If you are experiencing breathlessness, chest pain, wheezing, coughing with some sputum, you are showing symptoms of respiratory diseases. They will cause breathing difficulties and may cost you a good night’s sleep.
Some respiratory diseases do not respond to Grandma’s home-cure recipe of a “couple of decongestants, lots of rest and drink plenty of water.” They need a visit to your doctor. You may have something more serious than a common cold.
What are Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases are pathological conditions that affect the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system, like the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and the nerves and muscles of breathing.
There are several kinds of respiratory diseases, but Jim Meyer, DO, pulmonologist of Unity Point Health makes special mention of the top eight. Of these, four are common to seniors like you and me. They are:
Common Elderly Respiratory Diseases
It’s a wonderful time to be old, except if you have any of the medical issues related to aging.
Respiratory diseases are a good example. Aging stiffens the chest walls, the respiratory muscle loses strength, and respiratory centers become less sensitive. Because of these changes, you become prone to any of the following:
1. Respiratory infections
These affect the upper respiratory tract like tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, otitis media, some types of flu, and the common cold.
Symptoms
Their symptoms include coughs, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion headache, low-grade fever, facial pressure, and sneezing.
Causes, treatment, and avoidance of upper respiratory tract infections
Respiratory infections are almost always caused by self-limiting viruses and will be gone after a day or two rest and medications.
Treatment can be any, or combination of the following:
- Nasal decongestants
- Steam inhalation or gargling with a salt solution
- Analgesics like acetaminophen and NSAIDs (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs), to reduce fever, aches, and pains.
Home-grown prevention involves proper washing of hands, covering of face while sneezing or coughing, plenty of rest and keep away from the weather, especially during cold months.
2. Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a respiratory disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria and mostly affects the lungs.
The disease is spread through the air – when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A few of these germs is enough to infect a healthy person.
Though curable, seniors are prone to get the disease because of age-related immune system deficiency.
Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of the following, consult your doctor:
- Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Sweating at night
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
TB risk factors
You have a high chance of getting TB if you:
- Live, come from, or have spent time in a country or area with high incidences of the disease
- Have a prolonged close contact with someone who is infected
- Live in crowded conditions, or conditions that weaken your immune system
- Had a treatment that weakened your immune system like chemotherapy or biological agents
- Are in poor health or with poor diet because of lifestyle
- Have a drug or alcohol problems, or if you are homeless.
TB treatment
Treating tuberculosis is a long and lengthy process, about six to 9 months of taking drugs or a combination of drugs for drug-resistant TB. And this drug-taking regimen must be completed to remove the risk of a relapse – or contaminating others.
Some of the most common drugs to treat TB are:
- Isoniazid
- Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
- Ethambutol (Myambutol)
- Pyrazinamide
Drug-resistant TB requires a combination of antibiotics called “Flouroquinolones” and injectable medications like Amikacin, Kanamycin or Capreomycin which are used for 20 to 30 months.
These drugs, however, are not without side effects which are:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundiced color
- Dark urine
- Fever that may last for three or more days
How to cope with TB
When you are diagnosed with TB, expect a drastic change in your lifestyle. Your days will be a routine of drug-taking which you must religiously follow if you want to rid yourself of the disease. You must:
- Make sure not to spread the disease
- Take your medications as scheduled and report any side-effects
- Notify your doctor if you relocate so arrangements could be made to continue treatment
- Eat healthy foods, exercise and get enough sleep to keep your immune system strong; help you recover faster.
3. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
COPD is an umbrella term to describe progressive lung diseases like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma.
It is progressive and is currently incurable. But if detected earlier and treated properly, COPD sufferers can breathe better and live for many more years.
COPD risk factors
Long-term and repeated exposure to irritants will damage the lungs and the airways resulting in COPD
These irritants come from:
- Smoking – the main culprit causing COPD. About 85 to 90% of all cases are caused by cigarette smoking. The toxins in cigarette smoke weaken the lung’s defenses against infection, narrow the air passages, swell air tubes and destroy air sacs.
- Environment: Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, dust, chemical fumes at work, home, and the general environment.
- Alpha-1 deficiency, properly called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, or AAT deficiency, is a genetic disease that can cause serious breathing problems.
