Respiratory Disorders

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Respiratory Disorder Objectives

Describe what pneumonia is, where is occurs, and how it can be detected.
Provide information on COPDs, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.
List and describe diseases that may result from smoking cigarettes.

Homeostasis is maintaining relative balance in the body. Disease is a loss of homeostasis. Unfortunately, the human respiratory system can develop several significant disorders.

We will start with an overview of respiratory disorders.

This model provides an idea of the range of disease that can occur in the lungs.

It is relatively easy to inhale bacteria and viruses that cause infections in the nose, throat, and sinuses. However, most of these upper respiratory infections are not fatal.

Lower respiratory diseases within the lungs can be difficult to detect and treat.

Pathogens and a variety of non-infectious disease like cancer can lead to pneumonia, excessive inflammation in the lungs. Fluid blocks air movement in the alveoli. The body is trying to fight off a perceived threat, but this response can be fatal.

There are also serious chronic (long-term) lower respiratory diseases, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

This model demonstrates that COPDs can dramatically reduce respiratory capacity.

Asthma can inflame and constrict bronchioles, blocking air flow.

Cigarette smoking has multiple impacts on respiratory health.

Cigarette smoking has been shown to cause emphysema and lung cancer in laboratory animals, but in humans we hear about a correlation (relationship) between smoking cigarettes and diseases. What was done with laboratory animals that we are unlikely to do with people?

Answer: experiment, altering variables to show cause and effect

There are additional videos on the impact of cigarette smoking on the body in this guide’s resource page.

Resources

To show the severity of lung diseases, this video is a microscopic view of pneumonia, emphysema, and cancer.

The next section introduces the impact of aerobic exercise on the cardiovascular system.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

describe what pneumonia is, where is occurs, and how it can be detected?
provide information on COPDs, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema?
list and describe diseases that may result from smoking cigarettes?