Diseases of the human respiratory organs. Respiratory diseases. Causes of inflammatory processes

Family doctor, nutritionist. Branch manager at medical network"Healthy Generation".

Disease prevention respiratory system It is aimed at preventing pathologies of the respiratory organs and normalizing their functions (supplying blood with oxygen and removing metabolic products from the body). Prevention tasks do not end there, because. with an existing disease, everything must be done to prevent the development of complications.

Prevention of respiratory tract infections

Prevention respiratory infections aimed to:

1. Formation of conditions under which the risk of infection will be less.
2. Strengthening the immune system (including taking prophylactic drugs).
3. Carrying out procedures to improve the functioning of the respiratory system.

Conditions for reducing infection

The most efficient and simple method prevention of viral diseases respiratory tract are regular walks on fresh air and room ventilation. That. the body receives enough oxygen, which prevents oxygen starvation and, as a result, a headache, deterioration in well-being, performance, sleep quality, etc.

To reduce the likelihood of pathogens entering the respiratory system, keep the air you breathe clean. The health of the respiratory system can be threatened by:

• mold;
• ticks;
• dust;
• chemicals, etc.

Especially sensitive persons they can cause chronic pathologies and allergies. To prevent respiratory diseases clean the room regularly. Use household air purifiers, which carry out multi-level air filtration and eliminate small allergens, dust mites, pathogens, etc.

Also keep an eye on the humidity in a residential area. Excessive humidity is favorable condition for the reproduction of mold, fungi, and low - for the accumulation of dust. Besides, increased dryness air negatively affects the mucous membrane, skin. Optimum level humidity is 40-60%. If you are particularly sensitive to humidity, a hygrometer is worth buying.

Houseplants also provide excellent respiratory protection. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. In addition, plants contain unique substances - fetoncides, which have a detrimental effect on pathogens. Antimicrobial action possess such plants as Chlorophytum, Asparagus, Ficus, Geranium, etc.

Prevention of diseases of the respiratory system should also include preventive chest examinations. Annual x-ray or fluorography will help to detect serious pathology(for example, cancer, tuberculosis, etc.) at an early stage of development, when the disease is still treatable.

Strengthening immunity

To increase the body's defenses and strengthen the immune system:

• Periodically have a rest in ecologically clean places (resorts, sanatoriums, etc.).
• Quit smoking. This addiction causes irreparable harm to the respiratory system and is the primary source of pathologies such as cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, hypoxia, etc.
• During the outbreak respiratory diseases(at times of seasonal cooling) if possible, shorten your stay in in public places, use gauze bandages and take medications for the prevention of SARS.

Breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia and bronchitis

Simple breathing exercises for the prevention of bronchitis and pneumonia will help improve the respiratory function of the lungs, strengthen the muscles of the chest and normalize blood flow in the tissues. Besides, breathing exercises for the prevention of colds and other diseases, complications such as edema, impaired sputum production or stagnation, etc. are prevented.

A set of 3 exercises should be repeated daily for 10-15 minutes:

1. Inhale sharply into the chest through the nose, hold for 2 seconds, exhale slowly and smoothly through oral cavity. Repeat 10 times.
2. Raise your hands up, stand on your toes and at this moment slowly draw air into your chest through your mouth. Lean forward, lower your hands to your feet and exhale slowly. Repeat 15 times.
3. Spread your arms out to the sides at shoulder level. Take a deep breath. Cross your arms over your shoulders (hug yourself intensely) and exhale as you do so. Repeat 10 times.

Prevention of acute respiratory failure

ODN - life-threatening pathological condition in which the respiratory organs do not provide the body enough oxygen. Unlike chronic form course, in acute, respiratory acidosis, hypoxia, and impaired blood flow rapidly progress. Clinical manifestations: shortness of breath, tachycardia, cyanosis, pre-syncope, progressive lethargy, etc.

Prevention respiratory failure when the first symptoms of acute heart failure appear, it should be aimed at restoring the patency of the airways (sputum, mucus are removed by an aspirator). Then oxygen is inhaled. The condition is critical, so the patient should urgently call an ambulance.

To prevent this pathology, diseases of the respiratory system should be treated in a timely manner, because. it is long-term pathologies of the respiratory organs that lead to ARF (for example, a severe attack bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, etc.). Also avoid injury to the chest.

Prevention of respiratory complications after surgery

Depending on location and features pathological process The following postoperative complications are distinguished:

• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• lung atelectasis;
• pleurisy, etc.

To prevent complications after surgical intervention it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the doctor in the postoperative period. The principles of upper and lower respiratory tract prevention include:

1. Lack of intensive physical activity.
2. Breathing exercises.
3. Taking painkillers, antibiotics.
4. Physiotherapy, massage.
5. Monitoring the patient's condition.

