med terms ch7 diseases & conditions

COPD (chronic pulmonary obstructive disease)

respiratory disorders that produce chronic partial obstruction of air passages

asthma

condition that causes airways to swell, narrow, fill with mucus; produces bronchospasms

bronchospasms

spasms in bronchial passages

bronchodilators

medication that relaxes bronchial muscles, allowing bronchi to expand and increase airflow (eg. albuterol)

chronic bronchitis

inflammation of bronchi, mainly caused by pollution & smoking

expectorants

medication that aid in the removal of mucus (liquifies respiratory secretions so they’re more easily dislodged when coughing) (eg. guaifenesin)

emphysema

decreased elasticity of alveoli

pneumonia

inflammatory condition (primarily) affecting alveoli

aspiration pneumonia

pneumonia caused by inhaled food, vomitus, or liquids

lobar pneumonia

(primary pneumonia) generally bacterial origin, affects large portion or entire lobe, antibiotics effective

bronchopneumonia

(secondary pneumonia) centered in bronchi & alveoli, caused by wider variety of organisms, affects those at risk

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

life-threatening condition where lungs no longer function effectively

neonatal/infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)

caused by insufficient surfactant, common in premature infants

surfactant

phospholipid substance that helps keep alveoli open

cyanosis

blueness

tachypnea

rapid breathing

crackle

intermittent sounds caused by exudates, spasms, hyperplasia, or air in moisture-filled alveoli

stridor

high-pitched harsh sounds caused by spasm, larynx swelling, upper airway obstruction

wheeze

whistling or sighing that results from narrowing of lumen

acidosis

excessive acidity of body fluids

anosmia

no sense of smell

apnea

disorder where breathing stops during sleep

atelectasis

incomplete expansion of lungs due to fluid build up in tissue

coryza

acute inflammation of nose membranes (aka rhinitis)

croup

common childhood condition; inflammation of larynx, trachea, and bronchial passages

cystic fibrosis (CF)

life-threatening genetic disease, unusually thick & sticky mucus plugs tubes & ducts in lungs and pancreas

deviated nasal septum

displacement of cartilage, reduces airflow, sometimes causes nosebleeds

epiglottitis

life-threatening infection of epiglottis & supraglottic structures, common in children 2-12

epistaxis

nasal hemorrhage (nosebleed)

hypoxemia

oxygen deficiency in arterial blood, sign of respiratory impairment

hypoxia

oxygen deficiency in body or region that commonly causes cyanosis

influenza

acute, contagious viral disorder of respiratory tract (flu)

pertussis

acute, infectious disease characterized by “whoop” cough (whooping cough)

pleural effusion

accumulation of fluid in pleural cavity, impairs breathing by limiting lung expansion

empyema

collection of pus in pleural cavity, usually from bacterial pneumonia spreading from lungs

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

unexpected & unexplained death of health infant

tuberculosis (TB)

fatal contagious disease spread through droplets

pleurisy

inflammation of pleural membrane characterized by stabbing pain (aka pleuritis)

pulmonary edema

accumulation of extravascular fluid in lung tissues & alveoli, commonly caused by heart failure

pneumothorax

presence of air in pleural cavity

pulmonary embolism

blockage in artery of lungs by undissolvable mass that has traveled to lungs from another part of the body

hemothorax

blood in pleural space (type of pleural effusion)

hydrothorax

watery/serous fluid in pleural space (type of pleural effusion)

pneumoconiosis

lung disease caused by inhalation of dust

asphyxia

inability to breath due to obstruction, suffocation

hemoptysis

spitting up blood

thoracotomy

incision into chest cavity