In this article, discover some of the most common diseases of the respiratory system. Read on to discover these diseases and their potential causes.
1. Asthma
Asthma is a common respiratory disease that causes trouble breathing because of inflammation in the airways. Common symptoms include chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, and a dry cough. If you’re experiencing an allergic reaction, this can trigger an asthma attack hence you must immediately visit the nearest respiratory clinic. While the exact causes aren’t known, there are environmental and genetic patterns that could lead to asthma. It could be due to a lack of nutrition at a young age, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinusitis, or allergens.
2. Influenza
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that passes through the air from one person to another. It moves into the respiratory tract and then the epithelial cells. Symptoms can include fever, chills, and body aches.
3. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer often appears in the main part of your lungs, but can develop in any part, and is hard to detect. Pay attention to your symptoms such as coughing up blood, harsh breathing sounds, changes in your voice, or chronic coughing. But be wary that many of these symptoms are also common to a very deadly form of cancer affecting the lungs’ lining: mesothelioma. Yet, the two diseases are not being confused. The most common cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoke. If you’re exposed to air pollution, second-hand smoke, asbestos, or radon exposure they can increase your chances of developing lung cancer.
4. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be mild or severe. It causes the air sacs in your lungs to fill with pus or fluid. That then leads to difficulty breathing. If you’re older than 65 or younger than 2, you’re at a greater risk of developing pneumonia. You can have what’s called walking pneumonia, where you don’t know you have it.
If you drink too much alcohol or smoke cigarettes that can increase your chances of developing it. Common symptoms are phlegm or mucus from coughing, feeling tired or having no appetite. Also, you could experience fever or chills or shortness of breath.
Common causes of pneumonia are the cold, flu, certain bacteria, and RSV(for those 1 or younger).
Common Diseases of the Respiratory System
It’s important to understand the causes and symptoms of these diseases of the respiratory system to better identify them.