Respiratory prophylaxis in children

Vaccination is the basis for the prevention of respiratory diseases in children. It involves the creation of artificial immunity against a specific pathogen. Prevention of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract in children with the help of vaccination is carried out by introducing serum (from tuberculosis, influenza, diphtheria, etc.).

BCG vaccination (from tuberculosis) is carried out in the first days of a baby's life, followed by revaccination at 7 and 14 years. It is carried out only if there is no infection in the child's body. In order to detect infection, an annual Mantoux test is performed.

The flu vaccine (for example, Influvac) is administered immediately before the expected epidemic (about a month in advance). During and after an influenza outbreak, vaccinating is late and does not make sense.

The diphtheria vaccine is given as part of complex vaccine DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough), Infarix (whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus), or Pentaxim (whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, haemophilus influenzae). Parents have the right to choose and can purchase a specific serum at their discretion, taking into account the manufacturer, tolerance of the drug, and other factors.

Prevention of the respiratory system with folk remedies

Inhalations are very popular in the prevention of respiratory diseases. At correct application they provide powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial, expectorant effects.

Perform inhalation with special device- a nebulizer or improvised means (a bowl or pan with a hot solution for inhalation, a towel). The nebulizer sprays the prepared solution for inhalation into the smallest particles, so the composition is evenly distributed over the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. In addition, hot steam does not burn the face, which makes the procedure comfortable. However, not all solutions home cooking suitable for nebulizers. Inhalations traditional method imply the use of any solution for inhalation, there are no restrictions on this. However, hot steam can burn the face, moreover, it is difficult to guess the comfortable temperature for warming up the mucous membranes.

For the prevention of diseases of the upper respiratory tract using inhalation, use a solution of herbal infusion (eucalyptus, sage, linden, chamomile). To prepare the solution, pour 3 tbsp. dry eucalyptus leaves 500 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 1 hour. Inhale the vapors for 10 minutes.

The respiratory system is one of the most important "mechanisms" of our body. It not only fills the body with oxygen, participating in the process of respiration and gas exchange, but also performs a number of functions: thermoregulation, voice formation, smell, air humidification, hormone synthesis, protection from environmental factors, etc.

At the same time, the organs of the respiratory system, perhaps more often than others, are faced with various diseases. Every year we endure acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections and laryngitis, and sometimes we struggle with more serious bronchitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis.

We will talk about the features of diseases of the respiratory system, the causes of their occurrence and types in today's article.

Why do diseases of the respiratory system occur?

Diseases of the respiratory system are divided into four types:

• infectious- they are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi that enter the body and cause inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. For example, bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, etc.
• allergic- appear due to pollen, food and household particles, which provoke a violent reaction of the body to some allergens, and contribute to the development of respiratory diseases. For example, bronchial asthma.
• Autoimmune diseases of the respiratory system occur when the body fails, and it begins to produce substances directed against its own cells. An example of such an impact is idiopathic hemosiderosis of the lungs.
• hereditary- a person is predisposed to the development of certain diseases at the gene level.

Contribute to the development of diseases of the respiratory system and external factors. They do not directly cause the disease, but they can provoke its development. For example, in a poorly ventilated room, the risk of getting ARVI, bronchitis or tonsillitis increases.

Often, this is why office workers suffer from viral diseases more often than others. If air conditioning is used in offices in the summer instead of normal ventilation, then the risk of infectious and inflammatory diseases also increases.

Another mandatory office attribute - a printer - provokes the occurrence of allergic diseases of the respiratory system.

The main symptoms of diseases of the respiratory system

You can identify a disease of the respiratory system by the following symptoms:

• cough;
• pain;
• dyspnea;
• suffocation;
• hemoptysis

Cough is a reflex protective reaction of the body to the mucus accumulated in the larynx, trachea or bronchi. By its nature, cough is different: dry (with laryngitis or dry pleurisy) or wet (with chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis), as well as constant (with inflammation of the larynx) and periodic (with infectious diseases - SARS, influenza).

Coughing may cause pain. Pain also accompanies those suffering from diseases of the respiratory system when breathing or a certain position of the body. It may vary in intensity, localization and duration.

Shortness of breath is also divided into several types: subjective, objective and mixed. Subjective appears in patients with neurosis and hysteria, objective occurs with emphysema and is characterized by a change in the rhythm of breathing and the duration of inhalation and exhalation.

Mixed shortness of breath occurs with pneumonia, bronchogenic lung cancer, tuberculosis and is characterized by an increase in respiratory rate. Also, shortness of breath can be inspiratory with difficulty in inhaling (diseases of the larynx, trachea), expiratory with difficulty exhaling (with bronchial damage) and mixed (pulmonary embolism).

Choking is the most severe form of shortness of breath. Sudden attacks of suffocation can be a sign of bronchial or cardiac asthma. With another symptom of diseases of the respiratory system - hemoptysis - when coughing, blood is released with sputum.

