Page 209 - 84 human physiolofy part-1

The Respiratory System

body will "fill the hole".

Problems Associated With the Respiratory Tract and
Breathing

The environment of the lung is very moist, which makes it a hospitable environment for bacteria.
Many respiratory illnesses are the result of bacterial or viral infection of the lungs. Because we are
constantly being exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses in our environment, our respiratory health can
be adversely affected. There are a number of illnesses and diseases that can cause problems with
breathing. Some are simple infections, and others are disorders that can be quite serious.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: caused when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in place of
oxygen. Carbon monoxide binds much tighter, without releasing, causing the hemoglobin to become
unavailable to oxygen. The result can be fatal in a very short amount of time.

Mild Symptoms: flu like symptoms, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and irregular breathing
Moderate Symptoms: chest pain, rapid heart beat, difficulty thinking, blurred vision, shortness of
breath and unsteadiness
Severe Symptoms: seizures, palpitations, disorientation, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure,
coma and death.

Pulmonary Embolism: blockage of the pulmonary artery (or one of its branches) by a blood clot,
fat, air or clumped tumor cells. By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a
thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged
from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs.

Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory
instability and death. Treatment, usually, is with anticoagulant medication.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

The upper respiratory tract consists of our nasal cavities, pharynx, and larynx. Upper respiratory
infections (URI) can spread from our nasal cavities to our sinuses, ears, and larynx. Sometimes a viral
infection can lead to what is called a secondary bacterial infection. "Strep throat" is a primary
bacterial infection and can lead to an upper respiratory infection that can be generalized or even
systemic (affects the body as a whole). Antibiotics aren't used to treat viral infections, but are
successful in treating most bacterial infections, including strep throat. The symptoms of strep throat can
be a high fever, severe sore throat, white patches on a dark red throat, and stomach ache.

Sinusitis
An infection of the cranial sinuses is called sinusitis. Only about 1-3% of URI's are accompanied
by sinusitis. This "sinus infection" develops when nasal congestion blocks off the tiny openings
that lead to the sinuses. Some symptoms include: post nasal discharge, facial pain that worsens
when bending forward, and sometimes even tooth pain can be a symptom. Successful treatment
depends on restoring the proper drainage of the sinuses. Taking a hot shower or sleeping upright
can be very helpful. Otherwise, using a spray decongestant or sometimes a prescribed antibiotic

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