Prevention of respiratory disease

Facts about diet and respiratory disease Diet can significantly affect a persons health including the lungs Food is the fuel that the body needs for everything it does, including breathing. The body takes food and the oxygen we breathe and converts it into energy and carbon dioxide, this process is called metabolism A healthy diet is important in helping the body fight infections. Chest infections are dangerous for people with lung conditions, so it is particularly important to maintain a healthy diet Some researchers have found a connection between the diet of a pregnant woman and her babys chances of developing wheezing, allergy and asthma. A maternal diet low in vitamins gives the baby little protection against sensitisation to allergens, a frequent cause of lung problems. Research is Scotland and Saudi Arabia showed a similar link between asthma and a low vitamin diet When people with lung disease are unwell or feeling breathless, they will take less exercise which will result in a weakening of their muscles. Again a well balanced diet is needed with more high protein foods such as meat, fist, poultry and dairy products During an infection and during hot weather, people with respiratory disease should increase their fluid intake as they often produce secretions/mucus which they need to cough-up. If a person with lung disease does not drink enough, their secretions will be thick and sticky and their chances of an infection will be increased. At least four pints of liquid should be consumed a day, preferably water. This will also help with digesting food and avoiding constipation Facts about respiratory disease and the environment One in five people is particularly at risk from air pollution. People who already have a lung disease, the elderly and children are likely to be especially affected by high levels of pollutants Air pollution in the UK brings forward the deaths of between 12,000 to 24,000 people each year[i] It is estimated that 1,600 accelerated deaths and 1,500 respiratory hospital admissions per year occur in London as a result of air pollution[ii]

In October 2001, scientists from University College London warned that air quality on the London underground was up to 73 times worse than at street level. Their research found that travelling for 20 minutes on the Northern Line had the same effect on the lungs as smoking a cigarette[iii]

Facts about outdoor air pollution Millions of tons of harmful gases and particles are released in the air each year. Some of this pollution reaches our lungs with every breath we take Power stations, factories, offices, traffic fumes and dust all help pollute the air we breathe and can irritate the lungs Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution, both in towns and in the country One of the most important factors affecting air pollution is the weather. In summer, pollution levels are higher when there is more sunlight to interact with a mixture of pollutants, especially on still days where there is insufficient wind to disperse them

RESPIRATORY MANAGEMENT IN SPINAL CORD INJURY: BREATHING AND THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM IN SCI: TREATMENTS FOR RESPIRATORY TRACT COMPLICATIONS: RESPIRATORY TREATMENTS WITH A NEBULIZER

If respiratory medication needs to be delivered directly to the lungs, this can be accomplished with a nebulizer, if prescribed by your physician.Indications for this treatment are:

Tightness in chest Increased or thick secretions Pneumonia (congestion) and/or Atelectasis

Reasons to avoid the treatment include:

Increased blood pressure (autonomic hyperreflexia) Increased pulse History of adverse reaction to the medication.

The following equipment is needed for respiratory treatments with a nebulizer:

Nebulizer Compressor oxygen tank (to drive nebulizer) Oxygen tubing Respiratory medication Normal saline (cc vials)

Following is the procedure for treatments with a nebulizer:

Remove cup portion of the nebulizer Draw up prescribed amount of the mediation in the eye dropper Place medication in the medicine cup with 3cc normal saline Return cup to the nebulizer Place oxygen tubing on the nipple on the nebulizer and attach other end to the compressor or oxygen tank

Turn on the compressor or tank until mist is seen coming out of the mouthpiece. Check pulse Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and take slow, deep breaths. If on a ventilator, the nebulizer can be placed in line in the ventilator circuit. To do this, remove the mouthpiece and connect the nebulizer between the dead space tubing and the exhalation valve assembly. During the treatment, monitor the pulse. If the pulse increases to more than 20 beats a minute, discontinue the treatment. Otherwise, continue until the medication is used up. Following the treatment, use postural drainage, percussion, assisted coughing and/or suctioning, as appropriate.

Often, the effects of the treatment are most apparent 15-20 minutes later, and you may need assisted coughing or suctioning at that time

Classification
Respiratory diseases can be classified in many different ways, including by the organ or tissue involved, by the type and pattern of associated signs and symptoms, or by the cause (etiology) of the disease. [edit]Inflammatory

lung disease

Characterised by a high neutrophil count, e.g. asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or acute respiratory distress syndrome.[1] Allergic reactions due to exposure to certain agents (i.e. foods) are a relatively common cause of acute respiratory disease. Some common examples include sea foods prawns, some fatty fish, radish, arrow root, lady's finger, lemon, moong dhal, peanuts, water content spinach, curd, bananas, grapes, pomegranates, berries, custard apple, ice creams, etc. In summer, bad weather condition mean sandy and dusty weather or some may affect in winter also.