Allocations can appear with lung cancer, tuberculosis, lung abscess as well as in diseases of cardio-vascular system(heart defects).

Types of diseases of the respiratory system

In medicine, there are more than twenty types of diseases of the respiratory system: some of them are extremely rare, while others we encounter quite often, especially during cold seasons.

Doctors divide them into two types: diseases of the upper respiratory tract and diseases of the lower respiratory tract. Conventionally, the first of them are considered easier. These are mainly inflammatory diseases: ARVI, acute respiratory infections, pharyngitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.

Diseases of the lower respiratory tract are considered more serious, as they often occur with complications. These are, for example, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary emphysema, etc.

Let us dwell on the diseases of the first and second groups, which are more common than others.

Angina

angina, or acute tonsillitis, - this is infection affecting the palatine tonsils. The bacteria that cause sore throats are especially active in cold and damp weather, so most often we get sick in autumn, winter and early spring.

You can get a sore throat by airborne or alimentary routes (for example, when using one dish). Particularly susceptible to angina are people with chronic tonsillitis– inflammation palatine tonsils and caries.

There are two types of angina: viral and bacterial. Bacterial - a more severe form, it is accompanied severe pain in the throat, enlarged tonsils and lymph nodes, fever up to 39-40 degrees.

The main symptom of this type of angina is a purulent plaque on the tonsils. The disease is treated in this form with antibiotics and antipyretics.

Viral angina is easier. The temperature rises to 37-39 degrees, there is no plaque on the tonsils, but cough and runny nose appear.

If timely start to treat viral sore throat you will be back on your feet in 5-7 days.

Symptoms of angina: Bacterial - malaise, pain when swallowing, fever, headache, white coating on the tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes; viral - sore throat, temperature 37-39 degrees, runny nose, cough.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an infectious disease accompanied by diffuse (affecting the entire organ) changes in the bronchi. Bacteria, viruses, or the occurrence of atypical flora can cause bronchitis.

Bronchitis is of three types: acute, chronic and obstructive. The first is cured in less than three weeks. A chronic diagnosis is made if the disease manifests itself for more than three months a year for two years.

If bronchitis is accompanied by shortness of breath, then it is called obstructive. With this type of bronchitis, a spasm occurs, due to which mucus accumulates in the bronchi. the main objective treatment - relieve spasm and remove accumulated sputum.

Symptoms: the main one is cough, shortness of breath with obstructive bronchitis.

Bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma - chronic allergic disease in which the walls of the airways expand and the lumen narrows. Because of this, a lot of mucus appears in the bronchi and it becomes difficult for the patient to breathe.

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common diseases and the number of people suffering from this pathology is increasing every year. At acute forms bronchial asthma may cause life-threatening attacks.

Symptoms of bronchial asthma: cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, suffocation.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an acute infectious and inflammatory disease that affects the lungs. The inflammatory process affects the alveoli - the end part of the respiratory apparatus, and they are filled with fluid.

The causative agents of pneumonia are viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Pneumonia is usually severe, especially in children, the elderly, and those who already had other infectious diseases before the onset of pneumonia.

If symptoms appear, it is best to consult a doctor.

Symptoms of pneumonia: fever, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, pain in chest.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis - acute or chronic inflammation paranasal sinuses nose, there are four types:

• sinusitis - inflammation of the maxillary sinus;
• frontal sinusitis - inflammation of the frontal paranasal sinus;
• ethmoiditis - inflammation of the cells of the ethmoid bone;
• sphenoiditis - inflammation of the sphenoid sinus;

Inflammation in sinusitis can be unilateral or bilateral, with damage to all the paranasal sinuses on one or both sides. The most common type of sinusitis is sinusitis.

Acute sinusitis can occur when acute cold, influenza, measles, scarlet fever and other infectious diseases. Diseases of the roots of the four rear upper teeth can also provoke the appearance of sinusitis.

Sinusitis symptoms: fever, nasal congestion, mucous or purulent discharge, deterioration or loss of smell, swelling, pain when pressing on the affected area.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs, and in some cases genitourinary system, skin, eyes and peripheral (visible) lymph nodes.

Tuberculosis comes in two forms: open and closed. At open form Mycobacterium tuberculosis is present in the patient's sputum. This makes it contagious to others. At closed form there are no mycobacteria in sputum, so the carrier cannot harm others.

Tuberculosis is caused by mycobacteria transmitted by airborne droplets when coughing and sneezing or talking with the patient.

But you don't necessarily get infected through contact. The likelihood of infection depends on the duration and intensity of contact, as well as the activity of your immune system.

Symptoms of tuberculosis: cough, hemoptysis, fever, sweating, deterioration in performance, weakness, weight loss.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a non-allergic inflammation of the bronchi that causes them to narrow. Obstruction, or more simply, deterioration of patency, affects the normal gas exchange of the body.

