Different Types of Lung Diseases and Symptoms: Lung diseases, collectively, include a group of disorders that affect the respiratory system, and people have problems breathing properly. The matter can be mild or severe depending upon the source; for instance, smoking, pollution, infections, and genetics could cause it.
Lung diseases can have a profound effect on a person’s quality of life and even may prove lethal if not treated timely. In this post, we will talk about different types of pulmonary diseases, their symptoms, and how to avoid going into a bigger problem. Dr. Sheetu Singh, a revered pulmonologist, will offer detailed information to help you see how some lung diseases relate to air pollution.
1. Asthma
Lung disease asthma is characterized by hard breathing. It takes place when air channels become inflamed and narrow. Then, that leads to the stationary air, making it difficult to move in and out. As straining can trigger asthmatic reactions, allergens, inhaling cold air, and other irritants also become other triggers.
Symptoms:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
Those who are asthmatic may try using medicines to relieve or lower the risk of triggering factors that may cause the condition. As for asthmatics, it’s best to consult a doctor to make good an asthma control plan with regard to your symptoms and triggers
2. Pneumothorax and Atelectasis
Pneumothorax happens when air escapes the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Consequently, the lung cannot fully inflate, and its capacity is reduced to a certain extent. Just like atelectasis, which is related to a lung’s collapse due to a blockage or pressure within, it occurs when a part or the whole lung collapses.
Symptoms:
- Sudden, sharp chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Cough
These situations are usually life-threatening and concern patients’ health and safety. This can result in removing air or any other blockage that may hinder the lung from expanding.
3. Bronchitis
Bronchitis occurs due to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the main tubes in the lungs. Two types of bronchitis are acute (short-term) and persistent (long-term). An acute condition in bronchitis is most commonly caused by a viral infection, whereas in a chronic case, it is frequently brought about by smoking.
Symptoms:
- Cough with mucus
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe
Bronchitis treatment depends on whether it’s acute type or chronic. Acute bronchitis is greatly self-limiting, but the chronic journey may allow for only symptomatic treatment.
4. COPD
COPD is a disease that gets worse when it becomes so much harder to deal with and never get better as time fly. It is irreversible. Patients can expect wrapping their conditions around them to control, relieve the symptoms, and slow down the progress. COPD, in other words, is very much a smoking-related disease, and exposure to cigarette smoke or other lung irritants should be decreased to a minimum.
Symptoms:
- Shortness of breath (especially during physical activities)
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- A chronic cough that may produce mucus
COPD is a worsening disease, which means it develops into a bigger problem with time that does not ever get better. It is irreversible. A treatment may give control over the disease and provide relief of the symptoms, and slow their progress. When it comes to COPD, smoking and being around smoking or lung irritants should be avoided as much as possible.
5. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the cancer disease that begins in the lung. It may travel widely to organs of the bodily system without being detected early enough. Smoking in the lungs is the primary cause of lung cancer, but cancer may also develop in people who have never smoked.
Symptoms:
- A cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored spit
- Chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
- Hoarseness
- Unexplained weight loss
There are different types of lung cancer, decide the kind and stage of cancer then, the patient will have a treatment. Amongst available alternatives are excision, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted treatment.
6. Pneumonia
The air sacs inside the lungs become inflamed causing pneumonia, the inflammation can be in one or both lungs. The air sac may be filled with fluids or pus, with phlegm being the first symptom, fever, chills, and shortage of breath. Pneumonia can be of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin.
Symptoms:
- Chest pain when you breathe or cough
- Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
- Cough, which may produce phlegm
- Fatigue
- Fever, sweating, and shaking chills
Infection due to pneumonia differs. However, the therapy remains continuously dependable in its cases. Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotic agents; in contrast, viral pneumonia is treated with rest and self-care methods. In homes with extreme conditions, hospitalization could be inevitable.
Avoiding Further Complications
To avoid further complications of lung diseases, it is essential to:
- Do not smoke, and steer clear of passive smoking.
- Stay away from air pollution and places with chemical smells
- Promote proper hygiene to lower the chances of contracting infections.
- Get the flu and pneumonia vaccine.
- Do your medication as your health caregiver has directed.
Conclusion
Lung diseases damage an individual’s quality of life, and in the most serious cases, untreated issues can even result in death. We must be up to speed with the diverse respiratory diseases and their symptoms to seek medical attention if required promptly. Dr. Sheetu Singh advises all to adhere to healthy habits of avoiding smoking, maintaining cleanliness, and certain dietary practices to protect their lung health. If your lung health concerns persist, do not postpone visiting the healthcare specialists.
