Pathology

Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A lung disease in which it is hard to breath, damage to the bronchi partially obstruct them, making it difficult to get air in and out. Seen in smokers and former smokers

Bronchitis

Airways become inflamed and thickened, and there is an increase in size and number of mucus producing cells. This results in the excessive production of mucus which in turn causes coughing and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs

Emphysema

Progressive loss of lung function characterized by decrease in total number of alveoli, enlargement of the remaining alveoli, and progressive destruction of the walls of the remaining alveoli

Asthma

Chronic allergic disorder characterized by episodes of severe breathing difficulty, coughing and wheezing; frequency and severity of asthmatic attacks influenced by allergens, environmental agents, exercise, or infection

Controller medications for asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids, taken daily to prevent attacks

Quick relief or rescue medicines for asthma

Taken at the first sign of an attack to dilate the airway

Upper Respiratory infection

Acute nasopharyngitis, also known as the common cold

Allergic rhinitis

An allergic reaction to airborne allergens that cause increased flow of mucus

Croup

Acute respiratory syndrome in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness and barking cough

Diphtheria

Acute bacterial infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract; bacteria can produce toxins that damage the heart muscle and peripheral nerves; largely prevented through immunization

Epistaxis

Nose bleed; bleeding from the nose usually caused by an injury, excessive blood thinners or blood disorder

Influenza

Aka “the flu”; acute, highly contagious viral respiratory infection spread by respiratory droplets

Pertussis

Whooping cough; contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract characterized by recurrent bouts of sudden or spasm-like cough followed by breathlessness and noisy inspiration

Rhinorrhea

Runny nose; watery flow of mucus from the nose

Sinusitis

Inflammation of the sinuses

Pharyngitis

Sore throat; inflammation of the pharynx

Dysphonia

Any change in vocal quality, including hoarseness, weakness, or cracking of a boy’s voice during puberty

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx; commonly used to describe voice loss caused by the inflammation

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura that produces a sharp chest pain with each breath

Pneumothorax

Accumulation of air in the pleural spaces causing a pressure imbalance that prevents the lung from fully expanding or can cause it to collapse

Hemothorax

Collection of blood in the pleural cavity

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Sudden onset of severe lung dysfunction affecting both lungs, making breathing severely difficult

Atelectasis

Collapse of part or all of a lung by blockage of the air passage or by very shallow breathing

Pulmonary edema

Accumulation of fluid in the lung tissues

Pneumorrhagia

Bleeding from the lungs

Tuberculosis (TB)

Infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually attacks the lungs; occurs mostly in individuals with weakened immune systems; healthy individuals can be carriers without symptoms

Pneumonia

Serious infection or inflammation of the lungs in which the smallest bronchioles and alveoli fill with pus and other liquid

Pneumoconiosis

Fibrosis of the lungs caused by dust that usually develops after prolonged environmental and occupational contact

Anthracosis

Coal miners pneumoconiosis or black lung disease caused by coal dust in the lungs

Asbestosis

Caused by asbestos particles in the lungs

Byssinosis

Brown lung disease caused by inhaling cotton dust into the lungs, usually occurs in textile factories

Cystic Fibrosis

Genetic disorder in which the lungs and pancreas are clogged with large quantities of abnormally thick mucus

Eupnea

Easy or normal breathing

Apnea

Absence of spontaneous respiration

Sleep apnea syndromes

Group of potentially fatal disorders in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep for long enough periods to cause measurable decrease in blood oxygen levels

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow breathing, less than 10 breaths per minute

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid breathing, more than 20 breaths per minute

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath; difficult or labored breathing

Hyperpnea

Associated with exertion; breathing that is deeper and more rapid than at rest

Hypopnea

Shallow or short respiration

Hyperventilation

Abnormally rapid rate of deep respiration usually associated with anxiety

Anoxia

Absence of oxygen from the body’s gases, blood or tissues

Asphyxia

Condition that occurs when the body cannot get the air it needs to function

Asphyxiation

Suffocation; any interruption of normal breathing resulting in asphyxia

Cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by lack of adequate oxygen