Lungs
Swimming, an excellent way to get into and stay in shape
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admin 2 November, 2008
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Swimming is an excellent way to get into and stay in shape. If you do not own a pool, many high schools have aquatic centers, or there is always the YWCA or YMCA, or your local gym. Many offer water aerobic classes that will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and get a good overall workout.
Categories : Lungs, Men's Health, Tips and Advices, Women's Health
Jogging or Walking, Great Ways To Get Fit
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admin 2 November, 2008
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Both jogging and walking are GREAT ways to get fit. Not only do they tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and improve lung capability, they make you look wonderful, which in turns helps you get excited about doing other exercise for fitness.
Categories : Fitness, Health, Heart, Blood, and Circulation, Lungs, Men's Health, Women's Health
Diagnostic Procedures
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admin 13 August, 2008
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The details about your symptoms of lung disease help your physician make an initial diagnosis. Tests of lung function and procedures to visualize your lungs are needed to confirm a diagnosis or to plan or monitor treatment. If your doctor thinks that you may have a lung disorder, you will likely undergo some of the following diagnostic procedures:
• Spirometry. This is the simplest and most commonly performed lung function test. Spirometry is used to check or to evaluate a lung disorder and to monitor a person’s response to treatment. In this procedure the person takes a deep breath and exhales forcefully into the mouthpiece of a machine called a spirometer. The spirometer measures the total volume of air exhaled, which is the forced vital capacity (FVC), and the rate at which the air was exhaled, which is the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
• Arterial blood gases test. This blood test is performed to determine the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and the acidity of the blood. Samples of blood are drawn from an artery. This procedure is useful for diagnosing and monitoring respiratory failure.
• Thoracentesis. If you have fluid in the pleural space, your doctor will insert a needle to draw some out. You will be awake, sitting upright, and leaning forward slightly. Your skin will be cleansed and anesthetized. The location at which the needle is inserted depends on where the fluid is located. This is determined by listening with a stethoscope, or by a chest X ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan.
• Bronchoscopy. Your doctor may want to look directly into your lungs with a bronchoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a light and video camera at its tip. Your doctor also can use the bronchoscope to take samples of mucus and tissue from the lungs. Bronchoscopy can be used for both diagnosis and treatment, such as removing foreign bodies and clearing unwanted fluids. The procedure is performed while you are awake and lying on your back. You will be sedated and given adequate pain medication. The doctor also will give you medication to keep you from gagging or coughing during the procedure. Oxygen is delivered to your lungs via a tube that has been passed through one nostril; the bronchoscope will be threaded through your mouth or the other nostril. Your doctor will watch the video display as the bronchoscope moves through the airway into your lungs. These images also will be recorded on videotape, and the most helpful images will be printed out.
• Thoracotomy. When a bronchoscopy is insufficient to make a diagnosis or shows problems that require more thorough evaluation, your doctor may recommend an endoscopic examination of the pleural space. During the examination, the doctor may perform either of two minor surgical procedures— a mediastinoscopy or a thoracoscopy. If the problem is more extensive, you may need to have a major surgical procedure called a thoracotomy. You will have general anesthesia for a thoracotomy, in which the chest cavity is opened and the lungs and surrounding tissues are examined. Pieces of tissue will be removed for laboratory analysis, and the overall state of the respiratory system will be assessed. Often this can be achieved through a small incision between the ribs. Sometimes a larger surgical opening must be created.
Categories : Lungs
Other Lung Disorders
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The following less common lung disorders can occur under specific environmental circumstances or as a result of another disease or an injury. You should watch for symptoms of these conditions if you are at risk.
• Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This medical emergency often occurs within 24 to 48 hours after an acute respiratory illness or injury such as pneumonia, chest trauma, severe burns, near-drowning, or pulmonary embolism. The initial symptom is labored, shallow, rapid breathing. The skin may then turn blue due to lack of oxygen. ARDS usually occurs in a hospital setting and requires urgent attention including mechanical assistance to maintain breathing.
