Types of Breathing Emergencies
Breathing emergencies can strike fast and be deadly. They can be terrifying for those suffering one, and for family members watching a loved one struggle to breathe. However, there are medical interventions to control such problems and ways to prevent them altogether.
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The Facts
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Humans breathe through an involuntary system that goes on without a thought. The muscles in the diaphragm contract, making the chest bigger and pulling air into the respiratory system through the nose and mouth and into the lungs. When those muscles relax, the chest cavity gets smaller, and used air exits the way it entered. Air going in reoxygenates the blood, which passes to small sacs in the lungs and is then used to fuel the body. When the used blood returns to the lungs through the circulatory system, the same transfer takes place and waste carbon dioxide is expelled in exhalation.
Functions
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Anything that disrupts the respiratory system can be considered a breathing emergency. The average adult breathes between 12 and 20 times a minute, according to Wellsphere.com. Any breathing that falls at a slower or faster rate or, of course, not at all, is a problem.
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The Types
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There are many illnesses that can result in breathing emergencies, however some are more prevalent. Asthma, an illness in which the airways become inflamed, constricted and clogged with mucus impacts an estimated 30.2 million people in the United States, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Most people with asthma control the illness with prescribed inhalers. A severe asthma attack can kill. Emphysema is also common and is the result of damage to the small lung tissues required to keep the physical shape and operation of the lungs. Emphysema is a long-term disease and often the result of smoking cigarettes. Medical treatment can slow, but not reverse the impact of emphysema, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylactic shock is perhaps the most severe breathing issue and happens because of an allergic reaction. Anaphylactic shock can result in extreme swelling of the airways and tongue and can result in death.
Effects
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On the most severe side, a breathing emergency can kill a person. Before that, however, many people dealing with breathing emergencies suffer from an altered mental status because of a lack of oxygen to their brains. Likewise, breathing outside the normal range can also leave the victim in an agitated state.
Prevention
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Many breathing emergencies can be prevented. In the case of emphysema, quitting smoking can help slow the damage to already-injured lungs. Asthma sufferers can reduce their chances of more severe reactions by limiting their activities and making sure they're medicating properly. And, those with severe allergies to such things as peanuts and shellfish can reduce their chances of going into anaphylactic shock by avoiding those substances.
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