Respiratory Diseases – Definition, Causes, & Symptoms

Respiratory diseases hamper the supply of oxygen within the human body. As a result, affected individuals feel chest pain, and irregular heartbeats, among other symptoms, making their regular activities a hard and hectic affair. These can cause immense suffering and complications if left untreated in due time.

Here is compact information about respiratory diseases – their symptoms, causes, treatment, and preventive measures. Read on to know about all these.

The organs essential for necessary gas exchange in the human body are the trachea (windpipe), lungs, diaphragms, etc. All these work simultaneously in a proper order to make uninterrupted airflow within the body.

However, when individuals suffer from respiratory diseases, their tissues and organs, responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon-di-oxide, do not function accordingly. It causes a deprivation of oxygen saturation level (SpO2). Consequently, the affected individuals feel restlessness, dizziness, disorientation and confusion.

Here is the list of some common respiratory diseases creating breathing difficulties.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)

In COPD, the lungs of patients get affected due to long term exposure to harmful gases. As a result, the air does not flow properly to the air sacs or alveoli, leading to acute breathing difficulty.

It is one of the most life-threatening respiratory diseases in India, resulting in over 13% of deaths in the country in 2016 alone.

Asthma

In asthma, the natural airflow gets hampered as the windpipes become swollen and narrow due to accumulated coughs or other reasons.

However, agents that cause asthma differ from person to person. Some patients get asthma attacks from airborne allergens like dust mites, pollens, pet dander etc.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a medical condition where the alveoli (air sacs) get damaged and ruptured. As a result, the exhaled air does not get out of the patient's body properly. This hampers the inflow of fresh and oxygenated air.

Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion, also known as “water on the lungs”, is a condition in which unnecessary fluids accumulate between pleural layers. It causes acute pain in the chest and breathing difficulties.

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is inflammation in the breathing tubes or bronchi. As a result of this inflammation, too much mucus is produced within these airways. The patients feel severe chest discomfort along with the urge of coughing heavily.

It is essential to pay close attention to the symptoms of respiratory diseases. In this way, you may avert the risk factors of respiratory diseases before it is too late.

• Difficulty in breathing
• Consistent chest pain
• Persistent coughing for a prolonged period
• Fatigue due to oxygen shortage
• Coughing up yellow, clear or greenish mucus and blood
• Mucus production at an excessive rate

The causes of these respiratory disorders are as follows –

• Smoking and Air Pollution: The harmful gases consumed during smoking and environmental pollution damage the alveoli (membrane of lungs). As a result, it cannot properly absorb gaseous oxygen into the blood. Therefore, the patients feel discomfort and breathlessness.
• Allergies: Some people have an adverse immune response to certain substances like pollen, dust or animal dander. Whenever vulnerable people come in exposure to these allergens, they feel short of breath. 
• Viral Infection: Viral infection is also one of the major causes of respiratory diseases. Some viruses, for example, influenza viruses, respiratory adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, invade alveoli and cause inflammation.
• Bacterial Infection: Some bacteria, such as otitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia, also can be the cause of respiratory disorders.

Some additional causes for these diseases are as follows –

• Chest trauma and consequent bleeding
• Tuberculosis
• Abdominal and chest infection
• Inflammatory or autoimmune diseases

Some people are more prone to getting diseases caused by the respiratory system. They are -

• Individuals with a family history of heart disease are vulnerable to this sickness.
• The risk of these diseases heightens with the growing age. So, senior citizens are more susceptible to these.
• People having cardiovascular diseases also become easily affected by respiratory disorders. This is because their heart fails to pump sufficient oxygenated blood throughout the body.
• People living or working in a highly polluted environment for a long time are also at higher risk.

Here are the ways through which doctors diagnose these common respiratory diseases –

• Imaging Tests: Doctors perform chest X-rays and CT scans to understand the type of respiratory illnesses. It also helps them find out to what extent the diseases have affected the lungs.
• Lung Function Test: Through the spirometer, diagnosticians examine the air holding capacity of the lungs. Further, the report also helps the doctor to know how effectively patients’ lungs absorb in and eject out O2 and CO2, respectively.
• Lab Tests: In a lab test, doctors take blood samples from the artery of patients and test O2 and CO2 levels. This also helps them understand how well the lungs perform at a certain stage.

Doctors conduct the following treatment procedure to cure respiratory diseases -

• Medications: Doctors prescribe bronchodilator drugs, oral steroids, antibiotics to broaden the airways of patients and cure inflammation.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation: In this procedure doctors teach some techniques and exercises. By practising these, patients improve their body oxygen level.
• Supplemental Oxygen: During serious complications of respiratory disorders, patients need the help of a continuous oxygen supply at their homes. In some cases, they need to get the help of supplemental oxygen only after exercises.
• Nutrition Therapy: This is not a standalone treatment of these diseases. However, doctors take special care of the nutritional requirements of the patients. It quickens their recovery process.
• Surgery: in some respiratory illnesses like COPD and pleural effusion, patients need to go through surgery. Surgeons remove the part of the lungs damaged by these diseases.

First of all, individuals need to ensure that they reduce their exposure to the agents causing these diseases. 

To know how to prevent respiratory diseases, go through the following carefully –

• Exercise regularly to enhance lung capacity.
• Quit smoking as this damages lungs and reduces their capacity.
• Stay away from any sources or environment that produce or contain harmful gases.
• Ensure complete protection from cold by wearing suitable clothes and covering the nose and mouth. This way, cold air will not enter the lung passage.
• Get vaccination periodically for ensuring the prevention of respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia.

Individuals should give proper attention to symptoms of respiratory diseases and seek medical advice if these last for several days. On their individual level, they should also make conscious efforts to strengthen lungs capacity. They can achieve that by exercising daily and staying away from circumstances that may cause these disorders.