Discussion Question 1
Respiratory diseases are usually classified as restrictive and obstructive. Obstructive respiratory diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Asthma, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. All the aforementioned conditions are associated with shortness breath, which stems from the difficulty experienced in exhaling air (McCance & Huether, 2018). The damage caused by the conditions to the airways that are situated in the lungs results in a slow exhalation. The consequence of the phenomenon is that at the end of an exhalation, a considerably high volume of air still lingers in the lungs (McCance & Huether, 2018). The shortness of breath or the difficulty in breathing is particularly conspicuous after one indulges in vigorous physical activities such as exercise or trivial but physically engaging tasks like climbing a staircase.
Restrictive respiratory diseases such as Scoliosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, differ from constructive respiratory conditions by virtue of the fact that they cause stiffness in the lungs; thus, limiting the ability of the lungs to expand. In other instances, the stiffness or the inability of the lungs to expand may be attributed to stiffness of the chest walls and the presence of damaged nerves (McCance & Huether, 2018). Restrictive respiratory diseases ultimately affect the wellness of an individual based on the fact that the stiff lungs cannot expand fully, thus limiting the volume of oxygen inhaled.
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Asides from restrictive and obstructive respiratory ailments, an individual’s respiratory ill-health may be as a result of mixed lung diseases, which is a cluster of disorders that exhibit the characteristics of both obstructive and restrictive respiratory diseases. The occurrence of both obstructions and restriction is usually as a result of a mixture of respiratory conditions rather than as a result of a single ailment (Diaz-Guzman et al., 2010). The mix of parenchymal and non-parenchymal disease that causes both obstructive and restrictive symptoms was mostly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease coupled with congestive heart failure.
Discussion Question 2
Both Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are caused by cigarette smoking. Since Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by extension, cigarette smoking is the number one cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoking irritates the airways and also destroys lung tissues (Baur, Bakehe, & Vellguth, 2012). The destruction causes inflammation of the lungs and subsequent damage to the cilia, which forms the lining of the bronchial tubes (McCance & Huether, 2018). The pathological destruction attributed to cigarette smoking results in the swelling of the airways, excessive production of mucus, and difficulty clearing the airways. The consequence of all these pathological changes is shortness of breath.
The other causative factor of both Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis is exposure to air pollution. Moreover, exposure to other pollutants such as chemical fumes coupled with dust elevated an individual’s predisposition to developing both Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. A study conducted by Rodriguez et al. (2014) showed that exposure to fumes, mineral dust, and other irritants increases an individual’s chances of developing both Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. The exposure to the aforementioned causative factors results in a progressive and partially reversible inflammation of the lung. The inflammatory response of the lungs subsequently results in a more significant number of neutrophils and bronchoalveolar than individuals that have not been exposed to chemical fumes and other pollutants. Wholesomely, the series of pathological changes caused by this exposure limit the ability of the lungs to expel air during exhalation fully. This phenomenon is referred to as shortness of breath. It is noteworthy to point out that Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are not always caused by the same factors.
References
Baur, X., Bakehe, P., & Vellguth, H. (2012). Bronchial asthma and COPD due to irritants in the workplace - an evidence-based approach. Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) , 7 (1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6673-7-19
Diaz-Guzman, E., McCarthy, K., Siu, A., & Stoller, J. K. (2010). Frequency and causes of combined obstruction and restriction identified in pulmonary function tests in adults. Respiratory care , 55 (3), 310-316.
McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2018). Pathophysiology-E-book: the biologic basis for disease in adults and children . Elsevier Health Sciences.
Rodríguez, E., Ferrer, J., Zock, J. P., Serra, I., Antó, J. M., de Batlle, J., Kromhout, H., Vermeulen, R., Donaire-González, D., Benet, M., Balcells, E., Monsó, E., Gayete, A., Garcia-Aymerich, J., & PAC-COPD Study Group (2014). Lifetime occupational exposure to dusts, gases and fumes is associated with bronchitis symptoms and higher diffusion capacity in COPD patients. PloS one , 9 (2), e88426. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088426
