Atelectasis
Pneumothorax
A pneumothorax occurs when the lung or chest wall is punctured. When this occurs, air flows into the pleural space and the negative pressure that holds the lung in an expanded position is lost, and the lung collapses. Most of the time a pneumothorax occurs due to lung injury or disease or from direct trauma such as a stab wound. However, a pneumothorax can occur spontaneously. This condition can be treated by inserting a tube into the pleural cavity that prevents the accumulation of air in the pleural cavity and assists the ling in re-expansion. A pneumothorax is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately. (Crowley, 2014)
Atelectasis means incomplete expansion of the lung and refers to the collapse of a part of the lung.
Obstructive atelectasis results from bronchial obstruction. If the bronchial obstruction is relieved, the lung re-expands normally.
Compression atelectasis results from external compression of the lung. This normally occurs when fluid, blood, or air accumulates in the pleural cavity and prevents full expansion of the lung. (Crowley, 2014)
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a type of pneumonia caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection is acused by inhaling infected airborne droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by an individual with active tuberculosis. Other types of tuberculosis include miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous pneumonia, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Diagnosis can be made by a Mantoux test (but only diagnoses the person was once infected, not that the infection is active.)
Treatment of tuberculosis consists of anti-tuberculosis drugs, including antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. However, there are strains of drug-resistant tuberculosis, which are much more difficult to treat and treatment is less effective.
(Crowley, 2014)
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung. The inflammatory exudate spreads unimpeded through the lung due to its spongy characteristics.
Pneumonia is classified by:
1. Etiology
2. Anatomic distribution of the inflammatory process
3. Predisposing factors that led to its development
Signs and symptoms include: elevated temperature, increased number of white blood cells, bronchial inflammation, cough, purulent sputum, pain on respiration, impaired oxygenation of the blood, and shortness of breath.
Legionnaires' disease is a specific type of pneumonia caused by the inhalation of the Legionella pneumophilia bacteria. (Crowley, 2014)
Tuberculosis
Pneumonia
Respiratory Conditions
Click the link below to read the NATA position statement on the Management of Asthma in Athletes
http://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/MgmtOfAsthmaInAthletes.pdf
Bronchitis and Bronchiectasis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Bronchitis and bronchiectasis consist of an acute inflammation of the tracheobronchial mucosa and occurs in many upper respiratory infections.
Chronic bronchitis results from constant respiratory mucosa irritation, normally caused by smoking or breathing polluted air.
Bronchiectasis is a dilatation of bronchi caused by weakening of their walls as a result of infection. The only effective treatment is surgical resection of affected segments. (Crowley, 2014)
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis occur together so frequently that they are named together as COPD.
Common signs and symptoms of COPD are dyspnea and cyanosis.
Anatomic changes consist of:
1. Inflammation and narrowing of terminal bronchioles
2. Dilatation and coalescence of pulmonary air spaces
3. Loss of lung elasticity
Risk factors: Cigarette smoking and atmospheric air pollution are the two major risck factors that lead to emphysema.
Treatment: After emphysema has developed, the damage can not be reversed, only the drainage of bronchial secretions can be treated. Lung volume reduction surgeries are also in testing stages and may reduce the size of overinflated lungs. (Crowley, 2014)
Bronchial Asthma
Exercise Induced Asthma
Bronchial asthma is a spasmodic contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of bronchi and bronchioles.
Symptoms include bronchial mucous secretions, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Many cases of asthma is based on allergies such as dust, pollen, and animal dander. The bronchospasm is induced by the release of chemical mediators. (Crowley, 2014)
EIA is asthma caused by strenuous exercise. Symptoms are the same as bronchial asthma. The preferred term for this condition is bronchoconstriction. EIA can noramally be treated with a rescue inhaler, most of the time containing albuterol.
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Adult respiratory distress syndrome is sometimes referred to as shock lung because shock is a major manifestation of the syndrome. RDS is caused by a fall in blood pressure or damage to the pulmonary capillaries.
Symptoms include: impaired formation of surfactant, leakage of protein-rich fluid from injured capillaries, inpaired diffusion of oxygen across alveolar septa.
Treatment targets the underlying condition that initiated respiratory distress. (Crowley, 2014)
Severe pulmonary injury may lead to pulmonary fibrosis, which is fibrous thickening of alveolar septa, making the lungs rigid and restricting normal respiratory functions. The lung damage that occurs due to pulmonary fibrosis can not be repaired but some medications and therapies can help improve the quality of life.