lung diseases

Lung diseases are a group of disorders that affect the lung tissue and affect its proper function.

Lung diseases affect all people of both sexes and of all age groups, including smokers and non-smokers, so it is one of the most prevalent health problems in the world.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

It is a serious lung condition that develops rapidly in people who are going through critical health conditions (critically ill).

It is mainly diagnosed with fluid leaking into the lungs, which makes breathing difficult or even impossible.

The body responds to these conditions with inflammatory reactions that are usually useful to fight

diseases and aid in wound healing, but in some patients these reactions may lead to fluid leakage from

the small blood vessels in the lungs and filling them with the alveoli, which impedes breathing and the transfer of oxygen to the blood.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic, untreated lung disease that makes the process of exchanging air (getting in and out of air) in the lungs difficult.

Asthma patients have an additional sensitivity to some of the irritants (triggers) in the surrounding

environment, which leads to the secretion of additional amounts of mucus and swelling of the airways

when exposed to these irritants, or it may lead to an increased constriction and narrowing of the airways, which leads to difficulty breathing.

Asthma symptoms appear when exposure to an irritant or when people neglect their health in the form of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and others.

Asthma treatment includes developing a treatment plan that includes a number of medications that the

doctor determines which are best for each disease, in addition to knowing the irritants and avoiding

them as much as possible is one of the most important things in preventing the development of asthma attacks.

Bronchiectasis

This disease causes the airways to expand and widen, in some cases to the point where they lead to the formation of small cavities in which germs, dust and mucus are caught.

This condition occurs as a result of damage to the cilia, the tiny hairs that cover the airways, in a way that prevents them from doing their job of cleaning dust and mucus out of the lungs.

There is no cure for this disease, but with the patient receiving and adhering to an appropriate treatment plan, he can continue his life normally to some degree.

Bronchitis

It is a swelling that occurs in the bronchi that connect the trachea to the alveoli, in which oxygen is exchanged with the blood.

When the bronchial tubes become inflamed, they become swollen and filled with highly viscous mucus, which partially obstructs the movement of air to and from the lungs and results in coughing.

There are two types of bronchitis: acute bronchitis that does not last for a long time, and the patient

often recovers from it after two or three weeks, and chronic bronchitis that does not go away and the patient continues to suffer from coughing with sputum most days for at least 3 months a year.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

It is a chronic lung disease that includes bronchitis and emphysema.

Patients often suffer from both conditions, but with one of them being more controllable.

80- 90% of cases of this disease are caused by smoking, it is also caused by inhaling cigarette smoke from other people in abundance, genetic factors, exposure to chemical dust and smoke, and exposure to many infectious lung diseases in childhood and others.

Many people with this disease do not notice any symptoms until after the disease has developed and reached advanced stages, and symptoms include:

Chronic cough

Shortness of breath while doing daily tasks

Nails and lips appear blue

Production of large amounts of phlegm

Whistling

Tired

Treatment includes the use of medications that the doctor determines which is best based on the patient's condition, as well as pulmonary rehabilitation programs and surgeries that improve the patient's quality of life.

Croup

It is a viral disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the throat, larynx and vocal cords.

This disease usually affects children under the age of five, as their airways are smaller and more susceptible to swelling.

Cystic fibrosis

It is a serious genetic disease that leads to thickening of mucus in the respiratory tracts, pancreatic ducts, digestive and reproductive system, as a result of its effect on a specific protein in the body called the cystic fibrosis conduction regulator.

Symptoms of cystic pulmonary fibrosis appear in the form of chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, persistent sensitivity throughout the year, and frequent colds and sinus infections.

Deep vein thrombosis

Symptoms include pulmonary embolism

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Coughing up blood

rotary

An increase in the heart rate

It may also be accompanied by a state of anxiety and tension.

Treatment of the condition often includes the use of blood thinners, whether in the form of pills or injections, and in some severe cases, some types of drug injections that dissolve clots may be used.

Pulmonary embolism can also occur as a result of blockage of the pulmonary arteries with other substances such as amniotic fluid, air, fat, bone marrow or other foreign bodies.

