Diseases Of The Respiratory System

Human beings require oxygen to survive. The system that helps in the exchange of gases i.e. uptake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide from the body is known as the respiratory system. It consists of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea and finally the lungs. The complex pressure-volume relationships that occurs via the mechanical ventilation performed by the process of breathing helps to achieve the goal of respiration. The air flows through the nose and then enters the trachea. From here the trachea branches into the right bronchus and the left bronchus into respective lungs. The bronchus then divides further, to ultimately form the terminal bronchiole and then the alveolus. This is the final place where the actual gas exchange occurs. This process is called the alveolar ventilation. There are numerous alveoli present in each lung. The walls of the alveolus are very thin and the gases flow in and out through it by a process called diffusion. The difference in the pressure and concentration across the walls of alveoli helps in this process.

Apart from its important function of respiration, the respiratory system performs many non-respiratory functions that are very important for the normal functioning of the body. These include:

  • It provides route for the loss of water and elimination of heat. The humidification of the air breathed in is essential to prevent the drying out of alveolar linings. Heat is lost when the air is breathed out because of the high heat capacity of water. This can be observed on a cold day when the breathed out air condenses.
  • It helps to maintain acid-base balance by altering the hydrogen ions produces in carbon dioxide in the breathed out air. 
  • It helps in speech, singing and other vocalization
  • It has a defensive action against foreign matter that is breathed in along with air. This is achieved primarily through sneezing and coughing. It has a protective lining of mucus and the underlying cilia that transport mucus with any deposited material to the esophagus, where it is swallowed.
  • It also helps in vomiting by creating large pressures.
  • It acts on many biological substances passing through the pulmonary circulation.
  • The nose that is a part of the respiratory system acts as organ of smell.
  • The muscles of the respiratory system help in creating large pressures needed during childbirth. The same respiratory muscles are also used during defecation that is during passing stool. 
  • The lungs also provide a reservoir of blood for the left side of the heart

Multiple diseases can occur that affect the respiratory system. This can include disease in any organ of the respiratory system but most diseases that occur are due to diseases of the lungs. In modern times, respiratory diseases have increased to a great extent due to decreased quality of air caused by pollution; sedentary lifestyles and smoking. Smoking has been implicated in a number of lung diseases. It can cause inflammatory reactions leading to development of diseases. It also affects the cilia that have an important function of transporting mucus and thus helping to remove foreign material that enters with the air that is inhaled.

The most common diseases of the respiratory system are:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). This disease is the current term that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • Bronchiectasis
Read more..

Finding Best Treatments

NOTE: Above More accurate treatment cost estimates can be provided if medical reports are emailed to us or after the patient is examined by doctors after arrival at hospital in India and medical tests are done after admission.

Frequently asked questions about Diseases Of The Respiratory System

What is chronic pulmonary diseases?

These are diseases that are present for quite a long time. The chief complaints are cough and difficulty in breathing on exertion. These diseases are usually caused by cigarette smoking and other irritants which can be pollutants or other chemicals. 

What are the main 4 stages of COPD?

According to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), the four stages of COPD are:

  • Stage I: Mild COPD. Lung function is starting to decline but you may not notice it.
  • Stage II: Moderate COPD. Symptoms progress, with shortness of breath developing upon exertion.
  • Stage III: Severe COPD. Shortness of breath becomes worse and COPD exacerbations are common.
  • Stage IV: Very severe COPD. Quality of life is gravely impaired. COPD exacerbation can be life-threatening.
What causes shortness of breath?

This is a common symptom that can be caused by problems in gastrointestinal system or the respiratory system or the cardiovascular system. If the symptom persists, a physician should be consulted immediately.

Can eating excess sugar cause breathing problems?

Eating excess sugar doesn’t directly affect breathing but it can lead to the development of metabolic diseases which can have detrimental effects to all the organ systems of the body including the respiratory system

What food is good for lungs?

Various natural foods that have anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce infections thus helping the lungs. These include foods like garlic, ginger and turmeric. There is some evidence that shows that garlic may be effective in improving asthma and reduce the risk of lung cancer. 

What are the signs of COPD getting worse?

According to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), the four stages of COPD are:

  • Stage I: Mild COPD. Lung function is starting to decline but you may not notice it.
  • Stage II: Moderate COPD. Symptoms progress, with shortness of breath developing upon exertion.
  • Stage III: Severe COPD. Shortness of breath becomes worse and COPD exacerbations are common.
  • Stage IV: Very severe COPD. Quality of life is gravely impaired. COPD exacerbation can be life-threatening.

So if the symptoms starts progressing in the above fashion that is if the disease progresses from a milder stage to a more severe stage, it can be considered that it is getting worse.

What are Respiratory system diseases?

Respiratory diseases are the ones that commonly affect the lungs and associated structures. The main diseases that fall under this category are:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). This disease is the current term that includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • Bronchiectasis

Smoking has been implicated in the development of almost all the respiratory diseases


What are the symptoms of respiratory diseases?

Common Respiratory Disease Symptoms are:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing (noisy breathing especially during expiration)
  • Excessive production of mucus
  • Bacterial infections because of the inability of cilia to expel mucus
  • Hypoxemia caused by progressive lung dysfunction
Is coughing a respiratory symptom?

