Emphysema Essays - Respiratory Physiology, Respiratory Diseases

Emphysema Introduction: Emphysema is a condition of the lungs that involves the over-inflation of the air sacs, otherwise known as the alveoli. Normal functioning of the alveoli helps breathing in normal respiration. Unlike other lung diseases this one can be inherited. This is a disease that can affect people of all ages and genders. In 1994, the number of males with emphysema outnumbered the females by fifty four percent. However, in the two years that followed the difference between males and females decreased by ten percent. Classification: Emphysema is a lung disease that is classified as a COPD. (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Natural History (Symptoms): A person may notice various signs that will lead them to believe they may have emphysema. The most common symptom that people begin to feel is shortness of breath. Usually, this begins while exercising or taking part in some sort of physical activity. Eventually, they will even begin to feel like they are not getting enough oxygen even when they are just sitting and relaxing. Some other symptoms that could be related are chronic coughing which could worsen in the morning upon waking up, wheezing, and chronic mucus production, which may result in a constant need to clear the throat. Some may notice that they feel fatigued very easily as well. There can also be many health complications that may occur which include recurrent respiratory tract infections and respiratory failure. This is caused by the lung's loss of ability to function properly. There are many physical changes that may occur as well, leading some to believe they may have emphysema. The most common physical change may be in their chest, which takes on a barrel-like appearance. This will happen so that the lungs can make up for the actual dysfunction by expanding. Others may notice a bluish discoloration of the lips and nail beds caused by lack of oxygen in the blood. Swelling and increased fluid in the lungs may also be a sign to look for. A steady tracking of the symptoms and health history of the person should be taken into consideration as well. Prevalence and/or Incidence: Emphysema is a fairly common disease, with two out of one thousand people reporting cases. Currently, there are 1.8 million Americans in the United States that have emphysema. Emphysema is ranked 15th among chronic conditions or diseases which limit people's daily activity. A study by the American Lung Association shows that 44 percent of people with emphysema have reported that their daily activities have been greatly limited due to the disease. Ethnical Distribution: Emphysema can be contracted by people of all walks of life and does not favor any particular ethnic groups. The contraction of emphysema mainly depends on life style. Geographical Distribution: Emphysema is a disease that in not only caused by the way you live, but can be contracted through the area in which a person lives. For example, people who live in urban areas are at higher risk. This is due to the fact that these areas are more highly populated with factories and cluttered with automobiles. These factories produce a great deal of smoke which can be very harmful to the lungs of the people who inhale it. The automobile exhaust has the same affect on the lungs if inhaled for long periods of time. Time of Study: In 1994 the study on males and females and their percentage difference was performed and then in 1996 the study was updated. Risk Factors or Causes: Scientific research shows that the normal lung system has a strong balance between two classes of chemicals, which strongly oppose each other. Also included in the lungs are many elastic fibers, which are necessary for the lung to expand and contract. The chemical balance in a normal lung can be altered which will result in destruction of these elastic fibers. Exhaling becomes difficult because the elastic fibers are damaged which in turn harms the lung. According to the American Lung Association, this is what happens when someone is suffering from emphysema. The reasons why this chemical balance might occur are numerous. The majority of emphysema cases are related to smoking, specifically eighty two percent. Emphysema occurs as a gradual process that is due not only to cigarette smoke, but great exposure

Chemical Composition of the Human Body

Chemical Composition of the Human Body Many of the elements found throughout nature are also found within the body. This is the chemical composition of the average adult human body in terms of elements and also compounds. Major Classes of Compounds in the Human Body Most of the elements are found within compounds. Water and minerals are inorganic compounds. Organic compounds include fat, protein, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Water:  Water is the most abundant chemical compound in living human cells, accounting for 65 percent to 90 percent  of each cell. Its also present between cells. For example, blood and cerebrospinal fluid are mostly water.Fat: The percentage of fat varies from person to person, but even an obese person has more water than fat.Protein: In a lean male, the percentages of protein and water are comparable. Its about 16 percent  by mass. Muscles, including the heart, contain a lot of muscle. Hair and fingernails are protein. Skin contains a large amount of protein, too.Minerals: Minerals account for about 6 percent  of the body. They include salts and metals. Common minerals include sodium, chlorine, calcium, potassium, and iron.Carbohydrates: Although humans use the sugar glucose as an energy source, there isnt that much of it free in the bloodstream at any given time. Sugar and other carbohydrates only account for about 1% of body mass. Elements in the Human Body Six elements  account for 99%  of the mass of the human body. The acronym CHNOPS may be used to help remember the six key chemical elements that are used in biological molecules. C is carbon, H is hydrogen, N is nitrogen, O is oxygen, P is phosphorus, and S is sulfur. While the acronym is  a good way to remember the identities of the elements, it doesnt reflect their abundance. Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body accounting for approximately 65% of a persons mass. Each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, but the mass of each oxygen atom is much higher than the combined mass of the hydrogen. In addition to being a component of water, oxygen is essential for cellular respiration.Carbon is contained in all organic compounds, which is why carbon is the second most abundant element in the body, accounting for about 18% of body mass. Carbon is found in proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Its also found in carbon dioxide.Hydrogen atoms are the most numerous type of atom in a human, but because they are so light, they only make up around 10% of the  mass. Hydrogen is in water, plus its an important electron carrier.Nitrogen is about 3.3% of body mass. Its found in proteins and nucleic acids.Calcium accounts for 1.5% of body mass. Its used to build bones and teeth, plus its important for muscle contraction. Phosphorus is about 1% of body mass. This element is found in nucleic acids. Breaking bonds connecting phosphate molecules is a major component of energy transfer.Potassium is around 0.2-0.4% of the mass of a person. Its used in nerve conduction. Potassium is a key cation or positively-charged ion in the body.Sulfur is found in some amino acids and proteins. Its about 0.2-0.3% of body mass.Sodium, like potassium, is a positively-charged ion. Its about 0.1-0.2% of body mass. Sodium helps regulate the electrolyte balance in the body and maintain homeostasis with respect to the volume of water in the blood and cells.Although aluminum and silicon are abundant in the earths crust, they are found in trace amounts in the human body.Other trace elements include metals, which are often cofactors for enzymes. Trace elements include iron, cobalt, zinc, iodine, selenium, and flourine. Element Percent by Mass Oxygen 65 Carbon 18 Hydrogen 10 Nitrogen 3 Calcium 1.5 Phosphorus 1.2 Potassium 0.2 Sulfur 0.2 Chlorine 0.2 Sodium 0.1 Magnesium 0.05 Iron, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Iodine trace Selenium, Fluorine minute amounts Sources Anke M. (1986). Arsenic. In: Mertz W. ed., Trace elements in human and Animal Nutrition, 5th ed. Orlando, FL: Academic Press. pp. 347-372.Chang, Raymond (2007). Chemistry, Ninth Edition. McGraw-Hill. pp. 52.Emsley, John (2011). Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. OUP Oxford. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-19-960563-7.Subcommittee on the Tenth Edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances, Food and Nutrition Board; Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council (February 1989). Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-04633-6.Zumdahl, Steven S. and Susan A. (2000). Chemistry, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 894. ISBN 0-395-98581-1.