Lung diseases and its replications

Lung disease has become a common problem world wide. Smoking, air pollution and increasing population has been the cause for many lung disease. Anybody can have a disease due to these three reasons because they are inter-related to each other. For example, a non-smoker becomes a second hand smoker if the person with whom he/she is living is a smoker, he is also polluting the air and the people around. Yes, you may be a non-smoker and have no bad habits but can still be at risk. Check out whether you have any signs of lung disease from the checklist below.

COUGH: A persistent cough dry or productive that lasts for more than 12 weeks is the first sign of a lung disease. An irritating cough is an indicator of lung cancer. A tumor or a foreign body causes irritation to the lung wall and stimulates cough. A productive cough with expectoration is usually a symptom of lower respiratory tract infection.

DYSPNEA: Difficulty in breathing is called dyspnea. Dyspnea occurs when there is air hunger, that is where the oxygen content is low in blood. Dyspnea is a major sign of most lung diseases like bronchitis, COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, lung cancer, SARS and emphysema.

CYANOSIS: Cyanosis is also caused by decreased oxygen content blood which presents as a bluish discoloration of skin and mucus membrane. It is seen in atelectasis and respiratory distress syndrome.

WHEEZING: A wheeze is another common indicator of a lung disease. A high pitched whistling sound caused when the air tries to pass through a narrow or blocked pathway is called wheezing. The air passage is blocked either with mucus or any foreign body causes a wheeze. Wheezing is commonly found in lung diseases like asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis and lung cancer.

PLEURITIC PAIN: Any infection in the lung causes a sharp pain called as pleuritic pain. The pain is felt at every breath especially while exhaling. This symptom is more common in pneumonia, pleural effusion and pleurisy.

HEMOPTISIS: Coughing out blood in sputum is called hemLung disease has become a common problem world wide. Smoking, air pollution and increasing population has been the cause for many lung disease. Anybody can have a disease due to these three reasons because they are inter-related to each other. For example, a non-smoker becomes a second hand smoker if the person with whom he/she is living is a smoker, he is also polluting the air and the people around. Yes, you may be a non-smoker and have no bad habits but can still be at risk. Check out whether you have any signs of lung disease from the checklist below.

FEVER WITH CHILLS: When there is any infection the first presenting symptom is fever and chills. Any lung infection will also present with those symptom. Pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema are characterized with such symptoms.

EDEMA: Conditions like pulmonary edema present with swelling of the arms, legs and ankles. This is usually associated with heart disease.

CLUBBING OF NAILS: Clubbing of nails is another classical sign of lung disease. Emphysema, COPD, certain lung cancers and empyema are featured by these symptoms.

FATIGUE: This is an important sign of lung disease. They are associated with shortness of breath. Severe exhaustion occurs when the lung capacity decreases and the heart tries to pump blood more effectively to meet the body's demands. It's seen in lung diseases like emphysema, COPD and pulmonary edema.

ANOREXIA AND WEIGHT LOSS: These are not the major symptoms but an associated symptom of lung disease. Increasing shortness of breath and tiredness inhibits normal food intake thereby causing weight loss. Also productive cough brings out the protein content of the body and leads to muscle wasting. They are seen in tuberculosis and COPD.

These are the major signs of lung disease. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't delay to make an appointment with your doctor. A stitch in time saves nine, so get yourself treated when it is treatable. This occurs from the airway and lungs when it is traumatised or when a tumor ruptured or a sore bleeds after an infection. Tuberculosis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, bronchial carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, respiratory tract hemangioma, and metastatic cancer to the lungs usually present with this symptom.

These are the major signs of lung disease. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't delay to make an appointment with your doctor. A stitch in time saves nine, so get yourself treated when it is treatable.

Asthma

Asthma is a reversible obstructive airway disease that affects 17% of the American population. Although asthma can be fatal, more often it is just disruptive and affects day to day activities. Asthma can begin at any age, but in most cases it develops in childhood. Children usually develop allergic asthma which they outgrow by adolescence.

The common symptoms of asthma are cough, dyspnea and wheezing. These symptoms are manifested because of the narrowing of the airways. The symptoms and treatment of asthma depend upon the degree of airway narrowing. Asthma attacks frequently occur at night. The cause is not completely understood, but may be related to circardian variations, which influence the airway receptor thresholds. An asthmatic attack usually starts suddenly with coughing and a tight sensation in the chest. These symptoms are followed by slow, laborious, wheezy breathing. Generally expiration is always much more strenuous and prolonged than inspiration. This makes the asthmatics to sit upright and use every accessory muscle of respiration.

