Physics of the Human Body Diseases of the Lung

Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a blockage of the pulmonary artery (or one of its branches) Usually when a clot from a lower leg vein becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the blood supply of one of the lungs This process is termed thromboembolism Most common cause of hospital deaths

69-year-old college professor with sudden onset of shortness of breath underwent surgery for removal of pulmonary embolisms

Lung diseases are primarily placed into two categories 1. Obstructive lung diseases Asthma COPD Emphysema Chronic bronchitis 2. Restrictive lung diseases Asbestosis Pulmonary fibrosis

Obstructive Lung Disease Asthma Two types Internal Exercise Stress External Pollen Dander Smoke

An attack of asthma begins when an allergen is inhaled The allergen binds to IgE antibodies - those that have binding sites for the allergen - on mast cells in the lungs Binding triggers the mast cells to release histamine and leukotrienes

Obstructive Lung Disease COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Emphysema Chronic bronchitis Both are caused primarily by smoking

Obstructive Lung Disease COPD

Chronic Bronchitis Chronic productive cough (a cough that produces mucus) that increases in strength and frequency Shortness of breath or wheezing, especially during exercise Chest pain

Chronic Bronchitis Quit smoking Avoid exposure to polluted air Increase the humidity in the air

Restrictive Lung Disease Black Lung Disease Black lung is a legal term describing man-made, occupational lung diseases that are contracted by prolonged breathing of coal mine dust

Restrictive Lung Disease Asbestosis Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Continued exposure may lead to degeneration of lung function and death.

Restrictive Lung Disease Mesothelioma The pleura is the lining around the outside of the lungs Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura It may also occur in the lining of the abdominal cavity. All cases of mesothelioma in the United States are caused by exposure to asbestos

Restrictive Lung Disease Pulmonary Fibrosis This lung disease is often associated with miners, welders, and construction workers This is because inhaling dusts such as coal dusts and asbestos can cause pulmonary fibrosis

Restrictive Lung Disease Pulmonary Fibrosis It can also be caused by genetics, meaning you were born with it However, most commonly, pulmonary fibrosis develops without any known cause

Restrictive Lung Disease Pulmonary Fibrosis If the worker is exposed for a long period of time, the effects may be irreversible Genetic fibrosis or fibrosis caused by unknown causes cannot be reversed

Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both women and men in the United States and throughout the world In the U.S. in 2005, 160,440 people died from lung cancer, more than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer combined

Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the number-one cause of cancer deaths in men and has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in women Only about 14% of all people who develop lung cancer survive for 5 years

Lung Cancer Cigarette smoking is the most significant cause of lung cancer Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer

Lung Cancer 68-year-old male with left lower lobe lung cancer with metastatic disease to his kidneys

Lung Cancer A person who smokes more than 1 pack of cigarettes per day has a risk of developing lung cancer 20-25 times greater than someone who has never smoked Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked

Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year

Pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, and other organisms Pneumonia is usually triggered when a patient's defense system is weakened, most often by a simple viral upper respiratory tract infection or a case of influenza.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia Symptoms of pneumonia can include Fever Chills Cough Unusually rapid breathing Wheezing Difficulty breathing Chest or abdominal pain Loss of appetite Exhaustion Vomiting

Walking Pneumonia Walking pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that stems from a bacterial infection (Mycoplasma Pneumonia), mostly affecting people under the age of 40 The patient may have symptoms lasting from days to weeks It is called "walking pneumonia" because people do not appear to be very sick

Walking pneumonia usually begin with vague symptoms such as feeling tired or weak, headaches, sore throat, or diarrhea Eventually, most develop a dry cough They can also develop fever, chills, earaches, chest pain, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, and muscle or joint pains

Acute Bronchitis Acute bronchitis is the inflammation of mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes

Acute Bronchitis Runny nose, usually before a cough starts. Malaise (an overall body discomfort or not feeling well) Chills Slight fever Back and muscle pain Sore throat

Influenza

Influenza The virus attacks the respiratory tract Transmitted from person to person by saliva droplets expelled by coughing, and causes the following symptoms Fever Headache Fatigue/sore joints (Can be extreme) Dry cough Sore throat Nasal congestion Sneezing Irritated eyes Body aches Extreme coldness

Amyloidosis This is a group of diseases in which one or more organ system(s) in the body accumulate(s) deposits of abnormal proteins known as amyloid

Amyloidosis The name "amyloidosis" was first used more than 100 years ago. However, only within the past 25 years have physicians understood the specific makeup of amyloid proteins. Although amyloidosis is not cancer, it is very serious. It is disabling or life-threatening.