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Respiratory Diseases Introduction

In this lesson, you will be reading and watching videos to learn about respiratory diseases and completing the 3.08 Respiratory Disease Analysis found in the "task" area of this lesson.

  • The information you learn will be revisited on the 3.08 Respiratory Diseases Quiz.
  • The Web MD Lung Diseases Overview article is a helpful resource in addition to the links you will see in this lesson.
  • Open the 3.08 Respiratory Disease Analysis file before moving forward. Record information into this file as you move through the lesson.

Cigarettes Versus ECigarettes

Why was the e-cigarette even invented and why do people choose to stop smoking and begin vaping?

Britanncia.com indicates that the e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik, who initially developed the device to serve as an alternative to conventional smoking. Most articles also enforce that many cigarette smokers switch to e-cigarettes for the same reason thinking it is better for you. Cigarettes allows the nicotine in tobacco to be heated and combusted and released along with approximately 7000 other chemical compounds.

According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. Users inhale this aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in this aerosol when the user exhales into the air.

Asthma

Asthma causes the linings of the respiratory airways to become swollen, and the muscles around them can constrict. Sometimes the swelling and tightness get much worse. This is called an exacerbation, or asthma attack. Symptoms can include:

  • shortness of breath (SOB)
  • coughing
  • chest pain
  • wheezing
  • death can occur if airway swells enough and adequate oxygenation cannot take place

Read KidsHealth: Asthma to learn more about asthma.

Chronic Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Notice the difference in the bronchial tubes illustrated in the image. B is a normal tube and C is an inflamed tube.

Diagram showing the lungs of a woman and a close-up of normal bronchial tubes and one with bronchitis
Chronic Bronchitis

Symptoms include:

  • a cough that often brings up mucus
  • shortness of breath
  • wheezing
  • chest tightness

Chronic bronchitis is one type of COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The inflamed bronchial tubes produce a lot of mucus, and it is a long-term condition. Cigarette smoking will make this condition worse.

Read KidsHealth: Bronchitis to learn more.

Emphysema and COPD

Emphysema is a lung disease where the alveoli are damaged resulting in a limited amount of oxygen reaching the blood. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, and the lung damage cannot be reversed.

Women with emphysema

 

Read Mayo Clinic: Emphysema.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium causes TB, and it can spread through the air when a person with TB coughs or sneezes.

TB is among the top 3 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44.

Image of the lungs infected with tuberculosis
Lungs with TB
Picture of tuberculosis mycrobacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium

Common symptoms of TB are:

  • coughing up blood
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • loss of appetite
  • night sweats

Read CDC: Basic TB Facts.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is an out-of-control, abnormal growth of cells. These abnormal cells divide rapidly, taking over the lung tissue, but not performing any lung tissue functions. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer.

Healthy lung along with lung-cancer lung from smoker.
Image of popcorn lungs.

Popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans was originally diagnosed in workers in a microwave popcorn factory in 2000. This disease was contracted by the workers being exposed to a vapor of diacetyl, a buttery flavoring added to microwave popcorn. The American Lung Association states that along with various other dangerous compounds, researchers at Harvard found that 39 of 51 e-cigarette brands contained diacetyl. Read Chemicals linked with severe respiratory disease found in common e-cigarette flavors.

Open and review the following two resources for additional information you can use to complete your analysis:

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that is inherited and causes thick, sticky mucus to be produced in the lungs. This mucus clogs the lungs. Over the course of their lives, many people with CF experience worsening lung disease. CF patients who live to adulthood have an average life span of 44 years.

Use the following resources to complete the section on cystic fibrosis in your analysis.

Knowledge Check #1

Match the respiratory diseases to the correct description or definition.

Terms:

  1. Asthma
  2. Bronchitis
  3. Emphysema
  4. COPD
  5. Tuberculosis

Definitions:

  • causes the linings of the respiratory airways to become swollen, and the muscles around them to constrict
  • inflammation of the bronchial tubes
  • The alveoli are damaged resulting in a limited amount of oxygen reaching the blood
  • combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis
  • can be spreaded through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes in the air

Answers:

  1. Asthma: causes the linings of the respiratory airways to become swollen, and the muscles around them to constrict
  2. Bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchial tubes
  3. Emphysema: The alveoli are damaged resulting in a limited amount of oxygen reaching the blood
  4. COPD: combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis
  5. Tuberculosis: can be spreaded through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes in the air

Knowledge Check #2

____ is an out-of-control, abnormal growth of cells.

Answer: Lung cancer

 

Knowledge Check #3

Which respiratory disease is a genetic disorder that is inherited and causes thick, sticky mucus to be produced in the lungs?

  1. Popcorn Lung
  2. Cystic Fibrosis
  3. COPD
  4. Bronchitis

Answer: b. Cystic Fibrosis

Knowledge Check #4

This lung disease was diagnosed in workers in a microwave popcorn factory in 2000.

  1. Cystic Fibrosis
  2. Emphysema
  3. Lung cancer
  4. Popcorn lung

Answer: c. Popcorn lung