Types of upper respiratory infection include the common cold (head cold), the mild flu, tonsillitis, laryngitis, and sinus infection. Of the upper respiratory infection symptoms, the most common is a cough. Lung infections may also lead to a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, achy muscles, and headache.

How is respiratory disease treated?

The goal of the treatment of any respiratory disease is to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the inflammation. Bronchodilators are used to dilate bronchus and hence improve respiration process. Corticosteroids are used to reduce the associated inflammation. Antihistamines and epinephrine is used to treat the allergies that might trigger inflammatory processes. Mucolytics are used to break mucus which is collected in large amounts. Pulmonary surfactants may also be used and they help prevent the collapsing of alveolar walls. Because the collection of mucus provides an excellent medium for the bacteria to grow, a lot of infections can occur in respiratory diseases. Antimicrobials and antivirals may be prescribed to treat the same.

What Are the Warning Signs of Lung Disease?

When there is shortness of breath without exertion or only mild exertion usually points to the presence of an underlying respiratory disease. 

Is respiratory disease curable?

The main goal in treating any respiratory disease is to improve the symptoms and reduce the inflammation. Obesity, diabetes and hypertension are also risk factors and can increase the problem in respiratory diseases. There is hardly any cure for any of the respiratory diseases.

How can we avoid respiratory problems?

To avoid respiratory problems, its risk factors should be managed. Quitting smoking is the first step towards achieving the goal. Managing healthy lifestyle and treating the comorbid conditions like diabetes and hypertension are other ways to avoid respiratory problems. Avoiding pollution is also very important.

How are Respiratory systems diagnosed?

If the doctor suspects the presence of a respiratory disease, he/she will prescribe pulmonary function tests (PFTs). A chest CT scan might be done as also bronchoscopy. 

Recent Articles

PrevNext

The majority of the respiratory diseases that occur are:
Asthma: 

It is an obstructive disease of the airway due to bronchoconstriction that is narrowing of the smaller airways and also includes the inflammatory response in the airways that increases mucus production. Patients usually have normal inhalation but exhalation is hindered due to the obstruction of the airways. To enhance exhalation against the obstruction, the patients tend to overuse accessory muscles for forced exhalation. The resultant increase in the pleural pressure causes the equal pressure point to be reached earlier in the exhalation, which further constricts the bronchioles caused by the compression of the lungs resulting in the characteristic wheezing sound that is typically associated with asthma. The other symptoms that occur are shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough which vary over time and in intensity.

Asthma is mostly managed by the use of medications that can be taken as inhalations so that the drug directly deposits on the lung where the therapeutic action is intended. The 2 types of drug delivery systems that are commonly used by the patients themselves are:

  • MDIs (Metered-dose inhalers)
  • DPIs (Dry powder inhalers)

The other common type of delivery system that is used in the hospital when the patient is brought in emergency is called nebulizer. Along with inhalers, the patients are also prescribed syrups and tablets of bronchodilators and steroids to manage the disease. 

Chronic bronchitis:

It is defined clinically as persistent cough with sputum production for at least 3 months in at least 2 consecutive years in the absence of any other identifiable cause. It involves the lower airways and is generally triggered by cigarette smoke, polluted air or allergens. The airways become narrowed because of the chronic irritation producing copious amounts of thick mucus. As the cilia that transport the mucus is immobilized, frequent coughing associated with chronic irritation is unable to remove the plugged mucus. This also leads to the development of bacterial infections because the accumulated mucus serves as an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria. In the long time, it is associated with progressive lung dysfunction which can be so severe so as to cause hypoxemia (low oxygen levels), pulmonary hypertension and corpulmonale.

This disease is also mostly symptomatically controlled by medications. The drugs that are used are almost the same as that are used for asthma as both control the symptoms that occur but cannot cure the disease itself. 

Emphysema:

It is characterized by collapse of the smaller airways and breakdown of the alveolar walls that is loss of alveolar tissue including the pulmonary capillaries. This is an irreversible condition and can arise in two ways. Most commonly, it results from the damage caused by the increased release of destructive enzymes such as trypsin from the alveolar macrophages that occurs as a defensive mechanism when exposed chronically to inhaled cigarette smoke or other irritants. Rarely, emphysema arises from a genetic inability to produce alpha antitrypsin so that the lung tissue has no protection from trypsin. The only treatment currently available is lung transplantation.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease):

This disease includes the diseases chronic bronchitis and emphysema and can be managed by the treatments that are employed in managing these two diseases. The most common cause is cigarette smoking.

Read more..
Latest from the Medical Industry
Sign up for treatment knowledge base

Contact Us

Mediflam Pvt. Ltd.

206, Siddhraj Zori, Next to Essar petrol pump, Sargasan, Gandhinagar: 382421. Gujarat, India.

Customer Care
Call Us Now  +91 82006 37521   Email Us  [email protected]

QUICK LINKS

KEEP IN TOUCH

Other Concerns

Consult Online

Wellness

Top Treatments

Top Hospitals

Privacy Policy | Terms & Condition | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2021 Mediflam Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.