What Are Respiratory Disorders?

Examples of respiratory disorders include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, lung cancer, pneumonia, the flu, and others.

Respiratory disorders are lung diseases, which are diseases or disorders that can affect respiratory function, the ability to breathe, and how well the lungs work. Lung disease is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., and lung disease and other breathing problems are leading causes of death in infants.

Respiratory disorders include conditions such as:

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Bronchiectasis
• Acute bronchitis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Lung cancer
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary edema
• Influenza (“the flu”)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Mesothelioma
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Tuberculosis

Symptoms of respiratory disorders vary depending on the condition and may include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing difficulties 
• Excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum production
• Wheezing 
• Chest tightness/soreness
• Sharp chest pain that is worse when you take a breath
• Difficulty inhaling deeply
• Frequent bronchitis or other lung infections
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Cold or flu symptoms
  • Stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

The cause of respiratory disorders varies depending on the condition. 

• Asthma
  • The exact cause is unknown
  • Usually triggered by an immune system response to a substance in the lungs
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
  • Smoking tobacco (the main cause)
  • Exposure to secondhand smoke
  • A history of respiratory infections 
  • Exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace
  • Genetic factors, such as alpha-1 deficiency
• Bronchiectasis
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency
  • Autoimmune diseases 
  • Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
  • Bronchial obstruction
  • Congenital anatomic defects 
  • Connective-tissue disorders
  • Cystic fibrosis or Young syndrome
  • Foreign body aspiration
  • Idiopathic inflammatory disorders
  • Immunodeficiency states, both genetic and acquired, such as HIV/AIDS
  • Primary bacterial or viral infections
  • Primary ciliary dyskinesia
  • Toxic gas exposure 
  • Traction from other processes
• Acute bronchitis
  • Viruses such as influenza, the common cold, or whooping cough
  • Sometimes caused by bacteria
• Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Autoimmune problems
  • Certain medications
  • Exposure to triggers
  • Radiation
  • Workplace exposures
• Sarcoidosis
  • The exact cause is unknown
  • Cause may be genetic, or bacteria, viruses, or chemicals may be triggers
• Lung cancer
  • Smoking (main cause of all types of lung cancer) 
  • Exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Air pollution
  • Workplace exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, or other chemicals 
  • Exposure to radon
  • Genetic changes
• Pneumonia
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Fungi
• Pulmonary edema
  • Congestive heart failure 
  • Certain medicines
  • High altitude exposure
  • Kidney failure
  • Narrowed arteries that bring blood to the kidneys
  • Lung damage caused by poisonous gas or severe infection
  • Major injury 
• Influenza
  • Influenza virus
• Cystic fibrosis
  • An abnormal gene inherited from both parents
• Mesothelioma
  • The main cause is asbestos exposure
• Pulmonary hypertension
  • The exact cause is unknown
  • May be caused by damage to the cells that line the arteries of the lungs
• Tuberculosis
  • A bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Treatment for respiratory disorders varies depending on the condition. 

• Asthma
  • Quick-relief medications bronchodilators 
  • Long-term asthma control medications 
  • Biologics
  • Oral corticosteroids
  • Immunotherapy, useful when asthma is triggered by an allergy
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding secondhand tobacco smoke
  • Avoiding air pollutants at home and at work
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Medications to treat symptoms 
  • Supplemental oxygen
• Bronchiectasis
  • Antibiotics 
  • Bronchodilators
  • Corticosteroids
  • Chest physiotherapy 
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Dietary supplementation
  • Oxygen (reserved for hypoxemic patients with severe disease)
  • Hospitalization for severe exacerbations
  • Surgical therapies
• Bronchitis
  • Acute bronchitis
    • Home remedies
      • Rest
      • Drinking plenty of liquids
      • Sucking on lozenges, cough drops, or hard candy
      • Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines and pain-relievers
      • Inhaling warm, moist air
      • Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke
  • Chronic bronchitis 
    • Prescription inhalers or steroids
    • Oxygen 
    • Pulmonary rehab 
• Pulmonary fibrosis
  • Supplemental oxygen 
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation 
  • Medications
  • Lung transplantation 
• Sarcoidosis
  • Mild cases may not need treatment
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
  • Corticosteroids 
  • Other medications
  • Rehabilitation programs
  • Oxygen therapy and/or lung transplantation in severe cases
• Lung cancer
  • Surgery 
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • Laser therapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) 
  • Lymph node removal
  • Chemotherapy 
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy 
  • Participation in clinical trials
• Pneumonia
  • Antibiotics, if the cause is bacterial
  • Antivirals, if the cause is viral
  • Home treatment such as:
    • Getting a lot of rest
    • Drinking plenty of fluids 
    • Fever reducers 
    • Inhaling steam
    • Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke or any other lung irritants
• Pulmonary edema
  • Oxygen 
  • Ventilator
  • Medications such as diuretics and other medicines that strengthen the heart muscle, control the heartbeat, or relieve pressure on the heart
• Influenza
  • Home remedies
  • Antiviral medications
• Cystic fibrosis
  • Antibiotics to help prevent or treat infections
  • Bronchodilators to help open up the airways in the lungs
  • Mucus thinners to help thin the mucus in the lungs
  • CTFR modulators that improve the function of the faulty CFTR protein
  • Airway clearance therapy (chest physiotherapy)
  • Lung transplant 
• Mesothelioma
  • Surgery 
  • Palliative procedures 
  • Radiation therapy 
  • Chemotherapy 
  • Immunotherapy 
  • Targeted therapy 
• Pulmonary hypertension
  • Supportive treatments 
    • Oxygen therapy
    • Diuretics
    • Digoxin
    • Exercise
    • Anticoagulants
  • Vasodilatory therapies (used to help widen the blood vessels) 
  • Balloon atrial septostomy 
  • Lung transplantation (for severe cases) 
• Tuberculosis
  • There are several different drug regimens that must be taken for several months and may include rifampin, isoniazid plus rifampin, isoniazid plus rifapentine 
  • Avoiding alcohol and acetaminophen (Tylenol)