Lung or respiratory diseases are a term used to describe a group of diseases that affect the normal functioning of the lungs. There are many different types of lung disease, but in general they produce similar symptoms such as shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing, and fatigue. All together, lung diseases are the third leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease and cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting over 22 million Americans, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The disease is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the lung airways that are caused by various environmental triggers. In an asthma reaction the muscles surrounding the airway passages tighten and mucus production increases leading to a dangerous restriction in air flow into and out of the lungs. A vast number of substances can set off an asthma reaction including allergens (dust, mold, pollen and fur), irritants (smoke, chemical pollutants), certain medications and physical activity. Although there is no cure for the disease, it is very manageable with medications to open the airways and knowledge of what specific triggers lead to an asthma reaction so you can avoid them.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious lower respiratory tract disease. The two main forms of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are characterized by airflow blockage in the lungs. Emphysema affects the lungs’ small sac-like structures (alveoli) that are involved in gas exchange, while chronic bronchitis affects the tubes (bronchial tubes) leading up to the alveoli. Smoking is the No. 1 cause of COPD in which the chemicals in the cigarette irritate and destroy the structures of the lungs. Damaged or destroyed alveoli and bronchial tubes severely limit the amount of gas exchange and thus the amount of oxygen delivered to the bloodstream. The two conditions are most commonly seen together, one reason why they are grouped as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic, inherited disease affecting the lungs and digestive system and caused by a gene mutation. It affects approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States and is characterized by an overproduction of thick, sticky mucus by cells of the lungs and digestive tract. In the lungs, the mucus accumulates and causes damage and airway blockage. Symptoms include frequent lung infections, salty skin, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, and poor growth and weight gain. There is no cure for the disease, but increased knowledge of the disease has pushed life expectancy from middle school age a few decades ago to well into the 30s and 40s today with a median age of survival at over 37 years, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and generally fatal disease characterized by excessive scarring (fibrosis) of the air sacs of the lung. Normally the air sacs are highly elastic and flexible, but excessive scarring causes the air sacs to become stiff and inflexible. This loss of elasticity impairs the lungs’ ability to properly exchange gas, leading to breathing difficulties and diminished oxygen delivery throughout the body. The disease is caused by a malfunction in the repair process of the lungs in response to damage and injury. The most common causes of irritation and injury are environmental toxins and pollutants, radiation, chemotherapy, certain heart and psychological medications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
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