Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory, Circulatory, and Digestive Systems

Cold (Sinustitis)

Cause: viruses in the sinuses

Symptoms: runny nose, excess mucous, coughing

Treatment: saline nasal spray, cold medications to alleviate symptoms

Laryngitis

Cause: virus or bacteria in larynx

Symptoms: inflammation of vocal cords, loss of voice

Treatment: rest voice and humidifier

Bronchitis

Cause: virus or bacteria in trachea, bronchi, or bronchioles

Symptoms: coughing and wheezing (excess mucous in lungs)

Treatment: humidifier, antibiotics (if bacterial)

Influenza

Cause: flu virus

Symptoms: fever, runny nose, infection of respiratory tract

Treatment: prevention using flu shot, otherwise treat symptoms

Tuberculosis (TB)

Cause: airborne bacterial infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Symptoms: couging (blood), chest pain, weight loss, can be asymptomatic

Treatment: 6 month course of antibiotics

Pneumonia

Cause: lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi

Symptoms: inflammation of the lining of the respiratory tract, pus and mucous accumulate and prevent gas exchange, shortness of breath

Treatment: healthy people can fight it off, but dangerous for people with compromised immune systems

Asthma

Cause: allergic reaction to something in the air (combination of genetic and environmental causes) —> walls of bronchioles thick and inflamed

Symptoms: tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing

Treatment: preventative medicines that reduce swelling and mucus production (inhalers)

Emphysema

Cause: aging, pollution, smoking (main), chronic chest infections

Symptoms: bronchioles plug up, alveoli lose their elasticity and shape, decreased surface area for gas exchange, low O2 in blood, weak tired, difficulty breathing, weight loss

Treatment: bronchodilators but largely untreatable

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)

Cause: extended exposure to pollution
Symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness

Treatment: no cure, lung transplant?

Cystic Fibrosis

Cause: autosomal recessive disorder, defective gene for mucous production in the lungs

Symptoms: persistent cough and mucous

Treatment: drug therapy to loosen or remove mucous, gene therapy

Obliterative Bronchiolitis (aka popcorn lung)

Cause: inflammation and scar tissue induced by inhalation of certain chemicals that damage the bronchioles and alveoli, can also be trigger by infection

Symptoms: wheezing that is not related to another health condition, dry cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing deeply, especially with physical activity, exhaustion

Treatment: no cure, reduce symptoms

Cancer of the Respiratory System

Cause: carcinogens, smoking (85% of cases), family history

Symptoms: tumors, blockages, shortness of breath, coughing (with phlegm and blood), ache or pain in the chest or shoulder, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss

Treatment: chemotherapy, radiation, surgical removal

Congenital Lung Defects

Cause: hernia (ruptured membrane) in the diaphragm and the baby is head down, digestive system falls into thoracic cavity

Symptoms: “blue baby” because upon birth baby cannot breathe

Treatment: depending on state of lungs, transplant may be only option