Emphysema

It is a condition that accompanies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This condition causes thinning and progressive destruction of lung tissue, especially the alveoli, which makes breathing difficult, in addition to coughing and phlegm on an almost daily basis, with shortness of breath when performing daily tasks.

Influenza (Influenza)

Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that may cause moderate or severe symptoms and in some cases may require intensive hospitalization and may even lead to death.

Flu symptoms include:

Sudden increase in body temperature

a headache

Muscle and joint pain

dry cough

Sore throat

Congestion and runny nose

fatigue

In addition to digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatment for the flu includes staying home, getting enough rest, drinking warm fluids, and treating symptoms with medications such as decongestants and antihistamines.

Antivirals, such as Oseltamivir and others, may be used in severe cases.

It is recommended to get a seasonal flu vaccine on a regular basis to prevent infection with this disease.

Interstitial lung disease

It is a term for a group of diseases that cause scarring or fibrosis of the lungs and make the membranes harden, making breathing difficult.

These diseases include pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and asbestosis.

Lung Cancer

It is a growth of cancer cells that begins in the lungs.

There are two main types of lung cancer. Each type grows and spreads differently, and each type may be treated differently, in addition to other types.

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type and spreads more slowly than other types.

Small Cell Lung Cancer, which is less common, spreads faster, and has small size and can only be seen with a microscope.

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, as well as exposure to dangerous substances and minerals such as asbestos, uranium, chromium, radon and others, in addition to a family history of lung cancer and genetic factors that increase the risk of infection.

The most common symptoms of lung cancer include:

Cough that does not go away with time

Whistling

shortness of breath

Frequent pulmonary infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis

Coughing up blood.

Also, some symptoms appear that are irrelevant to the lung and breathing, such as:

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Headache

Bone pain

Blood clotting.

Treatment is determined based on the type and stage of cancer, and includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgical interventions.

Pneumoconiosis

It is a general term given to lung diseases that result from inhaling different types of dust and accumulating in the lungs, which leads to their damage.

This term includes asbestosis, silicosis caused by inhaling particles of silicon dust, and coal workers' pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease.

Pneumonia

It is an infection that affects one or both of the lungs as a result of an infectious disease, usually, as it may be a complication of the flu, but many other germs can cause this condition as well, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and others.

Pneumonitis is not a single disease, as there are more than 30 causes, and from here the importance of determining the actual cause of the development of this disease in order to obtain appropriate treatment, but the most common causes of this condition are viruses.

When these germs reach the lungs, they cause the vesicles to become inflamed and fill with fluid, which causes some symptoms of pneumonia, such as:

Cough

Fever and chills

Breathing problems also prevents oxygen from reaching the body properly.

Chest stings that increase when coughing and when taking a deep breath

Headache and heavy sweating

Loss of appetite and fatigue

Loss of energy

In addition to confusion, especially for the elderly.

Treatment depends on the type of pneumonia and aims to treat the infection and prevent complications.

The patient is advised to take adequate rest and drink plenty of fluids, and to use over-the-counter fever-reducing medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and it is also advised not to use cough medicine without consulting a doctor, as coughing is one of the ways the body uses to get rid of infection. Antibiotics or antivirals may also be used, depending on the situation.

Pleural effusion

It is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the area between the lungs and inside the chest cavity between what is known as the pleura that covers the lungs and inside the chest cavity, which acts as a lubricant and aid in the breathing process.

Symptoms of pleural effusion include chest pain, dry cough, shortness of breath, and orthopnea.

The treatment of pleural effusion depends on its cause. Diuretics and other heart medications may be used in cases of heart failure, while chemotherapy or radiation may be used in cases of cancer.

Pulmonary hypertension

This condition occurs when blood pressure rises in the blood vessels in the lungs (pulmonary arteries).

When the pressure in these arteries is high, they narrow and constrict, which leads to a decrease in the amount of blood that reaches the lungs, and thus a decrease in the level of oxygen in the blood.

Symptoms include shortness of breath that begins first with movement and then as the disease progresses, even at rest, fatigue and chest pain.

