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Overview
An infection of the chest involves both the lungs and the lower major airways (bronchi). The two most typical chest illnesses are pneumonia and bronchitis. Between 1% and 10% of instances of bronchitis are caused by bacteria, while the majority are caused by viral infections. Bacterial infection is typically the cause of pneumonia. Serious cases of pneumonia may necessitate hospitalisation.
The organs and tissues of the respiratory system saturate the blood with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. The system includes the upper and lower respiratory tract and paired respiratory organs - the lungs. The upper section includes the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and the lower section consists of the larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. Diseases of the respiratory system are studied by pulmonology. Pulmonologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pathologies of the lungs and bronchi. Often diseases are severe, take a long time to heal and lead to negative consequences. To avoid a reduction in the quality and duration of life, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner.
Symptoms
Pathologies of the respiratory system manifest themselves in different ways. Symptoms depend on the specifics of the disease. The most common manifestation of upper respiratory tract disease is cough. Its intensity depends on the time of day: the cough intensifies at night and in the morning. Symptoms of upper end diseases also include sore throat and fatigue.
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract are accompanied by weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain during inspiration. Common symptoms are:
• Chills, temperature above 37.0°C;
• Severe headaches;
• Hoarse, hard breathing;
• Weakness;
• Muscle and joint pain;
• Mucosal edema;
• Profuse sweating.
Causes
The prevalence of respiratory pathologies is influenced by many factors. The main causes of the occurrence and development of diseases are:
• Infections - viruses, parasites, bacteria;
• Adverse climatic conditions - cold, damp or too dry air;
• Polluted atmosphere - exhaust gases, industrial emissions;
• Allergens - food, pollen of flowering plants, animal hair, household dust;
• Hereditary predisposition to pathologies;
• Low immunity, autoimmune diseases;
• Smoking, unhealthy diet;
• Oncology of the lungs and bronchi.
Prevention
Preventive measures to prevent respiratory diseases have been known for a long time and in the Soviet period they were called: "Healthy lifestyle". Since then, they have not lost their relevance, and we will recall them here.
• First of all, respiratory diseases depend on the normal functionality of the immune system, the state of which, in turn, depends on normal nutrition. Therefore, rule number 1 - eat right: do not overeat, eat less animal fats, include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, eat fried foods as little as possible, eat more often, but in smaller quantities.
• Respiratory diseases can be prevented by systematic the use of drugs : immunomodulators and immunostimulants (this is the second most important rule).
• Strengthen your immune system by systematically consuming herbal products such as onion, garlic, honey, lemon juice (not in pure form), raspberries, sea buckthorn, and ginger.
• Lead an active lifestyle: exercise in the morning, go to the gym or swimming pool , run in the evenings.
• Respiratory diseases are not terrible for a hardened body, so get hardened (a bath and a contrast shower are the best way for these purposes).
• Give up bad habits: stop smoking and abusing alcohol.
• Avoid stressful situations and do not succumb to depression, nothing suppresses the immune system like our nervous breakdowns, so become an optimist and understand that there is nothing more important in this life than your health.
• Learn to rest properly.
• Take reasonable precautions.
Treatment
The treatment of pathologies of the respiratory organs of each person is always individual and must take into account many factors: the immune status of the patient, the individual characteristics of the body, changes in it caused by the disease.
The most common method of treating respiratory diseases is medication. Here are the main groups of drugs for this:
- Antitoxic agents (neocompensan, polyvinol, cyanocobalamin);
- Antimicrobial drugs;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (reopyrin, hydrocortisone, butadione, galascorbin);
- Preparations of expectorant action (to remove pathological accumulations from the body);
- Antitussive drugs (amezyl, codeine);
- Bronchodilators (adrenaline, eufilin);
- Painkillers (analgin, amidopyrine);
- Respiratory stimulants;
- Antihistamines and antiallergics.
In cases when medical methods of treatment of respiratory diseases are ineffective and the pathology gives serious complications, they resort to surgical intervention, which is divided into the following groups:
- Operations on the pleura;
- Operations on the bronchi and trachea;
- Plmonary resection (partial or complete removal);
- Surgery for light cavities;
- Collapsurgical interventions.
Tests Required for Diagnosis
It is possible to suspect this or that respiratory disease already on the basis of complaints and auscultatory picture of the lungs. Necessary diagnostic studies to clarify the nature of the pathology of the lungs are chest X-ray , data from the study of the function of external respiration, bronchoscopy, bronchography, computed tomography of the lungs, angiopulmonography. Of the laboratory methods for diagnosing lung diseases, the most important is the study of sputum for cytology, microbial flora , and atypical cells.
The first step in diagnosing pathologies of the respiratory organs is the examination of patients. With its help, a possible pathology of the shape of the chest is revealed, the type of breathing, its rhythm, depth and frequency are determined.
Palpation is carried out in order to assess voice trembling, for example, with pneumonia, it can be enhanced, and with pleurisy, on the contrary, weakened.
Breathing is assessed using auscultation (hard breathing is observed in bronchitis, dry rales are heard in bronchial asthma, wet rales are clearly audible in pneumonia or lung abscess).
With the help of percussion, a decrease in the amount of air in the lungs is detected, and their boundaries are also determined.
Among other things, there are:
1) Instrumental and laboratory methods for diagnosing respiratory diseases:
A) The most common and important method of instrumental diagnostics is
X-ray examinations:
- Fluoroscopy;
- Fluorography;
- Tomography;
- Radiography;
- Bronchography
B) Endoscopic Examinations:
- Bronchoscopy;
- Thoracoscopy.
2) Methods for the functional diagnosis of respiratory diseases:
a) Tests for the detection of respiratory failure.
b) Ergospirography.
c) Microscopic examination of sputum.
Diagnosis of diseases of the respiratory system is of great importance in the treatment of this group of pathologies: the faster and more accurately the disease is established, the higher the chances of success in its treatment.
