The Respiratory System
The human respiratory system is a complex system involving the coordination of organs with different structural, functional and defensive mechanisms. The high costs and the high fatality rates associated with chronic respiratory disorders require some serious rethinking in our approach to managing the problem. It transpires that the maxim 'prevention is better than cure' is very apt in the management of respiratory disorders. Smoking is identified as the single most important cause for most of the serious respiratory problems including COPD and lung cancer, and hence abstaining from smoking eliminates the risk for the onset of several serious respiratory disorders. The human respiratory system is a well-developed and complex system involving many different organs such as the nasal cavity, pharynx, trachea and the lungs. Though the actual physiological function of breathing begins only at birth, the development of the respiratory tract, the diaphragm and the lungs occur much earlier in the embryonic stage. Structural and functional changes continue from infancy to adulthood and into old age, as the respiratory system matures with age. There are various diseases of the respiratory system such as asthma
Also, the mucus production triggered by the chronic inflammation further constricts the airways and severely restricts the amount of air that can pass in and out of the lungs resulting in severe shortness of breath. TB infection induces immune response in the form of inflammation of the affected region. The damage to alveolar sacs limits the surface area of gaseous exchange thus causing significant breathing difficulties. Caused by the bacterium 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis', the disease primarily affects the lungs though it also affects other parts of the human body such as the skeletal, genital, CNS and the gastrointestinal systems. 2 billion was spent in 2004 for healthcare expenditure and mortality related costs for COPD. Life style and environmental factors are important in contributing to and increasing the susceptibility to respiratory disorders. However, the dormant bacteria may continue to live inside the granulomas and can burst out when the immune system is compromised. The following discussion includes a brief overview of the structural development of the human respiratory system followed by an overview of COPD and Tuberculosis, two of the prevalent diseases of the respiratory system, and their impact on occupational performance. [HSE] Around 2% of people with COPD develop lung cancer. [WebPath] In most cases the immune system is successful in preventing active TB as the infection is controlled by the macrophages. [ALA] Research in Uk also shows that around 15% of deaths (4000 people) due to COPD are attributable to occupational exposure. The productivity loss associated with COPD is mammoth accumulating to billions of dollars every year as a recent American Lung Association survey revealed that almost 50% of affected people find it hard to continue working. 2 million people are diagnosed as asthmatics. The maxim 'Prevention is better than cure' certainly holds true for preventing respiratory problems.
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