Respiratory Disorders

                                      Respiratory Disorders

There are a number of respiratory disorders which affect people. The percentage of such disorders is particularly high in Pakistan. It is due to the more concentration of air pollutants not only in the urban but also in the rural atmosphere.

 Some of the important respiratory disorders are described next

1. Bronchitis:

                      Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi or bronchioles. It results in excessive secretions of mucus into the tubes, leading to the swelling of tubular walls and narrowing of tubes. It is caused by viruses, bacteria or exposure to chemical irritants (e.g. tobacco smoke).

There are two major types of bronchitis i.e. acute and chronic.

     The Acute Bronchitis usually lasts about two weeks and patients recover with no permanent damage to the bronchi or bronchioles. 

      In Chronic Bronchitis, the bronchi develop chronic inflammation. It usually lasts for three months to two years. 

      Symptoms of bronchitis include a cough, mild wheezing, fever, chills and shortness of breath (especially when doing hard job). 

2. Emphysema:

                          Emphysema is the destruction of the walls of the alveoli. It results in larger sacs but with less surface area for gaseous exchange . As lung tissue breaks down, the lungs do not come back to their original shape after exhalation. So air cannot be pushed out and is trapped in the lungs.

                          The majority of people diagnosed with chronic                                       bronchitis are 45 years of age or older.

      The Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breadth, fatigue, recurrent respiratory infections and weight loss. By the time the symptoms of emphysema appear, the patient has usually lost 50% to 70% of his / her lung tissue. The level of oxygen in blood may get so low that it causes serious complications. 

                          

3. Pneumonia:

                                Pneumonia is an infection of lungs. If this infection affects both lungs then, it is called double pneumonia. The most common Cause of pneumonia is a bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae.

       Some viral (influenza virus) and fungal infections may also lead to pneumonia. When the causative organisms enter the alveoli, they settle there and grow in number. They break the lung tissues and the area becomes filled with fluid and pus. The symptoms of pneumonia include a cold that is followed by a high fever, shivering, and a cough with sputum production. Patient may become short of breath. The patient’s skin colour may change and become dusky or purplish. It is due to poor oxygenation of blood. Vaccines are available to prevent pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of this type of pneumonia.

                Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of                                   pneumonia patients died from the infection.

4. Asthma:

                  Asthma is a form of allergy, in which there is inflammation of the bronchi, more mucous production and narrowing of the airways . In asthma patients, the bronchi and bronchioles become sensitive to different allergens (allergy causing factors) e.g. dust, smoke, perfumes, pollens etc. When exposed to any of such allergens, the sensitive airways show immediate and excessive response of constriction. In this condition, the patient feels difficulty in breathing

        The Symptoms of asthma vary from person to person. The major symptoms include shortness of breath (especially with exertion or at night), wheezing (whistling sound when breathing out), cough and chest tightness. The chemicals with ability to dilate the bronchi and bronchioles are used in the treatment of asthma. Such medicine is given in the form of inhalers. 

                  

5. Lung Cancer:

                           Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell divisions in the tissues of the lung. The cells continue to divide without any control and form tumours. The cellular growth may also invade adjacent tissues beyond the lungs. 

        The most common Symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood) and weight loss.

               Lung cancer is the most common cause of                                           cancer-related deaths and is responsible                                                   for more than 1.3 million deaths                                                                  worldwide annually.

      The Main Causes of any cancer include carcinogens (such as those in cigarette smoke), ionizing radiation and viral infection. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. This risk of lung cancer is significantly lower in non smokers. Cigarette smoke contains over 50 known carcinogens. Passive smoking (the inhalation of smoke from another’s smoking) is also a cause of lung cancer. The smoke from the burning end of a cigarette is more dangerous than the smoke from the filter end.

      Eliminating tobacco smoking is a primary goal in the prevention of lung cancer. The World Health Orgizanation has called for governments to stop tobacco advertising to prevent young people from taking up smoking.