Why is lung disease important Flashcards
What is respiratory system/ respiratory disease?
Concerned with function and dysfunction of the lungs and structures around the lungs (pleura, chest wall and respiratory muscles), and the pulmonary vasculature
What is the biggest disease burden in the UK today?
Low back pain, back pain
What does YLD, UI and COPD stand for?
YLD=years lived with disability. UI=uncertainty interval. COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
how does lung disease affect the UK
Lung disease affects 20% of all people.
3rd cause of death
what is the present epidemic in the UK
Mesothelioma:
Asbestos related malignancy of the lining of the lung.
Deaths due to asbestos related lung disease increasing significantly
what is obesity related to?
Increasing prevalence of obesity causes both increased respiratory workload, but also respiratory dysfunction and associated with increased risk of asthma and sleep related breathing disorders
what is breathlessness
Breathlessness or dyspnoea is a sensation of difficult, laboured or uncomfortable breathing
what could breathlessness be due to?
Lung Disease
Heart Disease
Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Neuromuscular disease (eg diaphragm weakness)
Systemic Disorders (eg anaemia, hyperthyroidism, obesity)
What does COPD do to the cilia?
The cigarette is very cilia toxic.
Damage to the cilia can occur due to the activity of enzymes such as neutrophil elastase. Neutrophil elastase is released from neutrophils which are attracted into the airways by cigarette smoke, bacterial products etc.
Cell walls of the epithelial cells are broken down, damaging and destroying the cilia so patients may have a reduced number of cilia as well as cilia that are not working effectively.
Damaged cilia are less effective at removing mucus from the airways.
Where does the mucus come from?
comes from the mucus B gland
What is the most commonest cause of lung disease?
COPD, pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and lung cancer.
What type of diagnostic test can be done and what does this measure?
Spirometry: showing patterns of abnormality
what are the symptoms of lung disease?
shortness of breath, cough, sputum(mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract) production, the expectoration of blood stained sputum (haemoptysis), chest pain, and hypersomnolence (excessive level of sleepiness).
