Respiratory Disease Symptoms

General Manifestations of Respiratory Disease

• Breath sounds can be abnormal, including rales (light bubbly or crackling sounds), rhonchi (deeper or harsher sounds), and absence (non-aeration or collapse of lungs)
• Dyspnea is a feeling of discomfort or shortness of breath, often caused by increased carbon dioxide or hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood)

Symptoms of Respiratory Distress

• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a sudden, acute type of dyspnea that wakes patients up from sleep with coughing and gasping for breath
• Orthopnea occurs when lying down and is usually caused by pulmonary congestion
• Cyanosis is a bluish coloring of skin and mucous membranes caused by large amounts of unoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood
• Pleural pain results from inflammation or infection of the parietal pleura
• Friction rub is a soft sound produced by rough, inflamed, or scarred pleural surfaces moving against each other
• Clubbed digits are a result of chronic hypoxia associated with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, characterized by painless, firm, fibrotic enlargement at the end of the digit

Infectious Diseases

• Lower respiratory tract infections include bronchiolitis (viral infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus) and pneumonia (3 types: lobar, bronchopneumonia, and interstitial)
• Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects exocrine glands, causing abnormally thick secretions that obstruct airflow and lead to infections and respiratory failure

Obstructive Lung Diseases

• Cystic fibrosis causes sticky mucus to obstruct airflow, leading to air trapping, atelectasis, and permanent damage to bronchial walls
• Bronchiectasis is a permanent enlargement of parts of the airways, characterized by chronic cough with mucus production, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and chest pain
• Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that causes shortness of breath due to over-inflation of the alveoli
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disorder characterized by progressive tissue degeneration and airway obstruction
• Asthma is an inflammation of the mucosa with edema, bronchoconstriction, and increased secretion of thick mucus that blocks airways

Expansion Disorders

• Atelectasis is the collapse of a lung or part of a lung, leading to decreased gas exchange and hypoxia
• Common causes of atelectasis include hypoventilation, compression, airway obstruction, and adhesions
• Pleural effusion is excessive fluid in the pleural cavity, increasing pressure and leading to separation of the pleural cavity
• Pneumothorax is air leakage, with 3 types: closed, open, and tension
• Flail chest is a fracture of ribs that allows independent movement during respiration, preventing expansion of the affected lung

Identify the general manifestations of respiratory disease, including abnormal breath sounds and dyspnea. Learn to recognize symptoms of respiratory distress, such as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.