Treatment of Respiratory Diseases

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Respiratory disease is nothing, but the illness related to the respiratory system. The disease can be related to lung, bronchial tubes, upper respiratory tract, trachea, pleural cavity and breathing muscles. This disease can be either mild like cold and cough or injurious like pulmonary embolism. You must know the cause and symptoms of the disease before starting the treatment of respiratory disease. It has been noticed that in United States, nearly 1 billion people suffer from mild respiratory disease which is cough.

You will come across many different types of respiratory problems interfering in the breathing process. These obstructions occurring due to the disease can occur in the throat, windpipe or even in the nasal area. The allergic reactions or common cough problems at airborne pollens can block the passages of nose, giving rise to swelling in the nasal cavity. Bacterial infections of upper respiratory tract can arouse in different parts of airways. These infections can cause fever, coughing, irritation, or phlegm. Swelling can also take place in larynx, throat or bronchial tubes.

Common Respiratory Diseases

1. Common Cold is the infection which caused due to virus
2. Sinusitis is the swelling of the sinus cavities
3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the lung disease resulting to shortness of breath.
4. Pneumonia is the lungs infection due to virus or bacteria
5. Lung cancer is caused by malignant tumors created in the lung tissue
6. Chronic Bronchitis is the inflammation and long term scarring of the bronchial tubes.
7. Asthma is the constriction of airways which are hypersensitive
8. Influenza is a serious infection due to the influenza virus
9. Pleurisy is the inflammation of pleural membrane lining lungs and the chest cavity.
10. Emphysema is the damage to air sacs walls resulting in loss of elasticity
11. Acute Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes

    To diagnose respiratory disease is not a difficult problem. All you need to do is perform 2-3 tests which are:

    • Pulmonary function test
    • Culture of micro-orgasms from sputum
    • Chest x ray
    • Computed tomography scan
    • Bronchoscopy
    • Ventilation perfusion scan
    • Lung biopsy
    • Ultrasounds scanning to detect the fluid like pleural effusion

    One of the dangerous diseases of respiratory system is asthma. Following are the features of asthma which should be known before treating it.

    • Pulse is rapid and has pulses alternans characters
    • Person is acutely dyspnoeic, often cyanosed, restless and profusely sweating
    • Auscultation reveals trales and Bronchi all over the chest
    • Respiration is fast and accessory muscles are moving
    • Individual has frothy pink sputum

    Diagnosis

    1. Kerley's B lines due to thick and tense lymphatics
    2. Chest X-ray reveals classical Bat's wing appearance

    Treatment for Asthma

    • Must be treated carefully and in intensive care unit (ICU)
    • Supply of oxygen must be given
    • Digitalis in presence of trachea arrhythmias
    • Aminophylline to lessen the bronco-spasm along with improving the cardiac contractility.
    • Frusemide intravenously must be given

    Antihistamines block the production of body's histamines causing allergy symptoms. Cold medicines contain decongestants, antihistamines and non narcotic analgesics aspirin. They are not effective against cold viruses. Side effects can be sleeplessness, drowsiness and fever, headaches following cold while decongestant helps to give temporary relief from stuffy nose.

    Basic Treatment of Respiratory Diseases

    Treatment of respiratory disease depends on the type of disease the person has and how severe it is. It is obvious that regular exercise and healthy diet can prevent you from any illness. Other than this, taking vaccination by taking the doctor's advice can also prevent respiratory disease.

    Other than this, the following treatments are used for respiratory disease.

    Medicines in Inhaling Form

    • Antibiotics
    • Corticosteroids
    • Anti coagulants
    • Bronchodilators
    • Immune suppressants
    • Chemotherapy
    • Oxygen supply
    • Physiotherapy
    • Liquid ventilation
    • Radiotherapy
    • Mechanical ventilation
    • Surfactant Replacement Therapy

    Surgery

    • Lung volume reduction surgery
    • Pluerodesis
    • Artificial lung transplantation
    • Lung transplantation

    Treatment of respiratory diseases must be done soon after the symptoms of the illnesses are found.