Your lungs are a complex system, they expand and contract 25,000 times throughout the day to bring in fresh oxygen needed by your body cells, and expel the harmful carbon dioxide from your system through contraction. Lung diseases may refer to several types of diseases and disorders that prevent your lungs from functioning properly. The diseases may affect different parts of your lungs, such trachea or windpipe that branches into smaller tubes called bronchi throughout your lungs. Asthma is one of the most common diseases affecting the windpipe. Your airways are constantly inflamed and may spasm, causing wheezing and shortness of breath. If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you will experience trouble breathing.
Your air sacs or Alveoli are other areas that are affected by lung diseases. Alveoli make up most of your lung tissue. Infection in Alveoli will cause you pneumonia. If it gets worse, pneumonia develops into tuberculosis, which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lung cancer may start in any part of your lungs, though it commonly occurs near the air sacs. Fluid may leak out of the small blood vessels of your lung into the air sacs and the surrounding area. Known as pulmonary edema, it may be caused due to heart failure or back pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs.
Various causes of lung diseases
Interstitium is the thin, delicate lining between your alveoli that contains tiny blood vessels. This serves the purpose of gas transfer between the alveoli and your blood. Pneumonia and pulmonary edema may also affect your interstitium. A blood clot may break off, travel to your heart, and get pumped into your lungs. If the clot sticks in the pulmonary artery, it may cause shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels. High blood pressure may lead to pain in the chest and shortness of breath. Your chest wall plays a vital role in breathing. Extra weight on your chest and belly makes it hard for your chest to expand and contract normally. You may also get trouble in breathing if the nerves controlling your respiratory muscles do not function normally (Neuromuscular disorder.)
Bronchiectasis and pulmonary fibrosis
Bronchiectasis affects the small airways in your lungs, called bronchi. The person suffering from this lung condition will have thick and swollen bronchi, which prevents the lungs from working efficiently. This can also lead to the buildup of excess mucus and infection in your lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of lungs, so they won’t be able to absorb sufficient oxygen into the bloodstream. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited lung disease. It changes the mucus, which is slippery and watery, into a thick and sticky substance that can build up in your lungs and make it difficult for you to breathe. Symptoms include chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and frequent sinus infection.
Diagnosis of lung diseases
Lung diseases can be diagnosed with blood tests that detect proteins, antibodies, and other markers of the diseases. Computerized tomography (CT) is an imaging test that uses a computer to combine X-ray images taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of your internal structures. CT scan can show details of fibrosis, which can be helpful in narrowing down the diagnosis. Echocardiogram can produce still images of your heart’s structure and also video. It can evaluate the pressure on the right side of your heart. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor will take the appropriate treatment line to treat your symptoms and disease.