Treatment depends on the cause of this condition, and includes the use of specific drugs and oxygen therapy, either when needed or on an ongoing basis, and some patients may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programs, and in the event that these methods fail, lung transplantation is considered.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is an interstitial lung disease that causes scarring and fibrosis of the lungs.

There are more than approximately 200 types of pulmonary fibrosis, and in most of these cases the cause is unknown (idiopathic).

Also, pulmonary fibrosis may result from some autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis, or some viral diseases, or GERD.

Familial pulmonary fibrosis may also develop as a result of a genetic defect in the genes, in addition to pulmonary fibrosis resulting from dangerous materials and minerals such as asbestos and silicon.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, especially when performing exercises, a dry cough, shallow and rapid breathing, a gradual increase in weight, joint and muscle pain and fatigue, and clumping of the fingers and toes.

Treatment includes the use of specific drugs that the medical staff determines are appropriate for each patient, including anti-fibrotic drugs such as nintedanib and pirfenidone, anti-inflammatory drugs, GERD medications, and cough medicines.

Also, oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programs may be used, and in severe cases, a lung transplant may be performed.

Sarcoidosis

It is a disease that causes swelling in the cells of various organs of the body such as the lungs, skin, eyes, lymph nodes and the brain.

Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown origin but causes an increase in the activity of the immune system and the emergence of lumps of inflamed tissues called granulomas that enter the various organs of the body.

Symptoms of this disease appear similar to the symptoms of influenza or other infectious respiratory diseases, as they include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, night sweats, fatigue, wheezing, and a feeling of congestion.

Other symptoms not related to the respiratory system also appear, such as skin rashes, pain, joint stiffness, irritation and dry eyes, increased heart rate, impaired liver function, and others.

Sarcoidosis often improves without treatment, but some medications that suppress the immune system may be used, including corticosteroids such as prednisone, or other drugs such as methotrexate and others.

Tuberculosis

It is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, but it can affect almost any part of the body.

People become infected with this disease as a result of inhaling a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it is transmitted from one person to another when he coughs, sneezes, laughs, or even speaks to the infected person.

Tuberculosis is divided into latent tuberculosis, and here the person is infected with bacteria, but his immune system protects him and does not suffer from any symptoms, and active or active tuberculosis, where the patient suffers from the disease and its symptoms, and he can infect others with infection.

Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, constant fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, fever, coughing up blood and night sweats.

Treatment for tuberculosis depends on whether the disease is latent or active, as preventive drug therapy is used to kill the latent bacteria that may cause symptoms in the future, and this is often done with a daily dose of isoniazid for a period of 6 to 9 months.

If tuberculosis is active, treatment usually consists of a combination of drugs that are taken for a period of 6 to 12 months. Isoniazid is used in addition to rifampin (rifampin), pyrazinamide (pyrazinamide) and ethambutol (ethambutol).

Asbestosis

It is a chronic respiratory disease that results from continuous and prolonged exposure to the minerals of asbestos, also known as amyites or asbestos.

Inhaling the fibers of these minerals or their soil for a long time causes scarring in the tissues of the lungs, and this condition develops slowly and may not be noticed until about 20 years after the beginning of exposure to asbestos.

Classification of lung diseases

Pulmonary diseases can be classified according to the location of their effect on the respiratory system as follows:

Diseases affecting the airways (Airways)

Such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema and cystic fibrosis.

Diseases affecting the alveoli

Such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema, lung cancer, pneumoconiosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Diseases affecting the interstitial tissue of the lung (interstitium)

Like interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis.

Diseases affecting the pulmonary vessels

Such as pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension.

Diseases affecting the pleura

Such as side effusion, and some types of lung cancer.

Diseases affecting the chest wall

Such as obesity, which may hinder the process of expanding the chest during breathing, and neuromuscular disorders (neuromuscular), in which poor nerve control of the respiratory muscles leads to breathing problems.

Causes of lung diseases

Smoking.

Viral and bacterial infection.

Genetic propensity to have pulmonary diseases.

Symptoms of lung disease

The signs and symptoms of lung disease depend on their pattern, but they share the following general signs:

shortness of breath.