Respiratory system: Lung conditions
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Transcript
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There are a variety of conditions that can disrupt respiratory function. As a nursing assistant, you will be caring for clients with lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.
We’ll begin with cystic fibrosis, which is a chronic disease caused by a genetic defect. The disease causes excessive mucus production by the cells in the mucous membranes lining many of the organ systems in the body, including the respiratory system.
Normally, the mucus in our respiratory system is thin and watery, and it protects our respiratory tract from microbes, like bacteria and viruses and foreign particles, like dust or dirt, while keeping the respiratory tract warm and moist so that we can breathe comfortably.
In cystic fibrosis, though, the mucus is thick, sticky, and present in excess. So, it can build up and stick to the walls of the airway, restricting airflow and irritating and inflaming the respiratory tract.
This causes a client to have difficulty breathing; wheezing; and a productive cough, which means they cough up mucus.
The thick, sticky mucus is also a great home for microbes, which can often remain in the respiratory tract, making clients with cystic fibrosis more susceptible to infections.
While there is no cure for cystic fibrosis, treatment is centered around maintaining healthy lung function and preventing complications.
This is generally accomplished through proper hydration to thin mucus secretions, chest physiotherapy to clear the airway, exercise to keep the respiratory muscles strong, medications to open up the airway and fight off infections, and sometimes lung transplants for clients that don’t respond to these therapies.
Okay. Next up is asthma. Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by reversible episodes of inflammation and constriction, or narrowing, of the bronchi and bronchioles in response to certain triggers, like allergies, exertional activity, cold air, smoke, stress, or respiratory infections.
Summary
The lungs are vital organs that play a central role in the body's respiratory system. They are responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. However, many lung conditions can affect their function and cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and wheezing.
Common lung conditions include cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a genetic defect that results in the overproduction of thick mucus in the respiratory tract. Its symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, and a productive cough. Treatment involves proper hydration, chest physiotherapy, exercise, medications to open up the airway and fight off infections, and sometimes, lung transplants. Asthma is reversible episodes of bronchoconstriction in response to allergies or environmental triggers, causing difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest pain. Asthma attacks are treated with bronchodilators, and long-term management involves inhaled or oral medications.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases that interfere with gas exchange. In emphysema, the damage involves the alveoli, while chronic bronchitis involves the bronchi. Both are caused by long-term exposure to inhaled toxins, like tobacco smoke. Treatment can involve medications, supplemental oxygen, and smoking cessation. Cancers of the respiratory tract may produce respiratory symptoms, like shortness of breath or productive cough, as well as systemic symptoms, like fatigue or unintended weight loss. Treatments vary among the types of cancers, but they all may involve medications, radiation therapy, or surgery.
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