1. Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System
CTAE Resource Network
Created by Christy Bryan and Dr. Frank Flanders
January 2010

2. Objectives List the diseases of the respiratory system.
Discuss symptoms, treatments, and preventions

3. What is a Respiratory Disease?
A disease that attacks the organs that are involved in breathing.
The respiratory system of vertebrates consists of the following:
Nose
Throat
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchus
Lung

4. What Do You Know About…
These are only a few of the major diseases. There are many more related to the Respiratory System.
Lung Cancer
Fibrosis
Bronchitis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Pneumonia
Asthma
Tuberculosis
Emphysema
Sleep Apnea

5. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is cancer that begins in the lungs, the two organs found in the chest that help you breathe.
Lung cancer starts as cells that line the air tubes in the respiratory system.

6. Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Cough that doesn't go away
Coughing up blood
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Chest pain
Loss of appetite
Losing weight without trying
Fatigue

7. Treatments of Lung Cancer
Treatment depends on the specific type of lung cancer. Each type is treated differently. Chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery may be needed.

8. Prevention of Lung Cancer
If you smoke, quit. It is never too late to stop smoking. You should also avoid breathing in the smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent some cases of lung cancer.

9. Sleep Apnea
When the muscles relax while you sleep, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and breathing momentarily stops.
This may lower the level of oxygen in your blood.
Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway.
This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.

10. Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

11. Treatments of Sleep Apnea
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Adjustable airway pressure devices
Oral appliances
Surgery

12. Prevention of Sleep Apnea
Lose excess weight.
Avoid alcohol and medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back.
Keep your nasal passages open at night.

13. Pulmonary Fibrosis Pulmonary Fibrosis involves scarring of the lung.
Gradually, the air sacs of the lungs become replaced by fibrotic tissue.
When the scar forms, the tissue becomes thicker, causing an irreversible loss of the tissue’s ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.
Some causes may be…
Inhaled environmental and occupational pollutants
Cigarette smoking
Diseases such as Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Sarcoidosis

14. Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Shortness of breath, particularly with exertion
Chronic dry, hacking cough
Fatigue and weakness
Discomfort in the chest
Loss of appetite
Rapid weight loss

15. Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis
There are currently no medical treatments for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Because of the origin, the development of the disease is not completely understood, which makes it hard to treat.

16. Prevention of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Not smoking
Avoid environmental and occupational pollutants

17. Bronchitis
An obstructive pulmonary disease caused by inflammation of the of the lungs
It can be short term or long lasting

18. Symptoms of Bronchitis
An expectorating cough
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Fatigue and/or malaise
Mild fever
Mild chest pains

19. Treatments of Bronchitis
Rest
Lots of liquids
Aspirin
Tylenol for fever
Oxygen therapy
Bronchodilator drugs
Antibiotics
Lung volume reduction surgery

20. Prevention of Bronchitis
Short term
Lots of rest
Lots of fluids
Long-lasting
Eliminate exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmentally hazard fumes

21. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Lung diseases referred to as COPD generally include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
While bronchitis involves inflammation and scarring of the main airways--the bronchial tubes--and emphysema is permanent damage to the walls of the air sacs and loss of lung elasticity, both cause obstruction of the normal air flow.

22. Symptoms of COPD Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
Increased mucus or sputum
Frequent clearing of the throat
Cough
Wheezing
Yellow, green or bloody sputum
Ankle or leg swelling
Sleep difficulties
Overall fatigue
Forgetfulness, confusion, or slurred speech

23. Treatments COPD
Respiratory care medications (bronchodialators, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids, expectorants, diuretics)
Oxygen therapy
Home air purifiers
Home humidifiers

24. Prevention COPD Do not smoke
Avoid respiratory irritants (pollen, dust, air pollution)
Flu and pneumonia immunizations

25. Pneumonia Inflammation of the lungs
Caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
Ranges from mild to severe to even fatal
Severity depends on age and health of the person

26. Symptoms of Pneumonia Cough with greenish or yellow phlegm
Fever with shaking chills
Sharp chest pain
Rapid, shallow breathing
Shortness of breath
Headache
Excessive sweating
Clammy skin
Loss of appetite
Excessive fatigue
Confusion in elderly people

27. Treatments of Pneumonia
Antibiotics if the cause is bacteria
In hospital: Intravenous antibiotics & oxygen therapy
In home: Drink fluids to loosen secretions and bring up phlegm, get lots of rest, control fevers with aspirin

28. Prevention of Pneumonia
Wash hands frequently
Do not smoke
Wear a mask when cleaning dusty or moldy areas

29. Asthma
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe.
Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

30. Symptoms of Asthma Hard breathing caused by irritants.
Asthma inducers: If you breathe in something you're allergic or if you have a viral infection- for example, a cold or the flu your airways can become inflamed.
Asthma triggers: If you breathe in an asthma trigger like cold air or smoke, or if you exercise, the muscles around your airways can go into spasm and squeeze together tightly. This leaves less room for air to pass through.
It's important for every person with asthma to know what they triggers and inducers are.

31. Treatments of Asthma Inhalers
These devices (sometimes called 'puffers') contain a gas that will propel the correct dose of medication when the top is pressed down. This is inhaled into your airways. There are two basic categories of inhaler medicines that are used for asthma:
Relievers - which treat your symptoms
Preventers - which can prevent your symptoms

32. Prevention of Asthma
Remove allergens from the home, including dust, dust mites, cleaning chemicals, pets and carpets.
Use only allergen-proof pillows and blankets.
Asthma patients should leave the house during cleaning.
Repair any water leak immediately to discourage mold.
Establish a no smoking policy in the home.
Drink at least eight glasses of water daily, to thin mucus in the respiratory system airways.

33. Tuberculosis Airborne infection
Caused by Bacillus Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Spreads person to person or through air
Most are infected but do not develop the disease
Forms small black lesions in the lungs

34. Symptoms of Tuberculosis
Ongoing cough
Constantly tired
Loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Fever
Night sweats
Coughing up blood

35. Treatments of Tuberculosis
Curable by various combinations of antibiotics.
The regimen must include several drugs to which the organisms are susceptible.
The patient must take the medication on a regular basis.
Therapy must continue for a sufficient time.

36. Prevention of Tuberculosis
Keep your immune system healthy.
Get tested regularly.
Consider preventive therapy.
Finish your entire course of medication.

37. Emphysema Chronic (long-lasting or recurrent) lung disease
Usually caused by exposure to or inhalation of toxic chemicals and tobacco smoke
Loss of elasticity of lung tissue

38. Symptoms of Emphysema Shortness of breath (on exertion)
Hyperventilation (arises in order to maintain proper oxygen levels in the body)
Clubbing of the fingers (which is associated with many lung and heart diseases)

39. Treatments of Emphysema
Supplemental oxygen is taken by patient
Lung transplant (very dangerous operation)

40. Prevention of Emphysema
No smoking
Avoiding other lung irritants

41. Summary of Major Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory Diseases attack the
Nose
Throat
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchus
Lungs
There are numerous Respiratory Diseases.