BRONCHITIS

Bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs.

Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is often caused by
viruses which can infect the respiratory tract and attack the bronchial tubes.
It lasts only a short period of time. Chronic bronchitis, though, can be mild to
severe and can last from several months to years. The most common cause
of chronic bronchitis is smoking.

The signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis include:

• Cough – at first dry, but later abundant sputum is coughed up

• Production of mucus, either clear or white or yellowish gray or green in

colour

• Fever

• Chest discomfort

• Wheezing

• Loss of appetite

• Respiratory distress

• Fatigue

• Sore throat

• Chest congestion

• Headache

The signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis are as follows:

• Persistent, productive cough that’s worse in the morning and in damp

weather

• In severe cases, patient may cough up thick, yellowish mucus

 • Shortness of breath

• Weight loss

• Frequent chest infections

• Various characteristic wheezes may be produced by the passage of air

through the narrowed bronchi.

LUNG CANCER

Cancer occurs when normal cells grow and multiply without control. Lung
cancer occurs when this uncontrolled cell growth begins in one or both lungs.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is the
leading cause of death throughout the world. Cigarette smoke causes most
lung cancers. Lung cancer is also caused by radiation.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:

• Persistent or intense coughing

• Pain in the chest, shoulder or back from coughing

• Changes in colour of the mucus that is coughed up from the airways

• Difficulty breathing and swallowing

• Hoarseness of the voice

• Harsh sounds while breathing

• Chronic bronchitis or pneumonia

 • Coughing up blood, or blood in the sputum

If the lung cancer spreads or metastasizes throughout the lungs, patients

may experience swollen or enlarged lymph nodes or collapse of the lungs or
cardiac arrest.

As the cancer spreads throughout the body systems, new symptoms may be
presented such as:

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Unexplained weight loss

• Pain in joints or bones

• Problems with brain functions and memory

• Swelling in the neck or face

• General weakness

• Bleeding and blood clots

ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways that causes constriction of

the bronchial tubes, which interferes with the normal movement of air in and
out of the lungs. The two main factors of asthma are inflammation of the
airway passages and hyperreactive bronchi.

There are two types of asthma:

• Allergic asthma

• Bronchial asthma

Both types of asthma are caused by an abnormal sensitivity to certain

substances or irritations. Allergic asthma is triggered by an allergic reaction
to allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust, foods, mold or feathers.
Bronchial asthma may be triggered or made worse by irritants in the air,
such as dirt, cigarette smoke, gases or air pollution.

Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

• Wheezing

• Cough – chronic or recurring

• Pain or a tight feeling in the chest

• Flaring of the nostrils during inspiration

• Shortness of breath

• Interrupted talking

• Agitation

• The appearance of hunched shoulders, hunching forward or preferring

not to lie down
 Emphysema

Emphysema is a long-term progressive lung disease that reduces the ability

of the lungs to expel air. It involves damage to the lungs air sacs which
affects breathing. Cigarette smoke is the number one cause of emphysema
around the world. Emphysema is also caused by a protein deficiency called
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Signs and symptoms of emphysema include:

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing

• Chest tightness with breathing

• Coughing (with or without sputum)

• Excess mucus production

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

• Loss of appetite

• Difficulty breathing

• Reduced capacity for physical activity

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-chemicals-in-
cigarettes.html

http://www.smokefreereality.com/ingredients.php

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bronchitis/article_em.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lungcancer.html

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-symptoms

http://www.asthma.com/

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/emphysema/EMP_causes.html

http://emphysema.org/

New age encyclopaedia, 1981

Colliers encyclopaedia, 1984