• Occupational lung disease. One type of occupational lung disease is black lung disease (anthracosis), which occurs among coal miners who have inhaled coal dust over the course of many years. Many other lung disorders can result from inhaling various substances (fumes or dusts) in the workplace. For example, silicosis, the oldest known occupational lung disease, results from repeated exposure to silica or quartz dust in occupations such as stone cutting, blasting, and mining. Berylliosis develops after exposure to beryllium, a metallic element used in the nuclear and aerospace industries and in the manufacture of electronics and chemicals. Irritant gases and fumes sometimes found in the workplace—including chlorine, phosgene, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, and ammonia—can cause permanent damage to the respiratory system. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to a chronic lung disease called asbestosis. Possible complications of asbestosis include lung cancer, pleural effusion, and respiratory failure (a condition in which there is too much carbon dioxide and too little oxygen in the blood). Typical symptoms of occupational lung disease include a chronic cough and shortness of breath. Measures to prevent occupational lung disease include the use of protective gear and clothing and the enforcement of dust control standards, along with regular screening tests. Since the 1970s, asbestos has been replaced by safer materials whenever possible.
• Hypersensitivity disease. This refers to allergic pulmonary disease that results from inhalation of organic dust or chemicals. Occupational exposure to potential allergens (substances that cause allergic responses) such as molds and dust from hay, birds, sugarcane, mushrooms, barley, malt, cheese, wheat flour, straw, sawdust, humidifiers, air conditioners, and a variety of chemical manufacturing processes can cause tumorlike granulomas to form inside the lungs. Once the lungs are sensitized to a specific allergen, the allergic response is rapid and severe. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. The most effective treatment is to avoid all contact with the allergen, which will allow the granulomas to clear up on their own. If you are exposed to potential allergens at work, be sure to practice dust-control measures and wear appropriate protective gear such as a mask or a respirator.
• High-altitude pulmonary edema. If work or recreation takes you to high altitudes, watch for possible symptoms such as increasing shortness of breath, weakness, irregular heartbeat, rapid pulse, abnormal breathing sounds, dizziness, fatigue, and cough. Life-threatening high-altitude disorders can occur quickly after rapid ascents above 8,000 feet. Pulmonary embolism and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) can occur if initial symptoms are ignored. The brain, heart, and muscles also can be affected by acute altitude sickness. A rapid descent to a lower altitude is the most effective treatment, but supplemental oxygen also should be used. To prevent this disorder, climbers should always make a gradual ascent, stop to rest at intermittent altitudes, and use supplemental oxygen as needed.
Categories : Lungs
Disorders of the Pleura
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The Pleura
The pleura is a thin membrane with two layers that cover the lungs
and chest cavity.Fluid between the two layers provides lubrication
and allows smooth expansion and contraction of the lungs
during breathing.
The outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity are lined by a continuous membrane called the pleura (see image). The portion of the pleura surrounding the lungs is called the visceral pleura, while the portion along the chest wall is called the parietal pleura. The pleural space is moistened with a small amount of fluid that allows the two sides of the lining to slide against each other easily during each breath. In a healthy person the two pleural surfaces are adjacent to each other and there is little space between the two pleural membranes.
Pleurisy
The pleura can become inflamed due to an infection of the underlying lung (such as pneumonia), an infectious agent that enters the pleural space, injury (such as a rib fracture), and exposure to asbestos fibers. The pleura become swollen, and their surfaces may stick together rather than move freely when the person breathes. This causes chest pain that is aggravated by a deep breath or a cough. The pain may extend to the neck, shoulders, or abdomen on the affected side. Efforts to minimize the pain often lead to rapid, shallow breathing.
Because pleurisy is a symptom and not a disease or disorder, the only way to eliminate it is to treat the underlying cause. In the meantime, your doctor probably will recommend that you take a nonprescription painkiller such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. Also, you might be more comfortable if you wrap your chest with elastic cloth bandages, or if you clutch a pillow to the affected side to minimize chest wall motion during breathing.
Pleural Effusion
Heart failure, cancer, pulmonary embolism, infection, and inflammation can cause fluid to accumulate in the pleural space. The presence of any excess fluid in the pleural space is known as pleural effusion. Fluid can accumulate due to changes in pressure in the lymphatic or blood circulation of the pleural space, or to changes in the permeability of the pleural membranes. If blood accumulates in the pleural space, the condition is known as hemothorax. If pus is involved, the condition is called empyema.
