Treatments For Respiratory Disorders

Full Answer Section

• Adenovirus: This virus can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough, and pink eye.

Less commonly, URIs can be caused by bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Drug Therapy:

There is no cure for viral URIs, but medications can help manage symptoms. These include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers: These can help reduce fever, headache, and muscle aches. Examples include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).
• Decongestants: These can help open up stuffy noses. However, they should be used with caution, especially by people with high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Cough suppressants: These can be helpful for a dry, hacking cough, but should not be used for a productive cough (one that brings up mucus).
• Antihistamines: These can help relieve allergy-like symptoms such as runny nose and itchy eyes.

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses and should only be used if a bacterial infection is diagnosed.

Asthma Triggers

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. There are several triggers that can cause asthma symptoms to worsen, including:

• Allergens: These include inhaled substances such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold.
• Irritants: These include smoke (tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, and wildfire smoke), air pollution, strong cleaning chemicals, and cold air.
• Respiratory infections: The common cold and other respiratory illnesses can trigger asthma symptoms.
• Exercise-induced asthma (EIA): Physical activity can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
• Medications: Certain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
• Emotions: Stress, anxiety, and even strong emotions like laughter or crying can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.

Treatment Options for Asthma

There is no cure for asthma, but there are effective treatments that can help control symptoms and improve quality of life. These include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids: These medications are the mainstay of asthma treatment. They work by reducing inflammation in the airways.
• Long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs): These medications help to relax the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. They are often combined with inhaled corticosteroids.
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs): These medications work by blocking the action of leukotrienes, which are chemicals involved in the inflammatory response.
• Bronchodilators: These medications are quick-relief medications that can help to open up the airways during an asthma attack.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a class of medications that reduce inflammation. They are a mainstay of treatment for asthma and can be delivered by:

• Inhaled route: This is the preferred route for delivering corticosteroids for asthma because it delivers the medication directly to the airways where it is needed.
• Oral route: Oral corticosteroids may be used in severe cases of asthma or during an asthma attack.
• Nasal route: Nasal corticosteroids may be used to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) which can worsen asthma symptoms.

Corticosteroids are generally safe when used as prescribed, but they can cause side effects such as thrush (a fungal infection in the mouth) and hoarseness.

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammatory condition of the airways that causes a cough with mucus production (productive cough) for at least three months in a year for two or more years.

Causes:

The main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and occupational dusts and fumes.

Treatment Options:

There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but there are treatments that can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These include:

• Smoking cessation: This is the most important step in managing chronic bronchitis. Quitting smoking can significantly improve symptoms and lung function.
• Bronchodilators: These medications can help to open up the airways and improve breathing.

Sample Answer

Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs)

Causes:

Upper respiratory infections are most commonly caused by viruses, including:

• Rhinoviruses: These are responsible for the common cold.
• Coronaviruses: These include some strains that cause the common cold, as well as COVID-19.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): This virus can cause a more severe infection, especially in infants and young children.
• Parainfluenza virus: This virus can cause croup, a condition that causes a barking cough and difficulty breathing