Respiratory Diseases :: Nursing

Respiratory DiseasesRespiration is the process of taking in and using oxygen. There arethree different phases of respiration external respiration, inbornrespiration, and cellular respiration. External respiration is the intake ofoxygen from the environment and the release of carbon dioxide. In internalrespiration, oxygen is carried to the cells and carbon dioxide is carried awayfrom the cells. In cellular respiration, oxygen is used in chemical reactionswithin the cells.Some Diseases of the respiratory system are bronchial asthma, the commoncold, and diphtheria.Bronchial asthma is a illness in which the bronchial passages are madesmaller and swelling of the mucous lining causes blockage of breathing, normallydue to dust, animal fur or feathers, or pollen. Many people have asthma whichis caused by allergies, called extrinsic asthma, usually suffer from hay fever.Non allergic asthma, which adults usually have, is called intrinsic asthma.Intrinsic asthma is usually caused by respirat ory infections and emotionalupsets. A typical asthma attack begins with coughing, wheezing, and shortnessof breath. Some people have dry coughing as the except symptom. Attacks usuallylast only a couple hours. An attack may happen again in hours to even yearsafter the first attack.asthma attacks can be treated and prevented by the use of drugs. Albuterolor terbutaline, which can bring relief within minutes, is the usual treatment.The common cold is some other disease of the respiratory system. The coldaffects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. It causes nasalcongestion, sore throat, and coughing. A cold usually lasts up to an averageof seven days. There is no known cure for the common cold yet.Diphtheria is another respiratory disease that, most of the time, affects