Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
There may be a wheezing or whistling sound, which is typical of asthma. Wheez-
ing occurs because muscles that surround the airways tighten, and the inner lining
of the airways swells and pushes inward. It also occurs because membranes that
line the airways secrete extra mucus and furthermore the mucus can form plugs that
may block the air passages. As a result, the rush of air through the narrowed airways
produces the wheezing sounds. Usually, the asthmatic person can inspire quite eas-
ily, but has difficulty to expire air from the lungs. Also here the long-term effect of
barrel chest will occur, similarly to chronic obstructive emphysema.
Although anyone may have an asthma attack, it most commonly occurs in chil-
dren, by the age of 5, adults in their 30s, adults older than 65, and people living
in urban communities (smog or allergic reactions). Other factors include: family
history of asthma and personal medical history of allergies.
Cystic Fibrosis
is an inherited disease characterized by an abnormality in the
glands that produce sweat and mucus [
35
,
132
]. It is chronic, progressive, and may
be fatal. Cystic fibrosis affects various systems in children and young adults, in-
cluding the following: respiratory system, digestive system, and the reproductive
system.
Approximately 1 in 20 people in the US and Europe are carriers of the cystic
fibrosis gene. They are not affected by the disease and usually do not know that they
are carriers. Abnormalities in the glands that produce sweat and mucus can cause:
•
excessive loss of salt, which in turn can cause an upset in the balance of minerals
in the blood, abnormal heart rhythms and possibly, shock;
•
thick mucus that accumulates in lungs and intestines, which in turn can cause
malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections, breathing difficulties
and in general, lung disease;
•
other medical problems.
Under the item of medical problems one can enumerate: sinusitis, nasal polyps,
clubbing of fingers and toes, pneumothorax—rupture of lung tissue, hemoptysis—
coughing blood, enlargement of right side of the heart, abdominal pain, gas in the
intestines, liver disease, diabetes, pancreatitis and gallstones.
Kyphoscoliosis
is a deformation of the spine, as a combination effect of scol-
iosis and kyphosis [
103
]. An example of an X-ray is given in Fig.
2.4
, courtesy
of Prof. Derom from Ghent University Hospital. The patient was hospitalized for
severe breathing insufficiency.
Scoliosis, is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to
side, shaped like an
S
or
C
, and may also be rotated. To adults it can be very painful.
It is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. On an X-ray, viewed from the rear,
the spine of an individual with a typical scoliosis may look more like an
S
or a
C
than
a straight line. It is typically classified as congenital (caused by vertebral anomalies
present at birth), idiopathic (sub-classified as infantile, juvenile, adolescent, or adult
according to when onset occurred) or as neuromuscular, having developed as a sec-
ondary symptom of another condition, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal
muscular atrophy or due to physical trauma. Scoliotic curves of 10 degrees or less
affect 3-5 out of every 1000 people.
