Lung diseases

Tuberculosis (TB):
It is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread through
droplets released when the infected person coughs or sneezes. It causes problems as once
it reaches the alveoli the immune system surrounds it with white blood cells leading to scar
tissue. As well as this less oxygen can reach the circulatory system.

Symptoms-
Coughing with blood
Shortness of breath
Fever and weight loss

Fibrosis:
Involves scarring of the lungs which causes them to lose their elasticity. This means they
can’t expand as much leading to fall in lung volume and subsequently fails in ventilation so
there’s a lower tidal volume. The walls become thicker and so the diffusion distance is further
and there is less efficient gas exchange.

Symptoms-
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Difficulty putting on weight and growing

Emphysema:
Caused by exposure to cigarette smoke which leads to the destruction of alveoli, which
causes reduced efficiency in normal gas exchange. This is due to elastin in the walls of the
alveoli bearing broken down which inhibits the ability to stretch and recoil during inhalation
and exhalation. It also causes the alveoli to fuse together which causes air sacs to have
smaller surface area to volume ratios. As well as this the lung d’issue dilates and thickens
which results in the rate of diffusion decreasing between gases such as oxygen and carbon
dioxide.

Symptoms-
Shortness of breath
Cough chest tightness
Wheezing
Difficulty breathing

Asthma:
Caused by obstructions in the airways such as the trachea as well as bronchoconstriction
which is caused by an allergic reaction to something like pollen.the airways inside the lungs
swell up obstructing the airflow affecting gas exchange. During an asthma attack, it is harder
and takes much longer to breathe out (expire or exhale) than to breathe in (inspire or
inhale).As the trachea constricts it leads to a reduction in the normal ventilation of the lungs
and deprives the body of oxygen. If left untreated it can be fatal. leads to reduced FEV1.
Medication can be used to dilate the bronchioles:
- salbutamol helps relax the bronchioles smooth muscle for a short period of time
 - Steroids (prednisone) helps to reduce the inflammatory response

Symptoms-
Coughing
Wheezing
Breathlessness
Tightness in chest

Questions:
1. positive correlation
2. No evidence to show that this is true so it is casual as it could just be a coincidence.

1. Risk factors: smoking, infections, air pollution and genetic pollution

2. 50%
3. 2x
4. By giving up smoking immediately she has the potential to increase her life
expectancy by up to 10 years
5. Reduce the total number of tobacco products being used - plain packaging to make it
less appealing, warning labels on the packaging, ban on Tabaco advertising.
6. Most of the air sac is filled with fibrosis tissue and so there is less room for gases and
less gas is taken in with each breathe. It also thickens the wall and so the diffusion
distance is larger and less gas exchange can take place as quickly.
7. Less elastic and so can’t spring back into place as easy to expel air.

1. A)1940 b)1970
2. Both lines are similar shapes.
3. Increase in smoking, increase in population, more air pollution
4. The cancer develops more slowly