1. Respiratory Disorders & conditions

2. Asthma A chronic inflammatory disease of the airway
Causes shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing
Air is obstructed as it passes in and out of the lungs
Often caused by environmental factors such as dust or pollen, or by exercise

3. The lining of the airway becomes inflamed and may produce more mucous
The more inflammation, the more sensitive the airway becomes Or
The muscles surrounding the airways become sensitive and start to twitch and tighten
This can also occur if inflammation is not treated
It can be treated with inhaled medications (puffer)

4. Bronchitis
The bronchi and bronchioles become irritated or infected – can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or inhaled irritants
Results in inflammation, mucous production, and tightening of airways.
As mucous builds up, the coughing reflex is triggered to help clear these airways

5. Pleurisy (aka. Pleuritis)
The pleural membrane around the lungs become inflamed - usually due to infection
Causes pain when breathing
Often occurs as a secondary infection related to pneumonia

6. Drowning Besides Oxygen deprivation… Fresh water Salt Water
Water floods the blood stream through osmosis
Dilutes blood chemicals – can result in heart failure
Salt Water
Water is drawn out of capillaries (osmosis) and into the lungs
This prevents oxygen from reaching the walls of the alveoli

7. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
Sometimes called the silent killer
A dangerous air pollutant that we can’t see, smell, or taste
Comes from the incomplete combustion of organic material

8. How does it harm us?
Carbon monoxide can bind to hemoglobin more efficiently than oxygen can (about 200x better!)
Oxygen is blocked from binding to red blood cells
Symptoms of CO poisoning
Headaches, weakness, dizziness and nausea
Coma, organ damage, and death soon follows

9. High Altitude Breathing
At higher altitude, low air pressure contains less oxygen
A person not acclimatized to such conditions will not be able to get enough oxygen - This is called “altitude sickness” or Hypoxia

10. Hypoxia? Not enough oxygen is being carried in the blood
Any physical exertion results in shortness of breath
The body responds by increasing breathing rate
Over time, the body creates more red blood cells to enable more oxygen absorption – Acclimatization
Ever heard of high altitude training? Athletes train at high altitude to increase O2 carrying capacity of their blood.

11. Scuba Diving
At normal atmospheric pressure, nitrogen does not dissolve in water, and does not diffuse into our blood
A scuba diver experiences increased pressures in deep water, and the body tissues absorb high volumes of gas

12. Nitrogen Narcosis Beyond 40-60 meters
Pressure increases the amount of nitrogen in blood
Also known as “rapture of the deep”
A diver may experience blissful giddiness, disorientation, or irrational fear and panic
The effects wear off after a diver returns to normal depth and pressure

13. The Bends As divers head back to the surface, pressure decreases
If a diver rises too quickly the extra dissolved gases in blood can form bubbles within the blood vessels
These bubbles block blood flow
Can be very painful, and potentially fatal

14. Cold and Flu Virus
The common cold (rhinovirus) and the flu (influenza virus) get into cells of the respiratory tract
The replicate and destroy cells
Result in sore throats and extra mucous production

15. Smoking…
Nicotine can paralyze cilia and interfere with mucous production
As a result, air is not cleaned as it enters the lungs
Chemical substances mutate cells and cancer frequently develops

16. Emphysema
Alveoli lose their elasticity – means that lungs cannot breathe out completely
Air is trapped in lungs, and therefore very little fresh air gets in
In 2011 it was the 4th leading cause of death
What causes it????  Smoking.

17. Smokers also experience…
Bronchitis
Hearth disease – less oxygen in the blood means the heart works harder!
Liver disorders – from filtering out extra chemicals
Radiation exposure – from radioactive particles in the smoke – Cancer
Premature aging and wrinkling