Download The Art of Living: One Breath at a Time

Presented by:
Heather VanHorn
For breath is life,
and if you breathe well
you will live long on earth.
-Sanskrit Proverb
What is the Respiratory System?
• The respiratory system
allows gas exchange
between air and blood,
enables speech, provides the
first line of defense against
infection, and helps regulate
the pH of blood.
Respiratory System Components
• The respiratory tract consists of the nose, nasal cavity,
pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.
– Upper Respiratory System: nose, pharynx (everything above the vocal
cords!).
– Lower Respiratory System: larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
How Does the Respiratory
System Work?
• The respiratory tract can be
divided into a conducting
portion that conducts air into
the lungs, and a respiratory
portion where gas exchange
occurs.
Common Respiratory Disorders
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Allergies
Asthma
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Emphysema
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency
Asthma
• Asthma is a reversible obstructive lung disease, caused by
increased reaction of the airways to various stimuli.
• In 2007, it was estimated that 22.9 million Americans currently
have asthma.
• Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in childhood,
currently affecting an estimated 6.7 million children under 18
years.
Allergies
• Approximately 50 million Americans suffer from some form of
allergic disease, and the number is increasing.
• Allergies or an allergic reaction is actually a result of a chain
reaction that begins in your genes and is expressed by your
immune system. This reaction usually causes symptoms in the
nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, lining of the stomach or skin.
• Symptoms of respiratory allergies include sneezing, watery
eyes, coughing, wheezing and itchy eyes, nose, and throat.
Pneumonia
• Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung most often caused
by infection with bacteria, viruses, and other organisms,
although there are also non-infectious causes.
• Pneumonia and influenza together are ranked as the eighth
leading cause of death in the United States.
Bronchitis
• Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages
(bronchi) to your lungs. It causes a cough, shortness of breath
and chest tightness. Coughing often brings up yellow or
greenish mucus.
• The most common symptom of bronchitis is a cough.
Emphysema
• Emphysema begins with the destruction of air sacs in the lungs
where oxygen from the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide in
the blood. The walls of the air sacs are thin and fragile. As air
sacs are destroyed, the lungs are able to transfer less and less
oxygen to the bloodstream, causing shortness of breath.
• Symptoms of emphysema include cough, shortness of breath
and a limited exercise tolerance.
COPD
• COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in America, claiming
the lives of 127,049 Americans in 2005.
• COPD is the only cause of death that has increased in the past
5 years• COPD is a broad term used to describe a group of pulmonary
diseases with airflow limitation or the inability to move air out
of the lungs. It may feel as if you can’t get air in, but air is
actually trapped in the lungs.
COPD
• The signs and symptoms of COPD include:
– An ongoing cough or a cough that produces large amounts of mucus
(often called "smoker's cough")
– Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
– Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
– Chest tightness
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT)
deficiency
• Alpha-1 is caused by the
inherited deficiency of a
protein called alpha1antitrypsin (AAT). AAT,
produced by the liver, is a
"lung protector”.
• An estimated 100,000
Americans have an Alpha-1
deficiency.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT)
deficiency
• Symptoms of Alpha-1:
– Early onset of emphysema (age 45 years or less).
– COPD – emphysema, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis.
– Family history of any of the following: emphysema/COPD, liver disease
or panniculitis.
– Asthma with minimal response to medication, inhalers.
– Shortness of breath with routine activity.
– Cough with or without mucus.
– Wheezing.
– Liver disease with unknown cause.
Is It in Your Genes?
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an inherited disorder,
which means it is caused by abnormal genes that can be passed
from parents to children.
Treatment Options
• Visit your healthcare provider to discuss your options.
Medications, treatments and therapies are available.
How Do I Keep My Respiratory
System Healthy?
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid exposure to people
who have the flu or other
viral infections.
• Stay up-to-date on
vaccinations.
• Avoid exposure to dust
and fumes (including
those from household
cleaning products).
• Stay away from secondhand tobacco smoke, air
pollution, and other
pollutants that may irritate
your lungs or increase your
risk of lung infection.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Practice relaxation
techniques.
Questions?
• If you or someone you know would like to speak with a
healthcare provider about what was presented in today’s
presentation, please call the Mercy’s physician referral line at
(530) 225- 6490.
• If you would like information on smoking cessation classes or
other community wellness classes offered through Mercy
Redding, please call Mercy Healthline at (530)24-Mercy.
• Additional smoking/ tobacco cessation information available
through the California Smokers Helpline
– 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887)
– 1-800-844-CHEW (1-800-844-2439)
Helpful Websites
• The following websites have information on about specific
diseases, as well as smoking cessation information:
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www.nhlbi.nih.gov National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
www.aafa.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
www.lung.org American Lung Association
www.aaaai.org American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology
– www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/hhsa_index/Alcohol_tobacco_and_other_
drugs/Tobacco/tobacco_coalition.aspx Shasta County Tobacco
Prevention Coalition