Common Respiratory Disorders and Their Impact on Health
Respiratory system diseases are diseases that occur in the lungs or the human airway, which affects human respiration. A disorder is the malfunctioning of an organ of the human body. Respiratory system disorders are the medical terms that are used to study the several different types of allergies, infections, and various other diseases that are related to different tissues, organs, and specialized cells of the human respiratory system.
The human respiratory system comprises the upper respiratory tract, bronchi, alveoli, trachea, pleura, bronchioles, and pleural cavity. For instance, the common cold is an example of a mild respiratory disorder, while pneumonia, asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, influenza, etc. are examples of some serious and life-threatening respiratory disorders.
Factors Associated with Respiratory Disorders
There can be several internal as well as external factors associated with respiratory system disorders. A few of these factors include:
Allergies
Certain people have allergies to dust and smoke. Such people are more vulnerable to pathogens that can affect the respiratory system.
Bacterial and Viral Infections
Lungs or other parts of the respiratory system can get infected by viruses such as SARs virus or by Covid virus and can cause problems in its proper functioning. This can have long-term effects as well.
Smoking
Smoking can reduce the capacity of the lungs to respire thereby making them more vulnerable to respiratory disorders. The habit of smoking excessively can cause lung cancer.
Genetics
Genetic factors can increase the risk of getting infected by lung diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
Air pollution
Pollutants emitted from various sources are inhaled by living organisms making them more vulnerable to respiratory diseases. Increasing air pollution has resulted in the rise of various lung diseases. Some of them are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
Types of Respiratory System Diseases
Respiratory system diseases affect millions of people all around the world every year due to the several factors that are associated with respiratory system disorders. There are mainly three types of respiratory diseases as follows: -
Lung Tissue Disease: The human lungs are covered with a thin layer of tissue called pleura. The structure of the lung tissues gets affected due to certain viral and bacterial infections, the outcome of which is the scarring and the inflammation of the pleura that aids the lungs to expand normally, and this makes the act of breathing difficult.
Airway Disease: Airway diseases affect the bronchial tubes that are responsible for transporting oxygen and other important gases in and out of the lungs. In these kinds of diseases, the airway passage gets reduced, either narrowing of the airway passage or the blockage of the bronchial tubes, which results in difficulty of breathing.
Lung Circulation Disease: These kinds of diseases occur when the blood vessels of the lungs get coagulated, swollen, or damaged. This affects the ability of the lungs to exchange gases in and out of the human body. In the worst cases, these kinds of disorders can affect the functioning of the heart as well.
Causes of Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory disorders can be caused due to the exposure of the pollutants present in the atmosphere, smoking, asbestos, radon, inhaling tobacco smoke, etc.
Respiratory Diseases
The major kind of respiratory diseases list that occur in humans are as follows:
Emphysema: It can be defined as the chronic disease reduction of the respiratory surface that occurs due to the damage of the lung alveolar walls. This disease is generally caused by cigarette smoking. The major symptoms of this disease include cough and shortness of breath. Emphysema can also lead to the loss of the elasticity of the lungs. The major factors that cause emphysema are given below:
Air pollution
Smoking tobacco
Dust
Exposure to passive cigarette smoking
Chemicals
Asthma: It is a chronic disease that affects the bronchi and the bronchioles present in the lungs. Asthma can cause difficulty in breathing, cough, restlessness, severe cold, and a wheezing sound while breathing. The major factors responsible for causing asthma include respiratory infections, air pollutants, cold air, physical activity, airborne allergens, etc.
Lung Cancer: This type of cancer generally occurs in the main part of the lungs, and it can develop in any part of the lungs. The treatment for lung cancer depends on the type, location, and spread of cancer in the lungs and other parts.
Occupational Respiratory Disorders: These kinds of respiratory disorders are the ones that occur due to the long-term inhalation of the chemicals proteins and dust, and this affects the respiratory system badly. For example, the inhalation of asbestos dust causes asbestosis. The other occupational respiratory disorders can happen due to the inhalation of the substances given below:
Sprays of paints, varnish, acids, and pesticides
Gases from industries like ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and chlorine
Smoke from burning organic materials
Dust from silica, pesticides, cotton, coal, and drug powders
Fumes from metals
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): These types of diseases include all the respiratory diseases that cause the inability to exhale and breathlessness. It is usually caused by people who are exposed to some sort of smoke. This is a very serious type of disorder and generally gets worse even if you stop smoking.
Sinusitis: This causes the inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal sinus, and the mucous membranes produce mucus that usually drains into the nasal cavity. The major causes of the inflammation of the mucous membranes are viral or bacterial infections and some other airborne allergens.