COPD results from inflammatory response, developing after interaction with aggressive substances (aerosols, particles, gases). The consequences of the disease are irreversible or only partially reversible.

Symptoms of COPD: cough, sputum, shortness of breath.

The diseases listed above are only part of a large list of diseases that affect the respiratory system. We will talk about the diseases themselves, and most importantly their prevention and treatment, in the following articles of our blog.

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The most important function of the respiratory system is to ensure gas exchange - saturating the blood with oxygen and removing the metabolic product, including carbon dioxide, from the body. If these processes are disturbed, organs and tissues experience hypoxia, which disrupts the functioning of the whole organism. That is why it is important to take care of the health of the respiratory organs - to prevent the development of their diseases, and if they do occur, to keep them in remission, prevent progression and prevent complications. It is about this, about measures to prevent diseases of the respiratory system, that we will tell in our article.

Specific and non-specific prophylaxis

Let's start with the fact that there are two types of prevention - specific and non-specific.

Specific prevention aims to develop immunity to a specific disease. This is done by vaccination and the introduction of sera. It is carried out to prevent the development of certain infectious diseases, in particular, tuberculosis, influenza, diphtheria.

So, specific prophylaxis provides for the vaccination of a child in the first days of his life, directly in the maternity hospital, followed by revaccination at 7 and 14 years of age. Note that revaccination is carried out only if by its time the child has not yet been infected with mycobacteria. In order to detect this moment (infection) in time, children are tested annually by Mantoux.

Specific prophylaxis is carried out during the expected epidemic, when the strain of the virus is already known - the causative agent of the disease. It is recommended to vaccinate about 3-4 weeks before the epidemic, so that just in time for its beginning, specific immunity. If the epidemic has already begun, it is too late and pointless to vaccinate.

The diphtheria vaccine is administered to children at 3, 4.5 and 6 months, revaccinated at 18 months, 6, 14 years, and then every 10 years after the previous revaccination.

Non-specific prevention consists in minimizing the impact on the body of factors that increase the risk of developing respiratory diseases, as well as in strengthening general and local immunity. It is the measures of non-specific prevention that will be devoted most of our article. Let's consider them in more detail.

To give up smoking

Smoking is the most formidable enemy of respiratory health. Smokers suffer much more often than non-smokers (even a separate form of this disease is distinguished - Chronical bronchitis smokers), and they develop lung cancer 15 to 30 times more often than non-smokers. The latter, however, may be passive smokers if they are near a smoker. They breathe in the secretions harmful substances, and they harm them to the same extent, and possibly more.

So, in the process of smoking, nicotine and toxic resins enter the human body. From day to day, from year to year, they have a damaging effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs, disrupting the functioning of its cells, and in some cases causing their malignant degeneration.

That is why the main preventive measure in relation to the pathology of the respiratory system is the rejection of this addiction. Moreover, it is a complete refusal that is important, and not a reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked or a switch to cigarettes with a lower nicotine content.

When a person quits smoking, the likelihood of developing respiratory diseases decreases from the very first days. 5-10 years after quitting smoking, the risk of lung cancer equals that of non-smokers.

Climate and microclimate

The composition of the air we breathe is very important. Industrial pollutants entering the body cause allergic reactions, contribute to the development of inflammation and increase the likelihood of malignant degeneration of cells. Dust also contains all sorts of allergens, and it is also rich in pathogens that cause certain infectious diseases. Air containing a small amount of oxygen cannot satisfy the human body's need for it, as a result of which tissues and organs experience a deficiency of this element. The latter leads to disease.

So, the following measures reduce the risk of developing respiratory diseases:

• living in ecologically favorable areas without large industrial facilities;
• if human activity involves working in dusty conditions contaminated with industrial pollutants, good ventilation of the room is required, as well as the use of respiratory protection equipment, in particular respirators;
• frequent ventilation of housing;
• regular (ideally daily) wet cleaning - you should wipe the dust and wash the floors;
• refusal to keep "dust collectors" in the house - wall and floor carpets, soft toys, open shelving with books;
• keeping living plants in the house (they absorb carbon dioxide and enrich the air with oxygen);
• maintaining normal air humidity; this is especially important during the heating season; best option– use of special humidifiers.

Climatotherapy is also important in relation to the prevention of respiratory diseases. The maritime climate is very useful - humid air containing a large amount of salts and iodine, as well as the climate of coniferous forests. In physiotherapy, there is such a direction as (halotherapy), or treatment with the climate of salt caves. Salt-saturated air disinfects the respiratory tract, increases the body's resistance to allergens. This air is very easy and pleasant to breathe. salt caves can be located in areas of salt deposits. Many sanatoriums, hospitals and other medical institutions are equipped with special rooms for speleotherapy, the walls and ceiling of which are made of salt, and there is also an apparatus that sprays salt suspension over the entire area of ​​​​the room.