[edit]Obstructive

lung diseases

Obstructive lung diseases are diseases of the lung where the airways (i.e. bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli) become reduced in volume or have free flow of gas impeded, making it more difficult to move air in and out of the lung. [edit]Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes asthma an example of an obstructive lung disease, is where the airways become damaged, causing them to narrow. [edit]Asthma Asthma is another example of an obstructive lung disease, (and of an inflammatory lung disease). Asthma attacks can be brought on by triggers, such as air pollution, tobacco smoke, factory fumes, cleaning solvents, infections, pollens, foods, cold air, exercise, chemicals and medications. Triggers are highly individual and may not be related to allergens. Many asthmatics are not allergic to common allergens such as mold, ragweed, dust or pollens. Asthma is a difficulty in breathing causing wheezing due to inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles [edit]Restrictive

lung diseases

Restrictive lung diseases (also known as interstitial lung diseases) are a category of respiratory disease characterized by a loss of lung compliance,[2]causing incomplete lung expansion and increased lung stiffness. E.g. in infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS). [edit]Respiratory

tract infections

Infections can affect any part of the respiratory system. They are traditionally divided into upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections. [edit]Upper respiratory tract infection The most common upper respiratory tract infection is the common cold however, infections of specific organs of the upper respiratory tract such assinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, pharyngitis and laryngitis are also considered upper respiratory tract infections. [edit]Lower respiratory tract infection The most common lower respiratory tract infection in is pneumonia, a lung infection. Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, particularlyStreptococcus pneumoniae in Western countries. Worldwide, tuberculosis is an important cause of pneumonia. Other pathogens such as viruses and fungi can cause pneumonia for example severe acute respiratory syndrome and pneumocystis pneumonia. A pneumonia may develop complications such as a lung abscess, a round cavity in the lung caused by the infection, or may spread to the pleural cavity.

[edit]Respiratory

tumors

Tumours of the respiratory system are either malignant or benign. [edit]Malignant tumors Malignant tumors, or cancers of the respiratory system, particularly lung cancers, are a major health problem responsible for 15% of all cancer diagnoses and 29% of all cancer deaths.[3] The majority of respiratory system cancers are attributable to smoking tobacco. The major types of respiratory system cancer are:

Small cell lung cancer Non-small cell lung cancer

Adenocarcinoma Large cell undifferentiated carcinoma

Other lung cancers (carcinoid, Kaposis sarcoma, melanoma) Lymphoma Head and neck cancer Pleural Mesothelioma, almost always caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

In addition, since many cancers spread via the bloodstream and the entire cardiac output passes through the lungs, it is common for cancermetastases to occur within the lung. Breast cancer may invade directly through local spread, and through lymph node metastases. After metastasis to the liver, colon cancer frequently metastasizes to the lung. Prostate cancer, germ cell cancer and renal cell carcinoma may also metastasize to the lung. Treatment of respiratory system cancer depends on the type of cancer. Surgery (usually removal of part of the lung, a lobectomy or an entire lung, apneumonectomy), chemotherapy and radiotherapy are all used. The chance of surviving lung cancer depends on the cancer stage at the time the cancer is diagnosed and is only about 14-17% overall.[4] In the case of metastases to the lung, treatment can occasionally be curative but only in certain, rare circumstances. [edit]Benign tumors Benign tumors are relatively rare causes of respiratory disease. Examples of benign tumors are:

Pulmonary hamartoma Congenital malformations such as pulmonary sequestration and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM).

[edit]Pleural

cavity diseases

Pleural cavity diseases include emphysema and pleural mesothelioma which are mentioned above.

A collection of fluid in the pleural cavity is known as a pleural effusion. This may be due to fluid shifting from the bloodstream into the pleural cavity due to conditions such as congestive heart failure and cirrhosis. It may also be due to inflammation of the pleura itself as can occur with infection, pulmonary embolus, tuberculosis, mesothelioma and other conditions. A pneumothorax is a hole in the pleura covering the lung allowing air in the lung to escape into the pleural cavity. The affected lung collapses like a deflated balloon. A tension pneumothorax is a particularly severe form of this condition where the air in the pleural cavity cannot escape, so the pneumothorax keeps getting bigger until it compresses the heart and blood vessels, leading to a life threatening situation. [edit]Pulmonary

vascular diseases

Pulmonary vascular diseases are conditions that affect the pulmonary circulation. Examples of these conditions are[citation needed]

Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that forms in a vein, breaks free, travels through the heart and lodges in the lungs (thromboembolism). Large pulmonary emboli are fatal, causing sudden death. A number of other substances can also embolise (travel through the blood stream) to the lungs but they are much more rare: fat embolism (particularly after bony injury), amniotic fluid embolism (with complications of labour and delivery), air embolism (iatrogenic - caused by invasive medical procedures). Pulmonary arterial hypertension, elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries. Most commonly it is idiopathic (i.e. of unknown cause) but it can be due to the effects of another disease, particularly COPD. This can lead to strain on the right side of the heart, a condition known as cor pulmonale. Pulmonary edema, leakage of fluid from capillaries of the lung into the alveoli (or air spaces). It is usually due to congestive heart failure. Pulmonary hemorrhage, inflammation and damage to capillaries in the lung resulting in blood leaking into the alveoli. This may cause blood to be coughed up. Pulmonary hemorrhage can be due to auto-immune disorders such as Wegener's Granulomatosis and Goodpasture's syndrome.

[edit]Diagnosis Respiratory diseases may be investigated by performing one or more of the following tests

Chest x-ray Pulmonary function test Computed tomography scan Culture of microorganisms from secretions such as sputum Bronchoscopy Biopsy of the lung or pleura

Ventilation - perfusion scan Ultrasound scanning can be useful to detect fluid such as pleural effusion

[edit]Epidemiology