Respiratory Disorders Research Assignment Paper

Respiratory Disorders
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Respiratory Disorders
Respiratory disorders are pathological conditions that affect organs and tissues that deal with the gaseous exchange in highest organisms. They mainly affect the upper respiratory tract, bronchi, trachea, lungs, pleural cavity muscles and nerves in the system. This paper looks at bronchitis as a respiratory disorder. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi. It is mainly divided into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
Acute Bronchitis is caused by viruses typically those that cause common cold known as influenza. Besides this, it can be caused by exposure to substances that irritate the lungs such as smoking, fumes, vapors, dust and toxic gasses in the environment. However, some factors increase chances of bronchitis. These factors are; little resistance. Low resistance is brought by another illness such as the common cold that reduces a person’s immunity.
Acute bronchitis is characterized by coughing that lingers on for several weeks even after the inflammation stops. In cases of chronic bronchitis, the patient has a cough that persists for more than three weeks with repetitive bouts occurring mainly after two years (Gibson et. al., 1989). Other symptoms to look out for are; shortness of breath, fatigue, production of sputum which can be whitish, yellowish clear or green. In severe cases, it has traces of blood on it, slight fever and chills and chest pains. These symptoms once seen should be reported to the doctor if there is trouble sleeping, the patient has a high fever, or there is the production of blood and discolored mucus (Irwin et. al., 2006).
Bronchitis can be confused with common cold in the first stages of its development. During the examination, the doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and the person's breathing. In some cases, the doctor might recommend further tests such as chest x-rays. The purpose of the x-ray is to find out if the patient has another condition such as pneumonia that would cause a cough. This test is particularly important for people who are or have been smokers. A sputum test is also another test that can be conducted. Sputum is the mucus that is produced when someone coughs up from their lungs. Sputum can be used to find out if the person has allergies or if they have a whooping cough which can be treated with antibiotics. The last test is the pulmonary function test where a patient blows into a spirometer which measures the amount of air that they can hold in their lungs and how quickly they can expel it (McKiernan, 2000).
Acute bronchitis resolves on its own in most cases. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the physician suspects the person has a bacterial infection. Coughing medication to reduce the inflammation and in severe cases, they are recommended inhalers. A person with chronic bronchitis might use pulmonary rehabilitation. This is a breathing therapy program with a respiratory expert who teaches how to breathe with ease. Also, individuals with chronic bronchitis should avoid irritants such as smoking and dust. They should ...