Lungs and Airways Archives - Healthhype

Consolidation of Lung – Signs, Symptoms and Causes

Dr. Chris — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:55:46 +0000

What is lung consolidation? Consolidation of the lung is simply a “solidification” of the lung tissue due to accumulation of solid and liquid material in the air spaces that would have normally been filled by gas. It is also known as pulmonary consolidation. The most common cause of consolidation is pneumonia – inflammation of the lung – as cellular debris, blood cells and exudate collects in the alveoli (air sacs) of the lung. Consolidation may be patchy in distribution and involve only certain lobules of the lung although it can be widespread and affect entire lobes of the lung. It may be complete or incomplete. Although the term ‘consolidation’ is often used loosely and associated with pneumonia, it can also occur for various other reasons. Accumulation of pus, edema and even collapse of the lung (atelectasis) may also result in consolidation. The collection of solids and fluid is not isolated to the air spaces and the surrounding lung parenchyma may also be edematous. This affects the lung’s capacity to expand and allow for gas exchange between the air spaces and blood vessels in the lung tissue. Signs and Symptoms of Consolidation Some of the more prominent symptoms may be due [...]

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Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung Disease, Coal Dust Inhalation)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:14:13 +0000

What is black lung disease? Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a type of lung disease that is caused by inhaling coal dust particles. It is commonly known as black lung disease or coal miner’s lung. As with other common types of pneumoconiosis, namely asbestosis (asbestos fibers) and silicosis (silica particles, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis may result in extensive fibrotic scarring of the lung tissue. Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis may be categorized as simple CWP or complicated CWP. In the early stages, the damage to the lung may be minimal with little or no symptoms. This innocuous stage is known as asymptomatic anthracosis. Anthracosis is also seen with cigarette smoking and urban pollution due to the inhalation of carbon dust. Carbon dust in coal is the main causative particle of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis. Its effect may be compounded by the presence of silica dust which promotes rapid progression of the disease. Types of Coal Dust Lung Disease Anthracosis is the initial milder form of lung disease caused by the inhalation and accumulation of coal dust particles in the airways and lungs. Although it is often termed asymptomatic anthracosis, patients may display mild non-specific symptoms and have a greater predisposition to repeated respiratory tract [...]

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Foreign Body Aspiration (Object Blocking the Airways)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:42:08 +0000

What is foreign body aspiration? Foreign body aspiration is a medical emergency that arises when an object enters the airways. Depending on the size of the object, either a solid or semi-solid, it may obstruct the airways. A significant or complete obstruction can be life-threatening within minutes. Smaller objects may lodge in the tract, causing inflammation and increasing the chances of infection. Although children are the highest risk group, foreign body aspiration can affect any age group. Foreign body aspiration in young children is largely due to purposely swallowing large or inedible objects, whereas with adults it primarily due to throat problems, use of sedatives and an impaired gag reflex. Location of Foreign Body A foreign body may be lodged in the larynx, trachea or bronchi. Fluid or semi-solid material may pass into the lungs. The bronchi are a common site where a foreign body may lodge. In children it can lodge in either bronchi. In adults, however, the right bronchi is more commonly affected because the angle difference between both the right and left bronchi differs. The path between the trachea and lung is straighter down the right bronchus and it is therefore a more commonly affected site. The [...]

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Berylliosis (Berylllium Lung Disease)

Dr. Chris — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:46:52 +0000

What is berylliosis? Berylliosis is type of lung disease caused by inhaling beryllium. It only affects a small proportion of people exposed to beryllium and is mainly seen among beryllium workers. Beryllium is a metal that is not commonly encountered in everyday life . Therefore berylliosis is primarily an occupational lung disease. It can be inhaled as a dust or vapor. Beryllium inhalation can cause two types of lung conditions – one is an acute pneumonitis and the other is a chronic granulomatous lung disease. It is the chronic form which is known as berylliosis but the term is often loosely used even for the acute form of beryllium lung diseae. Beryllium Exposure Beryllium exposure mainly occurs in workers handling the metal or items containing beryllium. The metal enters the body mainly through the lungs during inhalation but can also enter through contact with broken skin. Beryllium on its own can be eliminated from the body over time as it passed out through the urine over weeks and months. However, different compounds containing beryllium (where beryllium is bonded to other substances) may not be eliminated as easily and could be retained permanently in the body. Workers dealing with beryllium processing [...]

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When Is A Cough Serious And Needs Medical Attention?

Dr. Chris — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 21:25:54 +0000

A little sniffle, slight cough or a mild sore throat are some of the common symptoms we tend to ignore at the outset. But just when do we take these symptoms seriously? In the ideal situation, we should seek immediate medical care but this is not always necessary or feasible in the current economic environment. Therefore some degree of individual discretion is necessary. S0metimes a mild cough can be due to a serious life threatening disease while a severe cough may be a symptom of a mild acute infection that will pass on its own. It is difficult to say when exactly a cough should be considered serious enough to warrant medical attention. Why do we cough? The cough reflex is one of the body’s protective mechanisms. It is similar to a sneeze. Both these events are intended to clear the airways – sneezing for the upper passages like the nose and a cough for the passages from the throat (pharynx) and voice box (larynx) to the lower airways like the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. Any irritation from the pharynx to the bronchioles will elicit a cough. It is the body’s attempt to push out the irritant from the airways. [...]