It can also be used to prevent diseases of the respiratory system. Essential oils of pine, juniper, cypress and other plants of this genus will help to enrich the air with phytoncides of needles. They perfectly clean the air from pathogens, preventing them from entering our respiratory tract. You can use essential oils in aromatic lamps and pendants, as well as adding a few drops to the bath. A bath with natural sea salt will help saturate the air with iodine and other useful trace elements, which will also beneficial action on the respiratory organs.

Breath

Proper breathing reduces the likelihood of developing diseases of the respiratory tract, while improper breathing, on the contrary, increases their risk. Surely, you asked yourself the question: “That’s right – how is it?”. The answer is simple. Breathe properly through your nose. The nasal cavity is the initial link of the respiratory tract. Getting into it, the air warms up, and also thanks to the ciliated epithelium, which is lined with the mucous membrane, it is cleared of microorganisms, allergens and other impurities unnecessary for the body. They simply linger on these cilia, and then are excreted from the body with a sneeze.

If a person breathes through his mouth, cold polluted air enters his respiratory tract, which undoubtedly increases the risk of developing diseases. This point is especially important in winter time- breathing through the mouth is fraught with angina and even.

Other drugs can be used in the nebulizer, but this will no longer be a measure primary prevention, but to maintain remission and prevent complications (that is, as measures of secondary and tertiary prevention), this method is also used. In such cases, drugs, dosages and frequency of procedures are prescribed by the doctor on an individual basis. Essential oils and herbal solutions in nebulizers are prohibited.

Healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle provides a high resistance of the human body to adverse external factors improves the functioning of both local and general immunity. It includes:

• physical activity (walking in the fresh air, daily physical education, swimming, cycling or any other activity);
• a rational mode of work and rest (overwork does not benefit anyone; timely rest and a healthy seven-eight-hour night sleep make our body stronger and in the same way affect immunity);
• rational and balanced diet(containing everything necessary for the full functioning of the body nutrients, vitamins, microelements, amino acids and so on);
• hardening (do not raise children in "greenhouse" conditions, it is necessary to gradually accustom them to the effects adverse factors- cool water, air; walk daily and in any weather, but in suitable clothing to avoid overheating, hypothermia or getting wet).

What to do during an epidemic

To avoid SARS, and hence respiratory diseases, during seasonal epidemics, the following recommendations should be observed:

• avoid contact with sick people (do not stay in closed, poorly ventilated, crowded rooms; in this respect, walking under the New Year tree in an open area with many people is safer than going to a supermarket);
• if contact is still expected, avoid shaking hands, hugging a sick person; great if he is in a gauze mask;
• observe the rules of personal hygiene (wash your hands as often as possible, do not put them in your mouth);
• rinse the nasal cavity after visiting crowded enclosed spaces saline solution(so viruses and other harmful substances that the ciliated epithelium has retained from the air will be washed out of it faster);
• conduct aromatherapy sessions (coniferous oils have a good antiviral and antiseptic effect, as mentioned above).

If the disease occurs

If you still could not avoid the respiratory disease and you have any symptoms, your first priority is to timely appeal to the doctor. exhibited on early stage pathology diagnosis and timely started adequate treatment help prevent chronic disease, and if it is initially chronic, they will contribute to its speedy remission and non-development of complications, which are measures of secondary and tertiary prevention.

Preventive medicine?

Yes, medications sometimes used as preventive treatment respiratory diseases. In particular, drugs of the following groups can be used:

In conclusion, we would like to highlight the importance preventive examinations and sanitation of foci chronic infection. During a physical examination, it is possible to identify the initial changes characteristic of a particular pathology, even in the absence of its symptoms (perhaps wheezing in the lungs or changes in the fluorogram), and timely eliminated foci of chronic infection prevent its spread to nearby organs, including respiratory. Particular attention should be paid to the oral cavity - and other infectious diseases its organs are often the cause of respiratory diseases.

Video "Respiratory diseases, prevention and treatment":

Perhaps the main indicator of human viability can be called a continuous exchange of gases between the body and its environment, that is, breathing. Diseases of the respiratory system lead to a decrease in excitability respiratory center with the further appearance of breathing problems (pain when inhaling, exhaling, shortness of breath, coughing, etc.).

By structure, the human respiratory system (RS) consists of the upper and lower respiratory tract:

• Air-conducting organs - nose, larynx, trachea and bronchi;
• Lungs, in the alveoli of which gas exchange takes place.

It follows from this that pathogenic factors, disease-causing of the human respiratory system, can multiply not only in the respiratory part - the lungs, but also in the nasopharynx.

The individuality of the structure and the state of the defense system of the DS, age features and a large number etiological factors characterize the variety of clinical and morphological manifestations, which in turn determine respiratory diseases.

The reasons

The factors that determine the nature of the pathological process include:

• causative agents of infectious diseases;
• Chemical and physical agents.