Sometimes a pleural effusion is discovered by chance on a chest X ray that was taken for another purpose. Common symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. Identifying the cause of and determining the appropriate treatment for pleural effusion require removing and examining some of the fluid using a procedure called thoracentesis. A biopsy (removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope) of the pleural membranes also may be performed. To help the person’s breathing and relieve the discomfort associated with pleural effusion, and to help make a diagnosis, some or all of the fluid is drained with a needle or a tube. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the fluid buildup.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax refers to the accumulation of air in the pleural space. It can result from a penetrating injury such as a rib fracture, or from diseases—such as emphysema, asthma, tuberculosis, or cystic fibrosis—that cause an air leak from the lung into the pleural space. Spontaneous pneumothorax can occur for no apparent reason in tall men younger than 40 and among people who scuba dive or engage in high-altitude activities such as mountain climbing.
Symptoms of pneumothorax include acute (sudden) pain on one side accompanied by shortness of breath and, sometimes, a dry, hacking cough. However, you may experience less severe symptoms if only a small area of the pleural space is involved or if the condition develops slowly. As with pleurisy, the pain may extend to other areas, such as the shoulder or the abdomen.
Your doctor can diagnose pneumothorax based on changes in breath sounds, as detected with a stethoscope, and with a chest X ray. A small, spontaneous pneumothorax will usually clear up on its own in a few days as the air is absorbed into surrounding tissues. In emergency situations the air may need to be drawn out with a needle or a tube inserted into the chest cavity to relieve pressure. With a larger or recurrent pneumothorax, surgical repair may be required.
Categories : Lungs
Infectious Lung Disorders
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Your lungs have built-in mechanisms for filtering out foreign substances that are inhaled with each breath. Despite these mechanisms, however, with repeated exposure to infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria, or with a change in your immune system, your risk of contracting a respiratory infection increases. This is especially true if your lungs have been damaged by smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants or if you have a chronic disease or take medications that decrease the effectiveness of your immune system. Some infectious microorganisms that enter the body through the lungs can affect many different organ systems. Others remain in the lungs, causing infection and inflammation.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia refers to an infection of the lungs. Lobar pneumonia is usually restricted to a single lobe of one lung (although more than one lobe may be involved), while bronchial pneumonia affects more widespread areas in both lungs. The specific type of pneumonia depends on the agent causing the infection. The three major microorganisms that cause pneumonia are viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasmas.
About half of all cases of pneumonia are caused by viruses. This type of pneumonia is most common in infants and children, older adults, and people whose immune systems are not working effectively. Viral pneumonia has symptoms similar to those of the flu: fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, dry cough, and breathlessness. Medications are available to combat some of the viruses that can cause pneumonia, but antibiotics should not be prescribed, and would not be beneficial, unless bacteria are causing the infection.
Bacterial infection accounts for 30 to 50 percent of pneumonia cases in adults. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the most common bacterium involved, although many other microorganisms can cause bacterial pneumonia. The bacteria that cause pneumonia can spread throughout the body once they have entered the lungs. This can result in infection in the bloodstream (bacteremia or sepsis), the covering of the brain (meningitis), the lining of the heart (endocarditis), or the fluid in the joints (septic arthritis). Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia can appear either suddenly or gradually and include fever, pain on the affected side, shortness of breath, and a cough that produces mucus (the mucus is often blood-streaked).
Another type of bacterial pneumonia, called legionnaires’ disease, is caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium. The natural habitats for these bacteria are bodies of water, but they also thrive in the evaporative condensers of airconditioning systems and may be found in humidifiers and vaporizers as well. Legionnaires’ disease is most common among middle-aged men. Risk factors include smoking, alcohol abuse, and a suppressed immune system (especially due to taking corticosteroid medications). The fever associated with legionnaires’ disease is usually high, and other flulike symptoms occur, such as a vague sense of being ill, a cough, muscle pain, and a headache. The cough is initially dry but produces more mucus as the disease progresses. Antibiotics will eliminate the bacteria, but recovery may be slow.
Mycoplasmas are microorganisms that have characteristics of both bacteria and viruses. They tend to cause a mild but widespread form of pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia is most common among children and young adults, especially those in closed communities such as schools, military barracks, and families. This microorganism acts by attaching to and destroying the cilia throughout the airways. Early symptoms (such as a vague sense of being ill, sore throat, and a dry cough) resemble the flu, but gradually, violent coughing bouts develop. Most people recover without treatment, although the use of certain antibiotics can speed recovery in some cases.
