antibiotic Treatment

Pneumonia • Pneumonia is a severe inflammation of the lungs • The thin tissue around one’s air sacs (alveoli) becomes badly swollen • These spaces may also become filled with fluid • Pneumonia may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or by inhaling foreign matter

Tuberculosis • TB, Coughing Plague • Infectious disease • Characterized by the formation of tubercles in lung tissue

Asthma • Comes from the Greek verb “ to pant or to breath hard” • Asthma is a chronic disease which millions of children and adults in the U.S. have • Many people with Asthma have allergies which cause symptoms such as a stuffy nose or rashes

Asthma • People with Asthma may make wheezing or whistling sounds because the air they breathe is forced through a narrow passage • Asthmatics may have trouble breathing and become hoarse from frequent coughing spells • Asthmatics may breathe in short, rapid breaths and experience occasional chest tightness

Asthma • Those with Asthma or allergies may not be able to smell or taste well • Infants who have an asthma flare up may not suck or drink strongly, breathe rapidly or have a blue tinge to their skin

Asthma • Most respiratory systems are incredibly efficient breathing machines • However, people who have Asthma have respiratory systems that do not always function quite right

Asthma • Tobacco, pollen or other substances such as dust mites or animal dander, irritates the membranes lining the the bronchial tubes • Membranes become red and swollen, narrowing the airways which lead into the lungs • Muscles in the bronchial tubes tighten up and make the airway even smaller

Asthma • Asthmatics can’t always breathe in enough oxygen or exhale enough CO2 • People with Asthma must work extra hard to breathe at times • Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous for those with Asthma • Health Watch Susan Dudley Gold, p.9 view of persons lungs during an Asthma attack

Cancer • Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. • Cells keep growing in a disorderly way and crowd out normal cells • There are many different kinds of cancer but they all have this out-of-control cell growth in common

Lung Cancer • Most Lung Cancers start in lining of the bronchi • Sometimes they begin in the trachea, brochioles or alveoli • Lung cancer often takes many years to develop

Lung Cancer • Leading cause of cancer death for Men and Women with average age of 60 • In 2004, there were approximately 173, 770 new cases of cancer in the U.S. • And, approximately 160,440 people will die of the disease

Lung Cancer • There may be areas of pre-cancerous changes • If there are not masses or tumors they cannot be detected by x-ray and do not necessarily cause symptoms • Changes can be found by special testing of cells in the lining of the airways of lungs damaged by smoke

Lung Cancer • Lung Cancer is so deadly because it often spreads before it is found • 2 main types: SCLC-small cell lung cancer NSCLC- non-small cell lung cancer • 3 subtypes: Squamous cell carcinoma – usually linked to smoking history, tend to be found centrally, near a bronchus

Lung Cancer • Adenocarcinoma – usually found in the outer region of the lung • Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma – can appear in any part of the lung and tends to grow and spread quickly, resulting in poor diagnosis • Carcinoid tumors – can also occur in the lungs, they are slow growing and can often be cured by surgery

Resources • American Lung Association, www.lungusa.org • American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org • Epidemic, Eyewitness series • Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, www.aafa.org

Respiratory Issues