In the first group, the leading role is played by such pathogens as pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, mycobacterium tuberculosis, influenza viruses, a group of morphologically and clinically similar acute inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

Diseases and injuries of the respiratory system can occur upon contact with household allergens, plant pollen. Injuries can be caused by professional factors, for example, electric welding - nickel salts, steel fumes; entry of a foreign body.

In general, diseases of the respiratory system are classified into groups, depending on the cause of their occurrence:

• Infectious. Once in the body, the pathogenic factor causes an inflammatory process (pneumonia, bronchitis);
• Allergic. The reaction of the body to contact with the allergen (bronchial asthma);
• Autoimmune. They often refer to hereditary destruction of organs and tissues under the influence of their own immune system (cystic fibrosis, idiopathic hemosiderosis of the lungs).

Considering the causes of the disease of the human respiratory system, it is impossible not to note the current lifestyle: smoking, alcohol abuse, workaholism. Most spend their working days in unventilated, overcrowded spaces and breathe air from air conditioners. Improperly organized daily routine contributes to the reduction protective functions organism, provoking the development of allergic, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

Respiratory diseases in children

Respiratory diseases are leading place among the pathologies that develop in childhood. The body of a child, just like an adult, can encounter infectious pathogens that multiply in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, causing various types ailments. Consider the main respiratory diseases in children.

Rhinitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses. There are three forms of the disease:

• acute;
• chronic;
• allergic.

Rhinitis allergic nature is a violation of the tone of the vessels of the nasal mucosa, caused by irritation of the reflexogenic zones under the influence of allergens of various nature.

The acute form usually appears on the background respiratory infections(ARVI, measles, diphtheria, etc.). The cause of the chronic form is a prolonged or recurrent acute rhinitis.

Respiratory diseases in children include tracheitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, which often have a causal relationship with each other. If tracheitis is combined with laryngitis or bronchitis, it is laryngotracheitis and tracheobronchitis, respectively.

Diagnose and prescribe competent treatment only a pediatrician can.

ARVI with untimely treatment always causes complications associated with damage to the respiratory system, and pneumonia in a child is also not uncommon.

Children in younger age exposed to the so-called childhood diseases, accompanied by failures in the respiratory system: whooping cough, diphtheria, croup.

It should be noted that the respiratory tract in a child is smaller and narrower than in adults, and therefore more susceptible to various factors contributing to the development of respiratory diseases and their prevention should be timely.

Prevention of respiratory diseases

The respiratory system is a set of organs that provide oxygen to the body and have their own protection mechanisms that prevent malfunctions in the functioning of system processes.

Prevention of respiratory diseases - necessary support required by physiological processes for normal functioning.

Preventive actions primarily consist in hardening the body, and it does not matter whether it is an adult or a child. It includes a number of procedures aimed at increasing the body's resistance to sudden changes in temperature (hypothermia, overheating).

Activities related to the mobilization of the internal forces of a person, increase immunity, develop resistance to the influence of adverse factors environment.

Prevention of respiratory diseases consists in simple general actions:

• organization of the right way of life;
• compliance with the diet;
• sports;
• hardening procedures;
• breathing exercises.

If signs of a cold were noticed, in order to avoid exacerbations, inhalations will be a good prevention of diseases of the respiratory system. And it is not at all necessary to sit for hours over a pot of boiled potatoes, breathing in its vapors. Modern inhalers (nebulizers) are small in size, provide spraying of the drug in small fractions into the most remote parts of the respiratory tract, where the best result is achieved.

A variety of models allows you to choose required device, which may become indispensable assistant for the prevention of bronchial asthma, the treatment of bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, etc. As a medicine, drugs prescribed by a doctor or normal saline are used.

Prevention of respiratory diseases in children consists in timely and proper treatment colds. That is, you should not neglect the first symptoms of acute respiratory infections / acute respiratory viral infections, you need to provide proper care for the child, ventilate the room, follow the recommendations of the pediatrician. In the absence of a high temperature, be sure to walk in the fresh air, organize a drinking regimen.

Treatment of respiratory diseases

The ailments that the human respiratory system is exposed to have a different nature of occurrence. The focus of inflammation and its extent extend to the areas of the airways, lungs and pleura.

Despite the similarity of the symptoms of each disease, its correct interpretation will ensure the formulation accurate diagnosis followed by appointment complex treatment respiratory diseases:

• etiotropic therapy is aimed at eliminating the main cause of the onset of the disease;
• symptomatic treatment (reducing the manifestations of the main symptoms);
• maintenance therapy (restoration of individual functions of the body, impaired during the pathological process).

Depending on the nature of the occurrence, the nature of the course, the extent of the lesion and the age of the patient, the following types of drugs are prescribed:

• antibacterial;
• antipyretic;
• mucolytic;
• bronchodilators;
• antihistamines;
• diuretics;
• respiratory stimulants.

