Category Archives for Respiratory System
Lung Disease
Located in the chest on either side of the heart, lungs are one of the vital organs in the human body required for respiration. Their main functions includes transporting oxygen inhaled from the atmosphere to our bloodstream and releasing carbon dioxide from the bloodstream, back into the atmosphere. To put it simply, when our lungs do not perform efficiently we end up having difficulty with breathing. Lung disease refers to several disorders that affect the lungs. Lung cancer, asthma, tuberculosis,...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Definition of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is generally associated with the diseases emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These two diseases involve characteristic chronic obstruction of the airways within the lungs subsequently affecting airflow. The obstruction is likely to be permanent and will progress with the passage of time. Read more
What Causes Lung Cancer?
The lung is an essential organ in the body’s respiratory system. We have two lungs nested inside our ribcage. Each lung is conical in shape and they rest on top of the diaphragm (the area that separates our lungs from our digestive system). The left lung is a little smaller than the right because the heart tilts slightly toward it. Each lung is made up of muscular tissues, bronchus, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and other nerve endings. The main function of the lungs is to take in oxygen from...
Chest Wall Pain
Discomfort in the chest area doesn’t always mean it’s a heart attack. There are other possible reasons this can happen.
Causes of Chest Wall Pain
One of the most common reasons is irritation of the pleura, the membrane that shelters the lungs. The membrane is quite sensitive. The slightest irritation may cause severe pain. Exactly what brings this about is not yet clear.
Another potential cause is costochondritis. This affects the cartilage linked to the sternum. It may also cause pain in the...
Lung Pain
Lung pain is a health condition that indicates an underlying acute or chronic disease related to the respiratory system. The pain experienced by patients can range from mild to severe and it can be sudden or recurrent. In order to identify if the pain is caused by a serious illness or minor disorder, individuals should know the varying symptoms of this condition. Additionally, it is also important to seek advice form medical experts. In this way, people will have ideas about the short-term and long-term...
What Causes Asthma?
Definition
Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. People who suffer from this chronic condition (long-lasting or recurrent) are said to be asthmatic. The inside walls of an asthmatic’s airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases your susceptibility to an allergic reaction.
Causes of asthma
Asthma is most often triggered in children by a respiratory infection, such...
Treatment for Asthma
Asthma treatments are divided into long term and quick term relief. Although the ailment cannot be cured, using these medications can control the symptoms.
Long term medications include the following.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
These are the most widely used and have few side effects. Medications include budesonide, fluticasone, triamcinolone, mometasone, flunisolide and beclomethasone. These have to be used for several days before its full effects can be felt.
Leukotriene Modifiers
These are oral medications...
What Causes Shortness of Breath?
Definition
Few sensations are as frightening as not being able to get enough air. Although shortness of breath, known medically as dyspnea — is likely to be experienced differently by different people, it’s often described as an intense tightening in the chest or feeling of suffocation. You may experience shortness of breath just once or have recurring episodes.
Causes of shortness of breath
Anxiety
People who talk for long periods of time while teaching, reading aloud, working on the telephone,...
