Human Respiratory System Diseases

Respiratory system diseases are the third highest leading cause of death in America, according to the American Lung Association. Some of the most common forms are asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, sarcoidosis and tuberculosis.

Asthma

Asthma occurs when bronchial tubes become inflamed and constrict. Five thousand people visit the emergency room each day in the U.S. because of asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis makes it difficult for a person to breathe by inflaming the main air passages, or bronchi. Symptoms of bronchitis include coughing, production of mucus, wheezing, fatigue, fever, chills and chest discomfort.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is usually caused by an infection and results in the inflammation of a person’s lungs. People over the age of 65 and young children have a high risk of getting pneumonia, according to Medline Plus.

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis occurs when tiny clumps of inflammatory cells grow in different areas of the body, most often in the lungs. Medline Plus explains that sarcoidosis can be caused by genetics, extreme immune responses and environmental factors.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that’s spread between people through the air. The elderly, infants and people with weakened immune systems have an increased risk for tuberculosis.