In addition, the complex of measures aimed at recovery includes breathing exercises, massage for respiratory diseases.

Exercises are divided into three main groups:

• dynamic;
• static;
• special.

The goal is to provide a tonic effect with further normalization of respiratory functions.

Massage of the nose and nasolabial triangle stimulates a reflex that contributes to a more deep breathing. Chest massage provides strengthening of the respiratory muscle, increasing its elasticity, eliminating congestion.

Physiotherapy for diseases of the respiratory system is prescribed depending on their type and stage of occurrence.

Main goals:

• activation of metabolic processes;
• stimulation of blood and lymph circulation;
• elimination of bronchospasm;
• preventing the progression of the disease.

Events of this kind also have their own contraindications, in particular, purulent processes, a complex course, and pulmonary heart failure. Anyway A complex approach an experienced doctor prescribes for recovery.

More about respiratory diseases

Table of respiratory diseases

The respiratory complex of organs includes the airways and the respiratory section. Depending on the localization of the pathological process, there are three main groups of ailments.

Classification of diseases of the respiratory system:

1. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract

Throat diseases:

Diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses:

• Rhinitis;
• Sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis);

2. Diseases lower divisions respiratory tract

• Bronchitis;
• Bronchial asthma;
• bronchiectasis;

3. Lung diseases

• Pneumonia;
• Pleurisy;
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Diseases of the respiratory system - table:

Respiratory diseases often affect a person; according to statistics, they are as common as cardiovascular and oncological diseases. All diseases have a negative effect on the respiratory function of an adult or a child, sometimes knocking them out of their usual way of life for a long time. Each pathology has its own symptoms, causes, course and methods of treatment.

Anatomical features

The respiratory system is divided into upper and lower paths. The top ones are nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx and part of the oral cavity.

The nasal cavity is divided by a septum, through which air passes into the nasopharynx. The nose moisturizes and disinfects the air, warms in cold weather.

The pharynx connects the organs of the upper respiratory tract (RP) with the lower ones.

The lower DPs include the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.

The funnel-shaped larynx consists of cartilage through which air enters a tracheal tube about 11 cm long.

The trachea divides into two bronchi, which enter the lungs, forming bronchial tree. It contains air-filled alveoli, small bubbles with a diameter of 0.14-0.26 mm. The alveoli are pierced by a network of capillaries. Their walls are lined with squamous single-layered epithelium, through which gas exchange takes place.

Lungs - paired organ, located in the chest, they are surrounded by two layers of the pleura - pulmonary and parietal. Pleural fluid is located between the pleura.

The function of the system is to ensure gas exchange between the inhaled air and the blood circulating in the pulmonary circulation.

Diseases and symptoms

There are many pathologies of DP that are diagnosed in humans:

• Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the lung tissue that affects the alveoli, which fill with fluid. Signs of pneumonia are cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and general intoxication.
• Bronchitis - proceeds with strong cough and expectoration, fever and spasms in the throat.
• Bronchial asthma - reduces the lumen of the bronchi, reduces their patency. Asthma patients have difficulty breathing and prolonged coughing.
• In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), full-fledged gas exchange is disturbed. The main manifestations are sputum separation and shortness of breath.
• With thromboembolism of the artery of the lung, a thrombus clogs the branch pulmonary artery. Signs of embolism - sharp pain behind the chest severe shortness of breath and cough, dizziness, up to loss of consciousness. In this case, it is required urgent care physicians.
• Inflammation of the pleura - the main manifestations of dry and exudative pleurisy are heaviness and pain behind the sternum, shortness of breath, fever.
• Among the ZOD, sinusitis is often found - an inflammatory process of the sinuses. At severe forms the patient suffers from acute pain in the nose and head, purulent discharge appears.
• Angina is an infectious disease that affects the palatine tonsils. Manifestations of angina - sore throat, aggravated by swallowing, fever, general malaise.

If the disease is associated with the respiratory system, the symptoms, as a rule, are determined immediately, they are quite characteristic and vivid.

A person should know them so that at the first signs of malaise, as soon as possible, contact medical institution for accurate diagnosis:

1. Often patients are tormented by a prolonged cough, both wet, with sputum, and dry. With bronchial inflammations, it is constant, with pneumonia or flu, it occurs from time to time.
2. Shortness of breath accompanies most inflammatory processes. It is divided into inspiratory, when inhalation is difficult, and expiratory, in which case it is difficult to exhale. Sometimes there is suffocation - the most severe form of shortness of breath.
3. The pain syndrome can be localized in any part of the body, it can be different nature and intensity.
4. In some cases, blood appears in the sputum, usually with severe pathologies tuberculosis, abscesses or oncological diseases.

Treatment is strictly individual, its duration depends on the diagnosis, age, general condition patient and many other factors.

