Respiratory Systems

Thinking about this topic of the respiratory system I honestly had a hard time thinking of a common respiratory disease, but when I started researching it hit me. Asthma! It is one of the most common respiratory disease affecting more then 23 million people (including myself). Respiratory diseases are important because their affects on “individuals, their families, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, cities, and states. Because of the cost of the health care system, the burden of respiratory diseases also falls on society…” (NHLBI)

The prevalence of asthma has increased since 1980. However, deaths from asthma have decreased since the mid 1990s. Risks factors of asthma are still being researched, however there is a list that include: Having a parent with asthma, sensitization of irritants and allergens, respiratory infections in childhood, and being overweight. Asthma affects people of every race, sex, and age. Yet, is more pronounced in low-income and minority populations due to cleanliness.

Signs and symptoms of asthma can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. However, not all people who have asthma have these symptoms. Although you have these symptoms doesn’t mean you have asthma either. To be sure you have asthma you can go to an allergist or regular doctor and have a lung function test done. It’s better to get it check, sometimes severe cases of asthma can be fatal, other times can just your symptoms can just be annoying or a nuisance.

Treatments are easy if followed correctly. Avoiding triggers, this means to stay away from things that worsen your asthma attacks. For example, if pollen worsens your asthma try limiting your activities outside. Another treatment is medicine, which can be taken in pill form, but the most common is an inhaler. An inhaler allows the medicine to go directly to your lungs by taking two or three puffs. A long-term control medicine would be a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a...