Pneumonia also can develop if bacteria, food, or other substances (including liquids or vomit) are inhaled (aspirated) directly into the lungs. This may occur when a person is choking or unconscious. The resultant infection is called aspiration pneumonia. Because aspiration pneumonia can cause severe damage to the lungs, it is treated in the hospital with intravenous antibiotics and supplemental oxygen. If food or other substances remain lodged in the lungs, the doctor may need to perform a bronchoscopy to remove them. If a toxic chemical has been inhaled, it is a medical emergency. Call 911 or your local emergency number, or take the person to the nearest hospital emergency department without delay.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) was a leading cause of death in the United States until the 1940s, when antibiotics were developed that could effectively kill the bacteria that cause the disease (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). However, since the early 1980s, strains of the bacteria that are resistant to available drugs have developed, and tuberculosis has again become a major public health problem.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (or M tuberculosis) is easily spread by coughing, sneezing, laughing, or singing but generally does not cause disease without repeated exposure. However, you can be infected with tuberculosis without having the active disease. This type of infection produces no symptoms and is known as a latent infection. Infection, with or without the active disease, results in a positive TB (or tuberculin) skin test.
Although anyone can contract tuberculosis, certain groups of people are at higher risk. This includes homeless people, poor and medically underserved people, prisoners, nursing home residents, intravenous drug users, people with alcoholism, people with HIV infection, people with AIDS, and people with any disease that reduces the effectiveness of their immune system. People who are in regular contact with at-risk populations are also more likely to become infected. People from countries with high rates of tuberculosis may bring the infection with them when they emigrate.
Active tuberculosis disease may produce no signs or symptoms other than a vague feeling of being ill. Sometimes the infection causes a cough that persists for more than 2 weeks and may produce bloody mucus. Other symptoms may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever, night sweats, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Because a latent infection with tuberculosis produces no symptoms, a person may be infected for years without realizing it. The infection may be discovered only after the person is examined or treated for another disease or through a routine screening with the tuberculin skin test.
Active tuberculosis is diagnosed with a chest X ray and microscopic examination and cultures of sputum samples expelled from the lungs. The tuberculin skin test is used both to screen people at risk for active tuberculosis and to identify people with a latent infection.
Treatment depends on factors such as whether the TB is active or inactive, whether it has spread to other tissues, or whether the person has been treated for TB previously. Two or more antibiotics (such as isoniazid and rifampin) are given together daily for at least 6 to 9 months; some drug combinations can be given daily for the first month and then twice a week for an additional 8 months, although in some cases, treatment must continue for years. Warning: If the drug therapy is not strictly followed, the bacteria may mutate and become resistant to the drugs being used. If you do not take the drugs exactly as prescribed, you could have very serious problems.
Categories : Lungs
Warning Signs of Pulmonary Embolism
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Pulmonary embolism occurs suddenly. If you have a condition that puts you at risk for pulmonary embolism—such as immobility, cancer, a leg injury, or heart failure—seek immediate medical care if you have any of the following warning signs:
• shortness of breath
• sharp chest pain
• rapid pulse
• sweating
• coughing up bloody mucus
• fainting
Categories : Lungs, Tips and Advices
Pulmonary Embolism
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admin 13 August, 2008
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Deoxygenated blood travels through the veins from the rest of the body into the heart, which pumps it through the pulmonary arteries into the lungs for reoxygenation. Blood coming to the heart from the veins may contain large particles, such as pieces of blood clots or tissue, fat globules, or air bubbles. A sufficiently large particle (embolus) can block an artery that leads to the lung’s network of capillaries (where gas exchange occurs). Pulmonary embolism refers to the sudden blockage of one or more of the pulmonary arteries.
Conditions that cause clots in the veins, such as deep vein thrombosis, frequently lead to pulmonary embolism. Although they are a rare cause of pulmonary embolism, fat globules can form after bone fractures and lodge within the capillary network (rather than in the pulmonary arteries themselves).
The onset of symptoms of pulmonary embolism is sudden. As the level of oxygen in the blood decreases, the brain increases the respiratory rate, leading to hyperventilation (abnormally deep or rapid breathing). Even if the clot breaks up, a pulmonary embolism can lead to pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery puts strain on the right side of the heart, which may cause it to fail. Over time, the left side of the heart also begins to fail. Heart disease that results from any pulmonary disease is called cor pulmonale. If you already have heart or lung disease, a pulmonary embolism that a healthy person could easily tolerate may be life-threatening or fatal.
