Post-text assignments

1 Give the explanation of following terms:

Pneumonia, acute bronchitis, tonsillitis, tuberculosis.

2 Match the definition of the disease in column I with the name of the disease in column II:

I	II
1 Smoking is the major cause of this disease.	a) Legionnaire’s disease
3 The disease is mostly seen in people that are older than 60 years of age.	c) cystic fibrosis
4 The signs and symptoms of this disease include night sweats, muscle fatigue, hemoptysis, cough, malaise, and daily recurring fever with chills.	d) lung cancer
5 The disease progresses rapidly and results in respiratory failure, bacterium shock and even death.	e) cancer of the larynx
7 The signs and symptoms of this disease are sore throat, fever, malaise, anorexia, enlarged purulent tonsils and the lymph glands of the neck are either enlarged or tender.	g) severe acute respiratory syndrome
8 The disease is usually caused by an upper respiratory infection.	h) tuberculosis
9 This is the infection of the respiratory tract and alveoli; it's a communicable disease and can occur anytime.	j) tonsillitis

3 Translate the following:

1 The signs and symptoms of larynx cancer include increased hoarseness, hoarseness that lasts more than 2 weeks, dyspnea and dysphasia.

2 Lung cancers usually develop in the epithelium of airways, and the first signs of it are usually secondary growths in bones, liver or the brain.

3 Cystic fibrosis is usually evident in infancy or childhood and there is no cure.

4 The signs and symptoms of SARS include headache, fever greater then 100.4 F, generalized discomfort, mild respiratory symptoms, muscle aches, may experience a dry cough, dyspnea and hypoxia.

5 The inflammation of the bronchial tree and the trachea cause the congestion of secretions that are very thick are retained in the bronchi.

6 Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and risk increases by the amount of cigarettes a person has per day and the length of time the person has been smoking.

Unit 12

Pre-text assignment

Learn the key words and phrases:

inflammatory disease, wheezing, trigger, factory fumes, pet dander, dye, inhaled medication.

Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs that often makes breathing difficult and causes attacks of coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Asthma symptoms occur when the lining of the air passages swell and the muscles surrounding the airways tighten. Mucus fills the airways, further reducing the amount of air that can pass through them and causing an asthma attack.

Asthma attacks can be brought on by triggers, such as air pollution, tobacco smoke, and factory fumes, cleaning solvents, infections, pollens, foods, cold air, exercise, chemicals and medications. Triggers are highly individual and may not be related to allergens. Many asthmatics are not allergic to common allergens such as mold, ragweed, dust or pollens.

However, many individuals are both allergic and asthmatic, making control and management crucial. It is imperative that people who find they are debilitated by either allergies or asthma seek medical assistance immediately. Both respiratory conditions are treatable and manageable.

Asthma is becoming more prevalent in industrialized countries and is generally more common in children than adults. Children often outgrow asthma by the time they reach adulthood, but this is not always the case.

Asthma is sometimes referred to as bronchial asthma because it involves the narrowing of the bronchial airways. The distinction is often made between childhood asthma and adult-onset asthma, when symptoms don’t appear until at least the age of 20. Other types of asthma include:

Allergic Asthma (Extrinsic Asthma)

Allergic asthma is triggered by allergens, such as pet dander, food preservatives, mold, or pollen. Allergic asthma is more likely to be seasonal because it often goes hand-in-hand with allergies that are also seasonal.

Non-Allergic Asthma (Intrinsic Asthma)

This type of asthma is triggered by irritants in the air that are not related to allergies – including wood or cigarette smoke, air pollution, room deodorants, household cleaning products, and perfumes.

Cough-Variant Asthma (CVA)

Cough-variant asthma does not have the classic symptoms of asthma – such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Instead, CVA is characterized by one symptom, a persistent dry cough. Cough-variant asthma can lead to full-blown asthma that shows other asthma symptoms.

Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA)

Exercise-induced asthma affects people during or after physical activity. EIA can occur in people who are not sensitive to classic asthma triggers such as dust, pollen, or pet dander.

Nocturnal Asthma

This type of asthma is characterized by asthma symptoms that worsen at night. Those who suffer from nocturnal asthma can also experience symptoms anytime of the day. However, certain triggers – such as heartburn, pet dander, and dust mites – can cause those symptoms to worsen at night while sleeping.

Occupational Asthma

Occupational asthma is induced by triggers that exist in a person’s workplace. Irritants and allergens include dusts, dyes, gases, fumes, animal proteins, and rubber latex that are common in a wide range of industries – including manufacturing, textiles, farming, and woodworking.

Asthma Myths & Facts

Myth: Asthma is caused by emotions or psychological conditions.

Fact: Emotions may exacerbate asthma, but the hypersensitive respiratory airways were present before emotions were introduced.

Myth: A child's asthma is not caused by lack of a strong bond with the mother.

Fact: No scientific evidence has ever existed to support this.

Myth: Asthma is psychosomatic and should be treated by psychiatrists or psychologists.

Fact: Asthma and allergies are physical conditions of physical hypersensitivity of the respiratory system. Asthmatics do not cause their own asthma attacks.

Myth: Regular use of inhalers are habit-forming and addictive. Fact: No, inhalers are not habit-forming. Just because you have to take your inhaler medicine daily does not mean that it is addictive.

Myth: Asthma can be cured.

Fact: Much as medical science may have progressed, unfortunately there is no cure for asthma. Not even homeopathy or ayurveda or fish therapy or yoga can cure asthma.

Myth: You cannot lead a normal life if you have asthma

Fact: You can lead an active and healthy life despite your asthma. If you have asthma or your child does, you can rest assured that you will be able to lead as normal a life as possible.

Myth: A pregnant woman should not take asthma inhalers

Fact: If a child can take an asthma inhaler, a pregnant woman can too. In fact, it is important that a pregnant woman continue with regular asthma inhalers as it will give her the best chance of having a healthy baby.

Myth: One cannot die of asthma

Fact: Unfortunately, yes, one can die of asthma. According to a WHO update, the annual worldwide deaths from asthma have been estimated at 250,000.

While asthma can’t be cured, mild symptoms can be controlled by use of prescribed inhaled medication. Serious or severe asthma attacks require professional medical attention, but with ongoing treatment, most asthmatics manage the disease and live normal, long lives.