Breathing disorders may be acute, subacute, or chronic. In each of these cases, the causes of respiratory disorders are different - they can be both respiratory system dysfunctions and, for example, heart diseases. Find out what the evidence of breathing disorders is.

Breathing disordersis a concept that includes all changes in the breathing pattern, i.e. accelerated (tachypnea), slowed (bradypnoe), deepened, Biot's breathing, Cheyne's breathing a-Stokes and Kussmaul breath. Breathing disorders also include breathing interrupted by deep breaths, as well as wheezing or rattling heard when breathing in and out.

Respiratory disorders also include shortness of breath, sleep apnea, as well as cough and the most troublesome of all of the above. ailments shortness of breath, i.e. a feeling of breathlessness.

Breathing disorders - respiratory diseases

Respiratory disorders that are acute, include pneumothorax and pulmonary embolism, and are characterized by sudden, sharp pain in the chest and tachypnoea, or tachypnea.

On the other hand, wheezing or difficulty breathing after exposure to a specific stimulus - allergen, respiratory tract infection, cold, exercise - may indicate asthma, obstruction, or a reactive airway disease.

A sudden cough or wheezing while inhaling, without any respiratory infection or general symptoms, may indicate a foreign body in the airways. A respiratory disturbance following occupational exposure or the improper use of cleaning agents may suggest toxic respiratory damage (e.g. inhalation of chlorine, hydrogen sulphide).

If breathing is subacute, it may indicate pneumonia and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and if chronic, obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease or pleural effusion .

He althy breathing and breathing disorders

A he althy person takes 12-15 breaths per minute. During each of them, it takes about 500 ml of air into the lungs, with the inhalation being slightly shorter than the exhalation.

Breathing disorders refer to changes in the cyclebreathing, its path, chest mobility and changes in auscultatory phenomena. Their causes concern not only the dysfunction of the respiratory system, but also other organs, such as the heart or the brain. It happens that such disorders occur in completely he althy people under the influence of strong emotions.

Disorders of the breathing cycle

Among the disorders of the breathing cycle, we distinguish:

  • rapid breathing- increase in the number of breaths may be caused by emotions or physical exertion. However, if the number of breaths exceeds 30 per minute, it is often a symptom of respiratory distress of more serious causes, such as lung or heart disease
  • slow breathing- this is a characteristic symptom of opioid and benzodiazepine poisoning and diseases of the central nervous system with increased intracranial pressure
  • deepened breathing (Kussmaul breathing)- it is a way of breathing consisting not only in increased depth of breathing, but also in their frequency. It is often described as "the breath of a chased dog." It is usually a symptom of metabolic acidosis, which can occur as a result of untreated diabetes.
  • shortness of breath- may occur in the case of exhaustion of the respiratory muscles in respiratory failure
  • prolonged exhalation- is characterized by exacerbations of obstructive diseases such as: chronic obstructive pneumonia or asthma
  • Cheyne and Stokes breathing- this breathing disorder consists in gradual acceleration and deepening of the breathing, and then, after reaching its maximum values, slowing down and becoming shallow to an episode of apnea. Its causes include heart failure, stroke, metabolic or drug-induced encephalopathy
  • Biot breathing- in this case the breathing is irregular, fast and shallow with apnea periods lasting 10-30 seconds. It occurs in drug-induced coma, injuries of the medulla and diseases with an increase in intracranial pressure
  • breathing- characterized by single deep breaths and exhalations that interrupt the normal breathing path. It is caused by psychoorganic and neurotic disorders.
  • apnea and shortness of breath during sleep- evidence of obstructive sleep apnea. It is a disease caused by repeated episodes of obstruction or narrowing of the upper respiratory tract at the pharyngeal level, with the respiratory muscles still working. Hypopnea and apnea usually result in unconscious awakening from sleep. During the daydisturbing symptoms occurring in patients are drowsiness, morning headaches, memory and concentration disorders as well as emotional disorders.

Breathing disorders

Another type of breathing disorder are disorders related to its path. Physiologically, the thoracic path, conditioned by the work of the external intercostal muscles, occurs in women.

However, in some cases it can also be a symptom of ascites, large tumors in the abdominal cavity or paralysis of the diaphragm.

Men breathe through the abdominal path, depending on the work of the diaphragm. Pathologically, it occurs in ankylosing spondylitis, pleural pain and in paralysis of the intercostal muscles.

Disorders of chest mobility

Disturbances in the mobility of the chest also belong to the breathing disorders. We divide them into:

  • unilateral weakness in chest movement- may indicate a pneumothorax, a large amount of fluid in the pleural cavity, or massive pleural fibrosis.
  • paradoxical chest movements- chest collapse is usually seen, characteristic of an injury involving the fracture of more than three ribs in at least two places.
  • increased work of additional respiratory muscles- manifested by stretching of the intercostal spaces. Patients support their upper limbs on a hard surface, such as the edge of a bed. This condition is characteristic of chronic respiratory failure.

Abnormal breathing sounds

In addition to breathing disorders, we can also include pathological noises heard above the lungs. In a he althy person, an alveolar murmur is audible over the entire surface of the lungs.

In some pathologies, however, additional noise phenomena may occur, such as rattles, whistles and rattles. Wheezes are caused by turbulent airflow through the constricted airways, while wheezing is caused by secretions in the airways.

We distinguish:

  • inspiratory wheezes- may indicate paralysis of the vocal cords, pressure on the trachea, inflammatory lesions of the larynx and trachea.
  • expiratory wheezes- occur in asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pneumonia, after aspiration.
  • rales - are characteristic of bronchiectasis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis.
  • bronchial murmur- in he althy people it occurs over large bronchi and over the trachea. Audibleabove the lungs may indicate an inflammatory infiltrate or haemorrhage.
  • pleural friction- audible in the course of cancer or inflammation.

Category:

Respiratory system