Fun Facts about the Respiratory System
We understand that after studying so much information, your mind is exhausted and is craving for something fun. Thus to make this topic more interesting for you, Vedantu has brought fun facts about the respiratory system. (You need not remember these). These are as follows:
Your lungs are the organs that can float on water
Your nose acts as a filter, heater, and humidifier
There have been instances where people have lived with just one lung
Breathing leads to loss of water
If lungs are unfolded and stretched they can be as big as a tennis court
Your left lung is smaller than the right
The diaphragm controls 80% of the breathing activity
There are about 300 to 500 alveoli in adult lungs
The human body breathes on an average of 17000 times
Conclusion
After reading this one can understand how grave the problem of respiratory diseases is. Especially, in the wake of a global covid pandemic, the situation has become even grimmer. To tackle these problems, various initiatives have been taken by authorities across the globe. Vedantu suggests you read more about these to update your knowledge base. It will not just make you a better student, but also a responsible citizen.
The above-mentioned topic is very important for the biology exams and at least 1 one question is expected in the school exams. Vedantu understands this, therefore it has brought this write-up to you for free.
FAQs on Respiratory System Disorders: Overview, Types & Prevention
1. What is a respiratory disorder?
A respiratory disorder refers to any medical condition that affects the organs and tissues of the respiratory system, such as the lungs and airways. These disorders disrupt the normal process of breathing, which involves the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide, and can range from mild conditions like the common cold to severe, life-threatening diseases like pneumonia and lung cancer.
2. What are the major respiratory disorders covered in the Class 11 Biology syllabus?
According to the NCERT syllabus for the academic year 2025-26, the main disorders of the respiratory system that students should focus on are:
- Asthma: A condition causing inflammation and narrowing of the airways (bronchi and bronchioles).
- Emphysema: A chronic disease where the alveolar walls are damaged, reducing the surface area for gas exchange.
- Occupational Respiratory Disorders: Illnesses caused by inhaling harmful dusts, gases, or fumes in a workplace, such as asbestosis and silicosis.
3. What are the primary causes of most respiratory system disorders?
Respiratory disorders can be triggered by a variety of factors. The most common causes include:
- Infections: Caused by viruses and bacteria that lead to conditions like pneumonia and bronchitis.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoke is a major cause of chronic diseases like emphysema, COPD, and lung cancer.
- Air Pollution: Inhaling pollutants from traffic and industrial emissions can irritate the airways and lead to chronic conditions.
- Allergens: Substances like pollen, dust, and animal dander can trigger allergic reactions like asthma.
- Genetics: Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition that makes them more susceptible to certain respiratory illnesses.
4. What are some common symptoms that may indicate a respiratory disorder?
While symptoms vary depending on the specific disease, some common warning signs of a respiratory disorder include a persistent cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially during physical activity, wheezing (a high-pitched whistling sound while breathing), chest tightness, and excessive mucus production.
5. What is the key difference between Asthma and Emphysema?
The primary difference lies in the part of the respiratory system they affect and the nature of the damage. Asthma is an airway disease characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchi and bronchioles, which makes breathing difficult. In contrast, Emphysema is a disease affecting the lung tissue itself, where the walls of the alveoli are damaged and break down. This reduces the total surface area available for gas exchange, making it a chronic and often irreversible condition.
6. Explain what is meant by Occupational Respiratory Disorders with an example.
Occupational Respiratory Disorders are lung diseases that develop due to long-term exposure to certain irritants in the workplace. The body's defense mechanisms are overwhelmed by prolonged exposure to harmful dust, chemicals, or fibres. A classic example is Asbestosis, which occurs in workers from industries like shipbuilding or construction who inhale asbestos fibres, leading to severe lung fibrosis (scarring) and shortness of breath.
7. Why is cigarette smoking so uniquely damaging to the respiratory system?
Cigarette smoking is exceptionally harmful because it attacks the respiratory system on multiple fronts. The smoke contains numerous toxins that paralyse the cilia, the tiny hair-like structures that clear mucus and debris from the airways. This leads to a build-up of tar and pathogens. Furthermore, chemicals in the smoke directly damage the alveolar walls, leading to the irreversible loss of lung elasticity seen in Emphysema. It is also the leading cause of lung cancer due to the presence of potent carcinogens.
8. How does air pollution contribute to the development of respiratory problems?
Air pollution introduces harmful particles and gases into the lungs. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can penetrate deep into the lung tissue, causing inflammation and irritation of the airways. This can trigger acute asthma attacks in susceptible individuals and contribute to the development of chronic conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) over time. Pollutants essentially weaken the lungs' natural defences, making them more vulnerable to infections and long-term damage.
9. Why is damage to the alveoli, as seen in Emphysema, considered so severe?
Damage to the alveoli is severe because they are the functional units of gas exchange in the lungs. The human lungs contain millions of these tiny air sacs to create a vast surface area (roughly the size of a tennis court) for oxygen to enter the blood and carbon dioxide to leave. In Emphysema, the walls of these sacs are destroyed, which permanently reduces this critical surface area. This loss is irreversible and leads to a chronic inability to get enough oxygen, causing persistent shortness of breath and impairing overall body function.
