Increasing level of pollution has made breathing in urban areas very difficult, raising the incidence of respiratory problems. Out of the world’s top 20 cities with polluted air, 13 belong to India and according to the World health Organisation (WHO) report published in 2011, lung diseases rank 2ndin the list of top 20 causes of death. Naturally, lung disease is a big health issue that needs to be addressed. Here are some facts about lung disease you should know about.
To understand the condition of your lungs, you need to first understand how the lungs function. Lungs are soft organs present on both right and left side of the chest. They are protected by a had covering called the ribcage. Each lung is made of sections called lobes. The main function of the lungs is to make oxygen available for purifying blood and to and eliminate carbondioxide from impure blood or deoxygenated blood. So when you breathe, air travels down your windpipe (trachea). The windpipe bifurcates with each branch entering each of the lungs. Into the lungs, the windpipe is further branched to tubes called bronchioles that end in small sacs called alveoli, where the inhaled air reaches for delivering oxygen.
A lung disease or disorder occurs in the various structures of lungs and disrupts its functioning. It can vary from a mild common cold to life-threatening conditions like pneumonia and cancer. Lung disease can be caused by infections, inflammation, obstruction of airways, decreased lung function, problems related to pulmonary circulation, etc. Smoking, infections, air pollution, genetics, exposure to asbestos, etc. can cause various lung diseases.
The common as well as rare types of lung disease include -
‘In any form of lung disease mainly the breathing gets affected,’ says Dr Animesh Arya, Senior Consultant, Respiratory Medicine, Delhi based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute. Here are some common forms of lung diseases he explains.
1. Asthma:It is the most common lung disease triggered by allergies, infections and pollutants that harm the airways and cause inflammation.
2. Acute bronchitis: Bronchitis is the inflammation of the air passage. Acute bronchitis is caused by viral or bacterial respiratory infections.
3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): It a group of diseases that causes breathing difficulties and interfere with the exhalation process of breathing.
4. Chronic bronchitis: It is a type of COPD caused mainly due to smoking.
5. Emphysema: It is a COPD caused by environmental factors and may also be triggered by allergens or organisms that cause diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Apart from these common forms of lung diseases, other rare lung diseases include:
6. Cystic fibrosis: It is rare lung disease caused by genetic mutation that results in excess mucus production causing blockage of airways.
7. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): It is a medical emergency caused as a result of lung injury due to a severe illness.
8. Lung cancer: It can affect any part of the lung. It is mainly caused due to smoking. Here are 10 common symptoms of lung cancer you need to know.
9. Interstitial lung disease: This is a group of diseases affecting the interstitium, a thin lining separating the air sacs.
‘Bronchitis, asthma, COPD, lung infections and pulmonary fibrosis have similar symptoms even though they are very different in nature,’ says Dr Arya. He lists a few common symptoms of lung diseases:
In most cases, chronic cough, chest pain and breathing difficulties necessitate a lung function test. But your doctor might first take a look at the results of your blood test that may indicate whether you have any kind of lung infection. Otherwise, based on your symptoms your doctor might recommend the following lung function tests for you, as explained by Dr Arya.
‘If any of the above mentioned symptoms persist for a long time, it is better to consult a doctor immediately for diagnosis,’ says Dr Arya. The management of lung disease depends on the type of lung disease you’re diagnosed with but largely medication is the main treatment option for lung disease patients.
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