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Common Asthma Triggers To Avoid (Airbone and Dietary)

Dr. Chris — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 00:31:13 +0000

Asthma affects about 23 million people in the United States, 7 million of whom are children. It is one of the common chronic airway problems that is not related to an infection. Although asthma can be well managed with drug therapy, asthmatics are still advised to take responsibility for their condition and make the appropriate lifestyle changes where and when necessary. One of these conservative measures is to avoid factors that may trigger asthmatic attacks. The exact trigger may not always be obvious but there some common triggers that affects the majority of asthmatics. There are several different types of asthma but the most common is atopic or allergic asthma. This means that the inflammation in the airway is due to an abnormal immune reaction to otherwise harmless substances. The immune-mediated hypersensitivity that occurs in allergic asthma is similar to other conditions like allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and other common allergic diseases. In asthma, most of the triggers are inhaled substances (allergens). These are common substances in the environment that is usually harmless to a person without an allergy. Airborne Allergens at Home Some of the most common triggers of asthma are actually found within the home. These include animal [...]

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Names Of Airway Infections and Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:00:04 +0000

Airway infections are common both among adults and children. In fact it is the most common type of acute illness that affects every person quite frequently in life. However, many people still confuse infections affecting different parts of the airways. Although all parts of the airways serve the same primary function – the movement of air to and from the lungs – each part may have additional functions.Therefore understanding the terms related to these parts of the airways with different names is important in order to understand how the symptoms may vary when an infection sets in. Some types of airway infections are more severe than others, especially when it affects the lower airways close to the lungs. Delaying treatment or not using medication as prescribed can lead to serious complications, which may sometimes be fatal. The airway is the common term for the respiratory tract which starts at the nose and ends at the lungs. It is important to note that while the lungs are a part of the respiratory tract, it is not typically considered to be a part of the airways. The lungs are responsible for the exchanges of gas between the air and bloodstream. The airways [...]

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Tobbacco Worker’s Lung

Dr. Chris — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:22:17 +0000

Definition Tobacco worker’s lung is a condition marked by lung inflammation and subsequent scarring in the air sacs due to inhaling molds present in tobacco. It is not a lung infection but rather an immune reaction within the lungs to these molds. It is a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis. The condition is also known as tobacco farmer’s lung but also occurs among tobaccos factory worker. Even though tobacco is commonly encountered in daily life, especially among tobacco users, this lung condition is almost entirely seen only in tobacco factory and farm workers. It is a result of a prolonged exposure to large amounts of tobacco dust with the airborne mold that the condition arises. Such large amounts is not encountered in daily life. Cigarette smoking may exacerbate tobacco worker’s lung but is not the cause of the condition. Incidence The prevalence of tobacco worker’s lung is difficult to estimate as there is no reputable data. Often tobacco worker’s remain undiagnosed until the late stages. Furthermore the major tobacco producers are within developing nations in Asia and South America where reliable data may be difficult to acquire. Despite this lack of documented evidence, there have been findings [...]

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Respiratory Acidosis (Carbon Dioxide Blood Acidity)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:49:46 +0000

Respiratory Acidosis Definition Respiratory acidosis refers to the condition in which body fluids, especially the blood, become too acidic due to higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide. It is an indication that breathing (ventilation) is not adequately expelling the carbon dioxide from the body. There are a number of different causes of respiratory acidosis. It is a state that arises with certain diseases, and is not a disease on its own. Without proper intervention respiratory acidosis can lead to a host of severe complications and even progress to death. Respiratory vs Metabolic Acidosis The term acidosis broadly refers to any decrease in pH (rise in acidity) within the body fluids. It is more correctly known as acidemia when referring to the pH within the blood in an artery. There are broadly two types – metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis. In metabolic acidosis, the rise is acidity is result of the acidic byproducts of metabolism which are normally excreted by the kidneys. With respiratory acidosis, the increase in acidity is associated with a build up of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) related to inadequate expulsion via the lungs (hypoventilation). Respiratory Acidosis Reasons The body uses oxygen for energy products and in the [...]

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Tight Chest and Restricted Breathing Causes and Warning Signs

Dr. Chris — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:26:23 +0000

The chest houses many of the vital organs such as the heart and great blood vessels as well as the lungs and airways. The sturdy ribcage, breastbone and vertebrae at the back protect these organs. Breathing and pumping of blood never ceases and these vital organs are working throughout life. Normally a person is not aware of sensations such as expansion and contraction of the lungs or the beating of the heart, except when these organs are working at full capacity usually as a consequence of strenuous physical activity. Therefore any sensation within the chest is always a cause for concern especially when one is not undertaking strenuous activity as it may be a symptom of some underlying disorder of the vital organs. What is a tight chest? A tight chest is a common term to describe a constricting sensation within the chest. It is often associated with difficulty breathing which is known as dyspnea. Although these are several organs in the chest cavity from which tightness may emanate, it is a tight chest with restricted breathing that is more likely to be associated with the vital organs – heart and blood vessels or lungs and airways. Therefore the simultaneous [...]

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