Nursing Diagnosis for Respiratory Diseases Respiratory diseases are diseases that affect the air passages, including the nasal passages, the bronchi and the lungs. They range from acute infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, to chronic conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These include diseases of the lung, pleural cavity, bronchial tubes, trachea, upper respiratory tract and of the nerves and muscles of breathing. Respiratory disease is responsible for over 10% of hospitalizations and over 16% of deaths in Canada. The study of respiratory disease is known as pulmonology. A doctor who specializes in respiratory disease is known as a pulmonologist, a chest medicine specialist, a respiratory medicine specialist, a respirologist or a thoracic medicine specialist. Respiratory diseases can be classified in many different ways
A. Obstructive lung diseases – are diseases of the lung where the bronchial tubes become narrowed making it hard to move air in and especially out of the lung.B. Restrictive lung diseases – (also known as interstitial lung diseases) are a category of respiratory disease characterized by a loss of lung compliance, causing incomplete lung expansion and increased lung stiffness. E.g. in infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS)C. Respiratory tract infections – Infections can affect any part of the respiratory system. They are traditionally divided into upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections.D. Upper respiratory tract infections - The most common upper respiratory tract infection is the common cold however, infections of specific organs of the upper respiratory tract such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, pharyngitis and laryngitis are also considered upper respiratory tract infections. E. Lower respiratory tract infection - The most common lower respiratory tract infection in is pneumonia, a lung infection. Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae in Western countries. Worldwide, tuberculosis is an important cause of pneumonia. Other pathogens such as viruses and fungi can cause pneumonia for example severe acute respiratory syndrome and pneumocystis pneumonia. A pneumonia may develop complications such as a lung abscess, a round cavity in the lung caused by the infection or an empyema, the spread of the infection to the pleural cavity. F. Respiratory Tumors – Tumours of the respiratory system are either malignant or benign.
The major types of respiratory system cancer are:
G. Pleural cavity diseases - diseases include empyema and mesothelioma which are mentioned above.
H. Pulmonary vascular diseases
I. Disorders of breathing mechanics The brain co-ordinates breathing and sends messages via nerves to the muscles of respiration. The muscles produce the movements of breathing. Disorders of the brain's control of breathing, the nerves or the muscles of respiration can affect the respiratory system. Common disorders of breathing mechanics are:
Obesity is often associated with sleep apnea and can cause either an obstructive or a restrictive pattern on spirometry. Obesity reduces the movement of the chest wall which can, in extreme cases, result in the obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, a cause of respiratory failure. POSSIBLE NURSING DIAGNOSIS FOR RESPIRATORY DISEASES
Source: Lippincott Review Series
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January 20, 2010
Nursing Diagnosis for Respiratory Diseases
POWERED BY: Silverspeed Site Builder