Causes of inflammatory processes

Diseases of the human respiratory system often cause pathogenic microorganisms pneumococci, legionella, haemophilus influenzae, chlamydia, viral infections and others .

In addition, the cause of AOD can be different type allergens that are present:

• in medicines, among which antibiotics and enzymes often act;
• in mold spores;
• in products, usually dairy or citrus fruits;
• in plants and their pollen;
• in household chemicals.

There are factors provoking the disease, which include poor environmental conditions - environmental pollution, habits that are harmful to health - alcohol abuse and smoking. Adverse climatic conditions- cold, high humidity, wind, as well as foci of infection in the body.

Home Appliances(vacuum cleaner, air conditioner, etc.), if you do not take care of the filter and do not clean it, it becomes a source of infection.

In upholstered furniture and textile products (sofas, armchairs, mattresses, blankets). Household dust contains microparticles and microorganisms (dust mites) that can accumulate in various parts of the apartment.

Diagnostics

For diagnostic tests modern medicine applies spectrum various techniques. The main and most common

Endoscopy

• Bronchoscopy - using a bronchoscope device, the doctor examines the mucous membranes of the trachea and bronchi. A bronchoscope is inserted into the trachea through the mouth so that the patient does not experience pain The process takes place under anesthesia. If necessary, a miniature camera is attached to the device, biopsy forceps - with their help, foreign bodies are removed, polyps are removed.
• For thoracoscopy, a thoracoscope device is used, it allows the doctor to immediately examine the lungs, take tissue for a biopsy and, if necessary, take pictures. It is administered through a puncture in the chest under general anesthesia.

Ultrasound diagnostics

Ultrasound reveals pleural effusions. With its help, punctures and removal of fluid from the pleural region are controlled.

Pleural puncture

Pleural puncture is done under local anesthesia- the contents of the cavity for analysis are taken through a small puncture. Manipulation is carried out with suspicion of pleurisy, tumors, accumulation of air or fluid in the lungs.

Pathoanatomy

List existing methods you can go on, but these are used more often than others. To obtain a more accurate picture, as a rule, several different ways diagnostics.

Complex treatment

Human respiratory diseases are widespread both in children and adults, therefore, increased attention is paid to the fight against them.

Treatment is aimed at thinning, reducing the amount and excretion of sputum. Spasms of the muscles of the bronchi are relieved, the process of gas exchange is normalized, and inflammatory processes are eliminated.

Medical therapy uses wide range drugs:

• Anti-inflammatory.
• Designed to fight viruses and bacteria.
• Mucolytic - to thin and remove sputum.
• Against intoxication of the body.
• To expand the lumen of the bronchi - bronchodilators, they facilitate breathing.
• Antitussives - help relieve a debilitating cough.
• Relieving allergic reactions.
• To increase the protective functions of the body - vitamins and trace elements.

Except medicines, apply physiotherapy treatment, inhalations, special gymnastics for breathing, manual therapy and other methods.

In some cases, diuretics and antihypertensives are used, as well as drugs to relieve pain. If a therapeutic methods powerless - apply surgical.

Studies have shown that during pregnancy, some drugs are strictly prohibited, in particular, they include Ibuprofen, Analgin, acetylsalicylic acid and others.

Preventive measures

Prevention of the development of the disease is much easier than its treatment. Therefore, doctors recommend various preventive measures. They are divided into specific, implying vaccination, the introduction of serum. As well as non-specific, which are carried out in order to reduce negative factors that cause ZOD, as well as to strengthen the whole body.

The basis of prevention correct image life. First of all, it increases the immunity and immunity of the body to external adverse factors.

1. The complex of activities includes outdoor walks, therapeutic swimming, cycling, and other physical activities.
2. A balanced diet that includes all the substances necessary for human life - fruits, vegetables, dairy products, lean meat, fish, nuts and honey.
3. Full eight-hour sleep, alternation of physical activity and rest, hardening.
4. Rejection bad habits Excessive drinking and smoking is very dangerous. Smokers are much more likely to get sick with bronchitis. Oncological diseases meet at people who smoke up to 25 times more often.
5. When working in dusty enterprises, it is necessary to monitor the ventilation of the premises and use individual funds protection respiratory organs.
6. We need daily wet cleaning of premises - residential or industrial. Maintain normal air humidity, it is good to use aromatic lamps with essential oils, volatile needles are preferred.
7. You need to breathe through your nose, it plays an important function - it cleans, moisturizes and warms the air.

During epidemics, avoid contact with sick people as much as possible. Strictly observe personal hygiene. Do not go to places where there are a lot of people. If this cannot be avoided, after coming home, rinse the nasal cavity brine. Wear medical masks when interacting with patients.

The respiratory system does essential function- nourishes the body with oxygen. You should be attentive to yourself and your loved ones, especially children, so that a minor ailment does not develop into serious problem that can lead not only to disability, but also to death.