What are common diseases that affect the respiratory system's protective mechanisms?

Common diseases that affect the respiratory system's protective mechanisms include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia.

Asthma is a chronic disease that inflames and narrows the airways, making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs. This inflammation can cause the airways to become more sensitive to certain inhaled substances, leading to an overreaction that can trigger an asthma attack. During an attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, further narrowing the airways and reducing the flow of air into the lungs. The cells in the airways may also produce more mucus than normal, which can further block the airways.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe. The two main types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. This inflammation causes the bronchial tubes to produce more mucus, which can clog the airways and make it difficult to breathe. Emphysema involves damage to the air sacs in the lungs, reducing the surface area available for gas exchange and leading to shortness of breath.

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening and is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems. It can be caused by a variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and can result in damage to the lung tissue that can impair the respiratory system's ability to effectively exchange gases.