there are two types of respiratory diseases and disorders: infectious and chronic. in the viral type, a pathogen replicates inside a cell and causes a disease, such as the flu. copd is a chronic respiratory disorder caused by long-term exposure to substances that irritate and damage the lungs. the two main types of copd are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. in emphysema, the alveoli in the lungs are damaged. asthma is a chronic disorder involving soreness and swelling of the interior airway walls. it can be triggered by the inhalation of particles from the air. smooth muscles in the airway wall tighten, resulting in bronchoconstriction (constriction of the bronchiole tubes) and excess mucus production.
the narrow, obstructed airways restrict normal airflow into and out from the lungs. the paranasal sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces in skull bones around the nasal cavities. airborne allergens and viral or bacterial infections can inflame the mucous membranes. the inflammation blocks the sinus openings and prevents the mucus from draining. once inhaled, the flu virus moves into the respiratory tract and enters epithelial cells that line the airways. infection spreads as the virus replicates, destroying host cells and moving into the bloodstream. the thoracic cage, or rib cage, normally protects the lungs. air escapes from the tear and builds up between the lung and the chest wall.
cough is a particularly important sign of all diseases that affect any part of the bronchial tree. the second most important symptom of lung disease is dyspnea, or shortness of breath. chest pain may be an early symptom of lung disease, but it is most often associated with an attack of pneumonia, in which case it is due to an inflammation of the pleura that follows the onset of the pneumonic process.
in addition, severe chest pain may be caused by the spread of malignant disease to involve the pleura or by a tumour that arises from the pleura itself, such as in mesothelioma. not infrequently, the presenting symptom of a lung cancer is caused by metastasis, or spread of the tumour to other organs or tissues. loss of appetite and loss of weight, a disinclination for physical activity, general psychological depression, and some symptoms apparently unrelated to the lung, such as mild indigestion or headaches, may be diverse indicators of lung disease.
the term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs, such as asthma, copd, infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, the two most common chronic respiratory diseases are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). these both affect the airways in the lungs. asthma respiratory diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and lung cancer. also called lung disorder and, .
learn about 5 common respiratory diseases, copd, asthma, sinusitis, influenza, and pneumothorax. read text, watch videos, view images. respiratory disease, any of the diseases and disorders of the airways and the lungs that affect human respiration. diseases of the respiratory system may, . unitypoint health pulmonologist, jim meyer, do, tells us the top eight respiratory system illnesses.asthma. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) chronic bronchitis. emphysema. lung cancer. cystic fibrosis/bronchiectasis. pneumonia. pleural effusion. related to lung disease & respiratory healthasthma.tuberculosis.cystic fibrosis.pulmonary hypertension.tuberous sclerosis.allergies.cold, flu & cough.lung cancer.
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