PULMONARY Inflammatory, Immunologic Flashcards
Allergic Rhinitis
When the nose gets irritated by an allergen such as pollen, causing sneezing and other symptoms. For most people, it’s easy to treat with medicines from a pharmacist.
SYMPTOMS: sneezing.
an itchy nose.
a runny or blocked nose.
itchy, red and watery eyes.
a cough.
the roof of your mouth being itchy.
CAUSE:
An allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould, or flakes of skin from certain animals.
Asthma
A disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults can have asthma, too. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or early in the morning
SYMPTOMS: wheezing, coughing and chest tightness becoming severe and constant.
being too breathless to eat, speak or sleep.
breathing faster.
a fast heartbeat.
drowsiness, confusion, exhaustion or dizziness.
blue lips or fingers.
fainting.
CAUSE: Being exposed to things in the environment, like mold or dampness, some allergens such as dust mites, and secondhand tobacco smoke have been linked to developing asthma. Air pollution and viral lung infection may also lead to asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
A chronic inflammatory lung disease that prevents the lungs from getting enough air, making it very hard to breathe. Two of the most common types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It’s most often caused by smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products, or long-term exposure to lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemicals or dust.
When a person has COPD, less air is able to flow into and out of the lungs because of one or more of the following:
The walls of the airways in the lungs, known as bronchial tubes, become inflamed and thickened (known as chronic bronchitis).
The walls between many of the tiny air sacs in the lungs are destroyed (known as emphysema).
The air sacs and the airways in the lungs are less elastic.
The airways in the lungs produce more mucus than normal, which can cause them to become clogged A group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and sometimes asthma
SYMPTOMS: increasing breathlessness – this may only happen when exercising at first, and you may sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless.
a persistent chesty cough with phlegm that does not go away.
frequent chest infections.
persistent wheezing.
CAUSE: long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause COPD, especially if you inhale them. Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to COPD.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
The most common type of pulmonary fibrosis. It is a disease that causes scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. The word “idiopathic” means it has no known cause. Scarring causes stiffness in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.
SYMPTOMS:
shortness of breath.
a persistent dry cough.
tiredness.
loss of appetite and weight loss.
rounded and swollen fingertips (clubbed fingers)
CAUSE:
Exposure to certain types of dust, such as metal or wood dust. viral infections. a family history of IPF – around 1 in 20 people with IPF has another family member with the condition
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are painless and benign (not cancerous) growths. They’re found in nasal passages and sinuses, hollow spaces in the bones around your nose. They form from mucous membranes — thin, soft tissue that lines these body parts. They hang down like teardrops or grapes.
Nasal polyps can get irritated and swollen, partially blocking the nasal passages and sinuses.
SYMPTOMS: Headaches.
Loss of smell or taste.
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Nasal drainage (runny nose).
Nosebleeds.
Postnasal drip (constantly feeling like you have to clear your throat).
Pressure or pain in the sinuses, face or top teeth.
Snoring.
When polyps get big enough, they can block the nasal passages and sinuses, leading to:
Frequent asthma attacks in people with asthma.
Repeated sinus infections.
Sleep apnea or other trouble sleeping.
Trouble breathing, even in people who don’t have asthma.
CAUSE:
They result from chronic inflammation and are associated with asthma, recurring infection, allergies, drug sensitivity or certain immune disorders.
Pleural Effusion
Sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing.
SYMPTOMS: Chest pain.
Dry, nonproductive cough.
Dyspnea (shortness of breath, or difficult, labored breathing)
Orthopnea (the inability to breathe easily unless the person is sitting up straight or standing erect)
CAUSE: fluid leaking into the pleural space. This is from increased pressure in the blood vessels or a low blood protein count. Heart failure is the most common cause.
Pleuritis
Pleurisy is a condition in which the pleura — two large, thin layers of tissue that separate your lungs from your chest wall — becomes inflamed. Also called pleuritis, pleurisy causes sharp chest pain (pleuritic pain) that worsens during breathing
SYMPTOMS: a sharp chest pain when breathing deeply. Sometimes the pain is also felt in the shoulder. The pain may be worse when you cough, sneeze or move around, and it may be relieved by taking shallow breaths. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath and a dry cough
CAUSE: Most cases are the result of a viral infection (such as the flu) or a bacterial infection (such as pneumonia). In rarer cases, pleurisy can be caused by conditions such as a blood clot blocking the flow of blood into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or lung cancer.
Sinusitis
Inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses. Sinuses are hollow spaces within the bones between your eyes, behind your cheekbones, and in your forehead. They make mucus, which keeps the inside of your nose moist. That, in turn, helps protect against dust, allergens, and pollutants.
Healthy sinuses are filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection.
SYMPTOMS: Facial pain or pressure
“Stuffed-up” nose
Runny nose
Loss of smell
Cough or congestion
You may also have:
Fever
Bad breath
Fatigue
Dental pain
include a blocked and stuffy (congested) nose, which may block your sinuses and prevent drainage of mucus.
CAUSE:
most often caused by the common cold.
A viral sinus infection is much more common than a bacterial one.
