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Parts of the System
Diseases
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Diseases
Human Body System Project
Did you know... COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Asthma is a life-long disease that has no cure, but can be managed. An asthmatic has extremely sensetive airways.Triggers such as cold weather, pollen, tobacco smoke, pet dander, and pollution can cause asthma episodes. During these "attacks," the airway tightens, making it more difficult to breath. While this can be life-threatening, there are treatments such as shots, pills, and (most commonly) inhalers.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) refers to both bronchitis and emphysema. Bronchitis has similar symptoms to asthma- inflamed airways and overproduction of mucus. Emphysema is when the membranes of the aveoli break down and gas exchange becomes a challenge. These two diseases can be found paired, which is why they are referred to by one name- COPD. Mostly, it is caused by smoking, but pollution in the air is another potential cause. Difficulty breathing and high mucus production are symptoms. If a person is experiencing these symptoms, they should be tested, because there are potential solutions like inhalers, oxygen therapy, and even surgery.
Lung Cancer is when lung cells mutate and begin to replicate uncontrolled, creating a tumor. The tumor destroys healthy tissue, which is extremely dangerous especially if the tumor spreads to other parts of the body. Often it will spread, because it is not usually detected in early stages when there are no symptoms. For those who do realize the problem, doctors are still searching for a cure. The causes they have detected include smoking, exposure to toxins, and genetics.
Lung Cancer is when lung cells mutate and begin to replicate uncontrolled, creating a tumor. The tumor destroys healthy tissue, which is extremely dangerous especially if the tumor spreads to other parts of the body. Often it will spread, because it is not usually detected in early stages when there are no symptoms. For those who do realize the problem, doctors are still searching for a cure. The causes they have detected include smoking, exposure to toxins, and genetics.
Emphysema Picture:
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/photogallery/tp/Copd-Images.htm
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/photogallery/tp/Copd-Images.htm