Obstructed air flow causes dyspnea. The cough at first is dry but soon it becomes forceful. Sputum, consisting of thin mucus containing small, round, gelatinous masses is coughed up with much difficulty. Later signs may include cyanosis (bluish discoloration) secondary to severe hypoxia, and symptoms of carbon dioxide retention, including sweating, tachycardia, and a widened pulse pressure. The symptoms of asthma may last from 30 minutes to several hours.

Other possible reactions that may accompany asthma include eczema, rashes, and temporary edema. The symptoms may occur periodically after exposure to a specific allergen, some medications, physical exertion, and emotional excitement.

Asthma symptoms can be reversed either spontaneously or by medical therapy. They can be effectively treated or controlled by medication therapy. There are five categories of medications that are used to treat asthma namely beta agonists, methylxanthines, anticholinergics, corticosteroids and mast cell inhibitors.

Beta Agonists:
Beta agonists are the initial medications used in the treatment of asthma because they dilate bronchial smooth muscles. They can also increase the ciliary movements and decrease the chemical mediators of anaphylaxis. The most commonly used beta adrenergic agents are epinephrine, albuterol, isoproterenol, metaproterenol and terbutaline. These medications are administered parenterally or by inhalation. Inhalation route is the best route of choice because it directly acts on the bronchioles and has only a few side effects.

Methylxanthines:
Methylxanthines, like aminophylline and theophylline are used in the treatment of asthme because of their bronchodilating effects. They relax the bronchial smooth muscles, increase movement of mucus in the airways and increase the contraction of diaphragm. Aminophylline is the IV form of theophylline and is administered intravenously. Theophylline is given orally.

Methylxanthines are not used in acute attacks because they are slow acting compared to beta agonists. There are several factors like tobacco smoking, heart failure, chronic liver disease, oral contraceptives, erythromycin and cimetidine which interfere with the metabolism of methylxanthines, particularly theophylline. Physician should be notified if any of the above mentioned condition exists before taking theophylline. Aminophylline should be administered very slowly, because giving them rapidly may cause tachycardia or cardiac dysrhythmias.

Anticholinergics:
Anticholinergic like atropine is not used in the routine treatment of asthma because of their systemic side effects such as dryness of the mouth, urinary hesitancy, blurred vision, palpitation and flushing. Atropine methylnitrate and ipratropium bromide have shown excellent bronchodilator effects with minimal side effects.They are administered by inhalation. Anticholinergics are particularly beneficial to asthmatics who are not candidates for beta agonists and methylxanthines because of underlying cardiac disease.

Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of asthma. These medicines can be administered intravenously (hydrocortisone), orally (prednisone), or by inhalation (dexamethasone, beclomethasone). The mechanism of action is not clear but they are thought to reduce inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Prolonged use of corticosteroids can result in serious side effects like peptic ulcers, osteoporosis, adrenal suppression, steroid myopathy and cataracts.

Inhaled corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of asthmatics with steroid dependent asthma. The advantage of this method of administration is the reduced side effects on other body systems. Throat irritation, coughing, dry mouth, hoarseness, and fungal infection of the mouth and pharynx may occur. Rinsing and gargling the mouth immediately after using inhaled corticosteroids will decrease the incidence of fungal infection. Any redness or presence of white patches in the mouth should be reported.

Mast cell inhibitors: Cromolyn sodium, a mast cell inhibitor is an integral part of the treatment of asthma. It is administered by inhalation. It prevents the release of chemical mediators of anaphylaxis, thereby resulting in bronchodilation and a decrease in airway inflammation. Cromolyn sodium is the most beneficial between attacks or while the asthma is in remission. It may result in the reduction of use of other medications and overall improvement in symptoms.

Status asthmaticus (severe and persistent asthma) is a medical emergency. The treatment is usually on an emergency room setting, and the person will be treated initially with beta agonists and corticosteroids. Oxygen therapy may be initiated for those who have dyspnea, cyanosis and hypoxemia.

These are the symptoms and treatment available for asthma. Identifying the early symptom and taking appropriate action will prevent emergencies.