Your breathing system is a network of tissues and organs, including the nose, nostrils, nasal cavity, buccal cavity (mouth), throat, and larynx, to help you breathe. The respiratory system has a mucous membrane lining, which produces mucus to trap smaller substances such as pollen and smoke. After trapping the smaller particles, the hair-like structures it has removes through your nose. The breathing system is prone to allergies, diseases, and infections, which is why you should see a Spring family medicine specialist from time to time. A family medicine specialist can diagnose, treat and manage conditions affecting your breathing system.
Below are some common diseases and conditions that may affect your breathing system and require immediate treatment and ongoing management.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
When you have this chronic disease of the respiratory system, you will experience breathing difficulty, frequent coughing, and sputum production. Sputum production is a type of cough that leads to you spitting out material from the respiratory tract.
You are at high risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, when you work in an industry that produces a lot of irritating gas, dust, or fumes.
Other potential risk factors of COPD include smoking and genetic conditions. COPD may also be a complication of AIDS, lung cancer, and tuberculosis.
Management of COPD involves respiratory rehabilitation and avoiding exposure to harmful fumes, dust, or smoke.
Asthma
Asthma is another common chronic condition that may affect your lungs. Your lungs have tubes for carrying air in and out. Therefore, your airways will sometimes get narrow and inflamed when you have this particular respiratory condition.
You will find it harder to exhale and inhale because of the restriction in air flow to your lungs.
Certain genetic conditions may cause asthma; thus, you are more susceptible if your family has a history of the disease.
You may also get asthma because you did not receive adequate exposure to bacteria when you were growing up. The body’s contact with bacteria when you are young allows it to build a defense mechanism and strengthen its immunity.
Treatment options for asthma include taking medications to manage the condition and performing exercises to improve breathing. Your doctor may prescribe bronchodilators, a drug that relaxes the muscles in your lungs, enlarging your airways and making breathing easier.
Lung cancer
The lungs in your chest supply all of your body with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body.
Sometimes the organ may be affected by an abnormal growth of cells, which produces a lump or a tumor. Although cancer can begin in your lung, it may also spread throughout your body.
Common symptoms of lung cancer are long-lasting chest infections, constant tiredness, blood cough, dramatic weight loss, loss of appetite, and chest pains.
Pneumonia
The condition is an inflammation of the air sacs in your lungs. Infected air sacs have fluid or pus; thus, you may release pus when you cough. You may also have difficulty breathing.
Your family medicine physician may treat your pneumonia using antibiotics.
Contact Comprehensive Care Clinic today to book an appointment with a family medicine practice that provides conservative treatment and management of diseases affecting you and your loved ones.
Johnson