Respiratory Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 30 Jul 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about respiratory disorders including asthma, COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia, with information on symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
At a Glance
- 1 - Coughing is the body's main method to clear dust, mucus, and debris from the lungs.
- 2 - In the United States, roughly 1 billion common colds occur every year.
- 3 - Respiratory conditions are grouped into obstructive, restrictive, vascular, and infectious or environmental types.
- 4 - The CDC reports that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, with prevalence rising as people age.
Topic Definition
- Respiratory Disorders
Respiratory disorders are conditions that affect the organs and tissues responsible for breathing and gas exchange, including the airways, lungs, pleura, and the muscles and nerves that control respiration. These disorders can involve the upper respiratory tract, such as the nose, pharynx, and larynx, or the lower respiratory tract, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. They range from mild and self-limiting problems like the common cold to serious, life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and lung cancer, and are commonly classified as obstructive, restrictive, vascular, or infectious in nature. Care for these conditions is usually managed by a pulmonologist or respiratory physician.
Overview
Respiratory disease is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms, and includes conditions of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity, and the nerves and muscles of breathing. Respiratory diseases range from mild and self-limiting, such as the common cold, to life-threatening entities like bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and lung cancer.
In humans, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles. Molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide are passively exchanged, by diffusion, between the gaseous external environment and the blood. This exchange process occurs in the alveolar region of the lungs.
The respiratory system can be subdivided into an upper respiratory tract and a lower respiratory tract based on anatomical features. The upper respiratory tract includes the nasal passages, pharynx, and the larynx, while the lower respiratory tract comprises the trachea, the primary bronchi and lungs.
The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This exchange of gases is the respiratory system's means of getting oxygen to the blood.
The respiratory system lies dormant in the human fetus during pregnancy. At birth, the respiratory system becomes fully functional upon exposure to air, although some lung development and growth continues throughout childhood. Pre-term birth can lead to infants with under-developed lungs. Smoking and air pollution are two common causes of respiratory problems.
Disorders of the respiratory system can be classified into four general areas:
- Obstructive conditions (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, asthma attacks)
- Restrictive conditions (e.g., fibrosis, sarcoidosis, alveolar damage, pleural effusion)
- Vascular diseases (e.g., pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension)
- Infectious, environmental and other "diseases" (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis, asbestosis, particulate pollutants): Coughing is of major importance, as it is the body's main method to remove dust, mucus, saliva, and other debris from the lungs. Inability to cough can lead to infection. Deep breathing exercises may help keep finer structures of the lungs clear from particulate matter, etc.
The respiratory tract is constantly exposed to microbes due to the extensive surface area, which is why the respiratory system includes many mechanisms to defend itself and prevent pathogens from entering the body.
Common Respiratory Disorders
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Irritation of the lungs can lead to asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis and people can develop two or three of these together.
- Chronic Bronchitis - Any irritant reaching the bronchi and bronchioles will stimulate an increased secretion of mucus. In chronic bronchitis, the air passages become clogged with mucus, and this leads to a persistent cough.
- Emphysema - The delicate walls of the alveoli break down, reducing the gas exchange area of the lungs. The condition develops slowly and is seldom a direct cause of death.
- Asthma - Periodic constriction of the bronchi and bronchioles makes it more difficult to breathe.
- Pneumonia - An infection of the alveoli. It can be caused by many kinds of, both bacteria and viruses. Tissue fluids accumulate in the alveoli, reducing the surface area exposed to air. If enough alveoli are affected, the patient may need supplemental oxygen.
Disorders of the respiratory system are usually treated internally by a pulmonologist or respiratory physician.
Respiratory Disorder Facts and Statistics
- In the US, approximately 1 billion "common colds" occur each year.
- Respiratory disease is a common and significant cause of illness and death around the world.
- Respiratory diseases (including lung cancer) are responsible for over 10% of hospitalizations and over 16% of deaths in Canada.
- A study found that in 2010, there were approximately 6.8 million emergency department visits for respiratory disorders in the U.S. for patients under the age of 18.
- In the UK, approximately 1 in 7 individuals are affected by some form of chronic lung disease, most commonly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- According to the WHO Global Status Report on NCDs 2010, smoking is estimated to cause about 71% of all lung cancer deaths and 42% of chronic respiratory disease worldwide. Of the six WHO regions, the highest overall prevalence for smoking in 2008 was estimated to be the in the European Region, at nearly 29%.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Its prevalence increases with age. Men are more likely to have the disease, but the death rate for men and women is about the same.
- Diseases of the lung and airways are the most common cause of illness in children in developed countries and a leading cause of death in children in developing areas.
- In developed countries, the frequency of life-threatening acute respiratory infections has dropped over the last 50 years. This is probably due to improved living conditions and health care. Within Europe, there tends to be more asthma and allergy in the West and more infectious diseases in the East.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can respiratory disorders be prevented?
Many respiratory disorders can be reduced by avoiding smoking, limiting exposure to air pollution and occupational irritants, practicing good hand hygiene, and staying current with vaccines such as those for influenza and pneumonia.
What is the difference between an upper and lower respiratory infection?
An upper respiratory infection affects the nose, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx and often causes a runny nose or sore throat, while a lower respiratory infection affects the trachea, bronchi, and lungs and may involve deeper coughing and breathing difficulty.
When should someone see a doctor about breathing problems?
A person should seek medical care if they experience shortness of breath at rest, chest pain, coughing that lasts more than a few weeks, coughing up blood, or wheezing that does not improve.
Are respiratory disorders contagious?
Some respiratory disorders such as colds, influenza, and certain types of pneumonia are contagious and spread through droplets, while others like asthma and emphysema are not contagious and result from irritation, genetics, or long-term damage.
How are respiratory disorders diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose respiratory disorders using a physical exam, medical history, and tests such as spirometry, chest X-rays, CT scans, blood oxygen measurement, and sometimes bronchoscopy or sputum analysis.
Does weather affect respiratory conditions?
Yes, cold air, high humidity, and poor air quality can trigger or worsen symptoms for people with asthma, COPD, and other chronic respiratory conditions.
What lifestyle changes help manage chronic respiratory disorders?
Helpful changes include quitting smoking, following prescribed breathing exercises, staying physically active within a doctor's guidance, avoiding known triggers, and maintaining a healthy weight to ease the work of breathing.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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