Pneumonia

Emphysema Emphysema, along with other diseases, is collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This disease damages the alveoli, also known as air sacs. Shortness of breath results as the alveoli are gradually damaged. The leading cause of emphysema is smoking, but this disease can also be caused by long-term exposure to other airborne irritants. Emphysema can be present in the body for years without any symptoms. The main symptom of this disease is shortness of breath, which…

What is asthma? Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. Many other respiratory illnesses include; allergies,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,Chronic bronchitis,Emphysema, and Cystic fibrosis. There are many symptoms of asthma but here are the most noticeable: Coughing, especially at night,wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness,…

In the process of an exacerbation of COPD, the airways become more inflamed causing vasoconstriction, mucous is more heavily produced, and small airways are not exchanging oxygen at baseline function for the patient. This takes the patient into a worsening condition of COPD that drops oxygen levels down, causing a build-up of carbon dioxide in her blood, the pH to drop from the acidity, and possibly bicarb to be not excreted by the kidneys in response. This causes a condition of respiratory…

Cystic fibrosis, also known as mucoviscidosis is an extremely common genetic disease in the UK. The genetic defect was identified by a group of scientists in 1989.In the UK it has been found that 1 in 25 people carry the faulty CF allele. CF is caused by deletion of 3 nucleotides in chromosome 7. The amino acid phenylalanine is lost as a result of this mutation. It is autosomal recessive so both the CFTR alleles should be faulty to cause the disease. Many of the epithilial linings of the ducts…

In modern American society the populous is experiencing both a longevity of life and in turn are faced with more chronic illnesses. In the Ohio-valley region of the United States there is a marked increase of chronic lung and heart issues exacerbated by coal mines, obesity, and tobacco use. Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States ("American Lung Association," 2013). B.H. was a 71-year-old male admitted to Hardin Memorial Hospital for…

Asthma is a chronic (lifelong) lung disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of your lungs. With asthma, your airways' lining tends to always be in a hypersensitive state characterized by redness and swelling (inflammation). It's similar to how your skin becomes red, irritated and sensitive after a sunburn. With asthma, the airways in your lungs are often swollen or inflamed. This makes them extra sensitive to things that you are exposed to in the environment every day. When you have…

Blood-Brain Barrier The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specific permeable barrier that separates the blood from the brain extracellular fluid (BECF) in the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB is composed by brain endothelial cells, which is connected by tight junctions with high electrical resistivity . The BBB allows passage of water, gases and lipid soluble molecules by passive diffusion and selective transport of molecules such as glucose and amino acids . The blood–brain barrier…

Burn injury is a common type of traumatic injury, causing considerable morbidity and mortality. The after-effects of burns not only handicap the patient and leave psychological trauma but also impose huge economic burden on the victim's family and society in general (Yao et al., 2011). An extensive burn profoundly affects the patient's physique, psyche, financial situation and socio-cultural dynamics of the family. Patients with extensive burns frequently die, and for those with lesser injury,…

Asthma is a complicated disease that affects all age groups and is marked by acute and chronic exacerbations. As one of the most complex respiratory diseases, asthma is associated with a high mortality rate. The purpose of this paper is to explore the pathophysiology of acute and chronic asthma across the lifespan, medications used for treatment and the impact on disease and the use of stepwise approach to treatment can be used to educate patients in various healthcare settings. As airways…

Then about age five he was hospitalized again, this time over a weekend. His stay was shorter due to the hospital having records of his initial episode with breathing. The doctor who admitted Evan the second time explained how allergens are irritants that trigger his restrictive airway disorder or asthma. After his second hospital stay the doctors went ahead and diagnosed him with asthma. The diagnosis he received from the primary care pediatricians at Five Oaks Medical center answered many…