Breathless Trivia Quiz

Answer: Collapsed lung

A pneumothorax occurs when air becomes trapped in the chest cavity, causing pressure which leads to the lung collapsing. The causes can be external, such as a broken rib or a stabbing wound, although sometimes no cause can be detected - a so-called spontaneous pneumothorax. Treatment normally involves the insertion of a drain into the chest area to remove the excess air.

The symptoms include shortness of breath, due to the decrease in lung function, pain and an increase in heart rate.

Answer: Alveoli

The alveoli are located in the lungs, at the end of the respiratory system and their role is to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. Emphysema is caused when the alveoli are damaged, often, although not always, due to smoking. The cell walls can no longer contract which means that oxygen flow to the body is substantially reduced. Emphysema cannot be cured, but various medications to improve airflow can relieve the symptoms.

Answer: Genetic mutation

Cystic fibrosis causes an overproduction of sticky mucus in the respiratory system, which becomes congested. It is caused by a defect in the gene known as CFTR . This gene is responsible for creating a protein which controls the amount of salt and water in cells.

The failure to remove excess salt causes the build-up of mucus. Treatment involves physiotherapy to keep the airways as clear as possible, antibiotics to deal with infections and bronchodilators. In some cases, where severe lung damage has occurred, a transplant may be necessary.

Answer: Obstructive

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder is the generic name given to several diseases which cause breathing difficulties. These include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is caused by a narrowing of the airways following repeated inflammation and is linked to smoking or exposure to other irritants such as dust and air pollution. Damage caused to the respiratory system usually cannot be cured, but treatments concentrating on reducing the rate of decline can improve the quality of sufferers' lives.

Answer: Asbestos

The majority of cases of pleural mesothelioma can be traced to exposure to asbestos, often many years previously. The mesothelial cells are those which form the membrane surrounding most of the organs of the human body. Mesothelioma can affect the lungs (pleural version) or the abdomen (peritoneal) and, occasionally, other organs such as the testes. The illness takes several years, normally at least twenty and often many more, to develop. Those who worked in the building trade are particularly at risk since asbestos was used as insulating material and for fire proofing before the dangers were widely known.

Any irritant affecting the lungs can lead to lung cancers, with smoking being implicated in many cases. Coal dust and exposure to silicon have also been proven to cause cancerous tumours.

Answer: Panting

The causes of asthma are still not completely understood, even in the early twenty-first century. Most experts consider a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental issues, such as allergic reactions to animals, smoke or pollen, to be responsible. The reaction to the irritant causes inflammation of the bronchi which narrows the airways, making it hard to get sufficient oxygen into the body. In some cases, the reaction is so severe that it can cause death, so the illness should never be taken lightly.

The name dates back to ancient times, with asthma even being mentioned by Hippocrates. The original Greek word means to pant, or breathe hard.

Answer: Coryza

The name derives from a Greek word meaning catarrh, one of the symptoms associated with a cold. Other symptoms include a raised temperature, coughing and a runny nose, all of which are part of the body's attempt to fight off the infection. The illness is caused by a virus, spread by those already suffering from a cold, or from contaminated surfaces. Although not normally serious, colds can cause problems in people whose immune systems are already weakened.

Epistaxis is a nose bleed, singultus is hiccups and otitis is an inflammation of the ear.

Answer: Rash

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria, which attack the tissues of the lungs. It can be spread by contact with an infected person, but most healthy people are able to fight off the illness. Antibiotics are effective in curing most sufferers, although untreated tuberculosis still leads to death in many areas of the world. Prior to the development of antibiotics, tuberculosis was a leading cause of death, including victims such as Anne and Emily Bronte, Louis Braille and American President James Monroe. Tuberculosis was previously known as consumption and phthisis.

Symptoms of tuberculosis are a loss of appetite, leading to loss of weight, fever, night sweats and fatigue.

Answer: Spirometer

Spirometry is a test of lung function and is used as part of the diagnostic procedure for several of the illnesses covered in this quiz. Having inhaled as deeply as possible, the patient exhales into the spirometer which measures the volume of air expelled in one second. Someone with normal lung function should be able to expel most of the air from their lungs within this time.

A clinometer measures the angle of a slope (incline), a hygrometer measures the amount of moisture in the atmosphere and a velocimeter is the original name for a speedometer.

Answer: Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung, often affecting the alveoli. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses and, less often, by fungal infections. Although it can be treated with antibiotics, bacterial pneumonia can still prove fatal to anyone whose immune system is compromised. It can lead to death at either end of the age scale - babies and the elderly, and in patients with HIV or a terminal illness.

It was given its nickname as pneumonia often led to an earlier than expected death for those who were nearing the end of life - the so-called 'happy release' from suffering.