COPD symptoms
Diagnosing COPD at its early stage is difficult because its symptoms are often taken as signs of aging. These are:
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent coughing (without mucus)
- Wheezing
- Tightness in chest
- Unexplained fatigue
If you are experiencing these symptoms, consult your doctor before it’s too late.
Treating COPD
COPD symptoms vary from people to people, therefore treatment programs also vary accordingly. But remember that the disease is incurable and any medical intervention is palliative, not curative.
Currently, these measures are recommended by the American Lung Association.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program of exercise, education, and support to help you learn to breathe and function at the highest level possible. Your doctor’s recommendation is necessary to get into this program.
- Supplemental oxygen to provide your body with the oxygen supply it needs to carry on with your day-to-day life.
- Clinical trials participation to contribute to the knowledge in the treatment and management of COPD.
- Complementary therapies are therapies, philosophies, and practices not considered conventional or standard like yoga, massage, and acupuncture
- Palliative care is a specialty in medicine focused on treating the symptoms, pain, and stress that comes with a serious illness like COPD. Its goal is to help you and your family achieve the highest quality of life.
4. Bronchial asthma
Bronchial asthma, or simply “asthma,” is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, causing periodic attacks of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
It is a common disease among people aged 65 and above and if not treated properly, may cause serious health problems.
Asthma symptoms
For asthmatics, the onset of an asthma attack is very obvious. If you are a new member of the club, take note of these symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- Sleeping problems due to coughing or wheezing
- Whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling.
The severity of an asthma attack varies from people to people. However, regardless of severity, it is best to consult a physician so palliative moves can be designed for you before it gets worse.
What causes asthma
It still unclear why some people develop asthma while others don’t. So far, the medical field can only theorize that it is probably due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
Asthma is an allergic reaction to substances and irritants around you such as:
- Airborne substances like pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander or particles of cockroach waste
- Air pollutants and irritants like smoke
- Substances or preservatives found in food and drink like shrimps, dried fruits, processed potatoes, beer, and wine.
Certain illnesses like the common cold or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), can trigger an asthma attack, as well as cold temperatures, strong emotions like stress and physical activity.
Asthma can also be triggered by some medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and some beta blockers.
Asthma risk factors
There are a lot of risk factors that could cause an asthma attack. Some of them are:
- A family history of asthma
- Having another allergic condition like atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis
- Obesity
- Smoker, or exposed to second-hand smoke
- Exposure to exhaust fumes or other types of pollution
- Exposure to occupational allergens like chemicals used in farming, hairdressing, solvents like paints, aerosol sprays, etc.
Asthma prevention:
So far, there is no treatment or cure for asthma. But you can prevent it from ruining your day through these simple steps:
Follow your asthma action plan
A plan made by your doctor or health care team to prevent or minimize the severity of an attack. Write it down including the schedule of taking your medications and how to manage an asthma attack. Your plan can make you feel in control of the disease and your life.
Identify and avoid your asthma triggers
Prevention is better than the cure, so identify your asthma triggers to avoid an attack.
Monitor your breathing
Nobody knows you better than you. So when you see the first signs of an asthma attack, implement your asthma management plan. Get a peak flow meter (a device to measure how well air moves out of your lungs) and measure and record your peak air flow.
Treat attacks early
If an attack is imminent, treat it quickly before it gets worse. You also need lesser medications if you do. Then take a rest and get medical help according to your asthma action plan if things don’t improve.
Take your medication as prescribed
Always take your medications even if your asthma seems under control unless your doctor says so. Asthma is incurable and frequent asthma attacks is stressful to the heart.
Have flu and pneumonia vaccinations
Prevent serious complications from asthma by having flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Quick-relief inhaler
Consult your doctor if you are relying too much on your quick-relief inhaler like albuterol. It means your asthma is not under control and you may need another medication or a stronger dosage.
Your body needs about 550 liters of pure oxygen each day to function normally. Any reduction of this amount such as caused by a respiratory disease will have grave consequences on your health and well-being.
Image:https://www.philips.com.sg/healthcare/consumer/copd-care-and-solutions/all-about-copd/stages-of-copd
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