Respiratory disease is the term used for describing the diseases of respiratory system. These may include pleural cavity, trachea, lung, upper respiratory tract, bronchial tubes and muscles and nerves of breathing. These diseases may range from mild to self limiting like common cold to life threatening diseases like pulmonary embolism or bacterial pneumonia. These are the important and common causes of death and illness.
The study of respiratory disease is called pulmonology and the specialized doctor is called pulmonologist. In United States, 1 billion people report cold every year. 1 in 7 people in UK suffer from chronic lung disease, mostly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Over 10% of people are hospitalized and 16% deaths occur in Canada.
SYMPTOMS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES:
Symptoms vary from disease to disease. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Somnolence
- General malaise
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Noisy breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing blood
- Dyspnea or shortness of breath. This occurs with exercise and interferes in daily routines.
- Chest pain
- Cyanosis: A bluish discoloration of tongue, fingers or lips.
- Cachexia
- Cough with or without sputum production
DIAGNOSIS FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASES:
Some diagnostic tests can be performed for investigating the respiratory diseases.
- Bronchoscopy
- Computed Tomography scan
- Ventilation – perfusion scan
- Biopsy of the pleura or lung
- Pulmonary function test
- Chest X-ray
- Culture of microorganisms from sputum secretions
- Ultrasound scanning – This is performed for detecting fluid like pleural effusion.
TREATMENT FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASES:
Treatment depends upon the particular disease and the severity of the patient and the disease. Lifestyle factors like healthy nutrition and regular exercise are necessary for treating and preventing these diseases. Vaccination prevents some respiratory disorders.
The following treatments are prescribed for some respiratory diseases.
- Medications given in inhalation form:
- Antibiotics
- Bronchodilators
- Anticoagulants
- Immune suppressants
- Cancer chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Physiotherapy
- Mechanical ventilation
- Oxygen
- Surfactant Replacement Therapy
- Radiotherapy
- Liquid ventilation
- Surgery:
- Pleurodesis
- Artificial Lung
- Lung transplantation
- Lung volume reduction surgery
- Removal of Cancer