Diagnosing pulmonary embolism requires one of two imaging procedures: a pulmonary arteriogram or a high-resolution CT scan. In both procedures, contrast medium (dye) is injected into the veins, and X rays are taken to locate the blockage. However, because symptoms of pulmonary embolism also can indicate a heart attack, your doctor probably will perform a chest X-ray examination, electrocardiography (an examination of the electrical activity of the heart), blood tests, and possibly radionuclide scans (in which a radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream to produce images of the pulmonary arteries) to help confirm the diagnosis.
In most cases the clot or embolus breaks up on its own and does not need to be removed surgically. Painkillers, oxygen, and blood thinners (to prevent further clots from forming and to help dissolve existing clots) are given while the artery is blocked. Treatment with thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) drugs also may be helpful. In rare cases, surgery to remove the clot may be required if it is very large.
The long-term goal of treatment for pulmonary embolism is to prevent the development of blood clots in the legs and other parts of the body. Usually this involves long-term use of anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drugs such as heparin or warfarin. This is especially important after hip surgery, elective neurosurgery, or a major injury. In cases of chronic, persistent clots, a filter may be installed in a major vein (location of the filter depends on the source of the clots) to prevent clots from traveling through the veins into the pulmonary artery.
Categories : Lungs
Warning Signs of Lung Cancer
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If you smoke or are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke or other airborne carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), you are at significant risk for developing lung cancer. Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
• persistent cough
• chest pain
• unexplained weight loss
• loss of appetite
• shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
• coughing up blood or bloody mucus
• persistent fever
• recurrent respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
Categories : Lungs, Tips and Advices
Lung Cancer
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Changes in the structure of some of the many types of cells that make up the lungs may begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens (cancercausing substances). Some of the thousands of chemicals contained in tobacco smoke—both inhaled directly and released into the air through secondhand smoke—are known respiratory carcinogens. Substances such as radon, asbestos, arsenic, uranium, and certain petroleum products also can cause lung cancer.
Regular exposure to any of these substances can damage individual cells in the lungs, causing them to multiply into an abnormal mass of cells called a tumor. The tumor can be benign, which means that it will not spread to other parts of the body and usually will not grow back if it is removed. If the tumor is malignant, however, it can invade and destroy surrounding tissue and may spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, causing new tumors (called metastases) to form in other tissues. And because all blood flows through the lungs, cancer that begins elsewhere in the body may spread to the lungs.
A tumor in one of the bronchi can irritate the lining of the airway and cause a persistent cough, which may cause the tumor to bleed. As it grows, the tumor may block the airway, resulting in repeated bouts of pneumonia or other respiratory infections. A tumor located in the outer part of a lung may not produce any symptoms until it is large enough to press against the chest wall and cause pain. If you experience any of the warning signs of lung cancer (see Post Warning Sings of Lung Cancer), see your doctor as soon as possible.
Tests for lung cancer include a chest X ray, a microscopic examination of mucus expelled from your lungs, and a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your chest. If something resembling a tumor is seen on an X ray or a scan, your doctor may perform a bronchoscopy and a biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue from the suspected tumor for examination under a microscope). Depending on the results, other tests and procedures may be performed to identify the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread.
Two major types of cancer begin in the lungs. Non-small cell lung cancer generally grows and spreads slowly. This form of cancer accounts for about three fourths of all cases of lung cancer. The non-small cell cancers include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. The less common small cell lung cancer (sometimes called oat cell cancer) grows quickly and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, brain, liver, and bones.
Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type of cancer cell involved, the size and location of the primary (or first) tumor, and the size and location of any secondary tumors (tumors that have spread from the primary tumor to another part of the body). Treatment options include surgical removal of the lung tumor, use of anticancer drugs (chemotherapy), use of radiation (radiation therapy), use of lasers (photodynamic therapy), or a combination of these treatments.
Although treatment is improving, the outlook for lung cancer is generally poor. If you smoke or are exposed to any known carcinogens, you should immediately take steps to prevent lung cancer.
Categories : Lungs
