Diseases of the respiratory system

The term pneumoconiosis means dust in the lung, but medically refers to the reaction of the limg to the presence of dust.  

Respirable dust is that dust in the air which on inhalation may be retained by the lungs. The amount of dust retained depends on the duration of 

Beryllium dust causes acute and chronic S5unptoms. Early features are breathlessness, cough with bloody sputum and chest pain. Recovery follows removal from exposure, but a chronic state can develop insidiously with cough, breathlessness and loss of weight. 

Organic dusts, such as mouldy hay, when inhaled cause a disease known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis with flu-like symptoms cough and difficulty in breathing occur within a few hours of exposure. Repeated exposure leads to further limg damage and chronic breathlessness. 

Talc is a white powder consisting of hydrous magnesium silicate. Although some talc presents little risk to he th, commercial grades may contain asbestos and quartz and provoke pneumoconiosis and limg cancer. 

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As discussed in more detail in Section 2.2.1.1, Bates et al. (1997) found a significant increase in mortality from diseases of the respiratory system for residents of the Rotorua area of New Zealand for the period of 1981-1990. Rotorua is in an area of high geothermal activity sampling from a campaign in 1978 indicated a median concentration for hydrogen sulfide of about 20 g/m3 with 35% of the measurements >70 g/m3 and 10% >400 g/m3. Problems with the analysis, however, led these authors to conclude that there were no clear indications of excess mortality. 

Approximately 30 y after exposure, there were no significant increases in mortality from overall cancer or cancers at specific anatomical sites, in diseases of the respiratory system, or in overall mortality noted in this cohort. However, the exposure period covered by the study was short, the exposed groups were small, and the exposure levels were not well documented. Consequently, evidence presented in this study is inadequate to assess the carcinogenicity of phosgene. 

In Taiwan the ratio of deaths occurring above age 65 of total deaths for a category varied widely. In 1985 the ratio ranged from 33% for diseases of the nervous system to 70% for diseases of the respiratory system. In 2002 the corresponding ratios for these two categories increased... 

Asthma A chronic disease of the respiratory system characterized by bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and the formation of mucous plugs in the airway. 

Beryllium is a very toxic metal. It is especially dangerous in powder form. The effects of inhaling beryllium powder can be acute or chronic. Acute effects are those that occur very quickly as the result of large exposures. Chronic effects are those that occur over very long periods of time as the result of much smaller exposures. Acute effects of inhaling beryllium powder include pneumonia-like symptoms that can result in death in a short time. Chronic effects include diseases of the respiratory system (throat and lungs), such as bronchitis and lung cancer. 

As with cardiac and blood disorders, respiratory disease is relatively common in many older patients. However, there are common respiratory disorders that affect younger people as well. Although there are probably not as many diseases of the respiratory system as there are of the cardiovascular system, there are still a number of important groups of drugs that are used to treat respiratory disorders and their use can be life saving. 

In order to understand diseases of the respiratory system and how they can be treated, it is necessary to have an overview of the normal function of the respiratory system that is the structures involved, the mechanism of breathing and gas exchange and the control and variation of breathing rate. Air must be able to get in and out of the lungs efficiently and gas exchange must be adequate. Any condition that interferes with these processes will cause disease. 

Bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis and hay fever are common diseases of the respiratory system and are discussed below together with their treatment. 

Involvement of the blood circulation, haemoglobin, deterioration of heart diseases and diseases of the respiratory system, cephalalgias, increased fatigue... 

Irritation of eyes and lung, deteriora tion of diseases of the respiratory system, increased mortality from other diseases... 

Diseases of the respiratory system, nervous system, induction of tumour diseases, teratogenic effect... 

Damage to mucous membranes, deteriorated breathing and diseases of the respiratory system, irritation of the lung, eyes and skin... 

Coal dust can lead to many health damages, such as pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular diseases and acute respiratory infections (ARI), which all belong to diseases of the respiratory system. Therefore, the health damages caused by dust are classified into respiratory system related damage indicators. 

But the problems about which public opinion has been most sensitive have turned out to be concerns about the environment and more particularly atmospheric pollution, owing to their consequences on human health genetic mutations and cancers, decrease in the effectiveness of the immune system, diseases of the respiratory system, the eyes, the skin. 

There are numerous naturally occurring diseases of the respiratory system that may affect either the upper or lower respiratory tract. The models for some of the major respiratory disorders (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), asthma, fibrotic lung disease) will be briefly summarized. 

P. Jungebluth, P. MacChiarini, Stem cell-based therapy and regenerative approaches to diseases of the respiratory system, Br. Med. Bull 99 (1) (2011) 169—187. 

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