Lung diseases form a large percentage of all other types of diseases.
Worldwide, these are some of the most common medical conditions.
Our lungs are part of a complex system that expands and relaxes repeatedly every day to bring oxygen into the body. Lung disease can occur if there is a change in, or interference with, any part of this system. Also, lung disease can also be unlocked by smoking.
What are the signs that can be a warning sign of lung disease:
- Chronic chest pain - if this pain has been present in your daily life for an unreasonably long time, you should consult a pulmonary specialist immediately
- Prolonged cough - this is a cough that can last well over 1 month
- Shortness of breath - if you are short of breath and your breathing is labored and rapid even after you have completed some physical activity such as sports, brisk walking, running, etc., it is not harmless to your health.
- Coughing up blood - at this sign you should immediately seek medical help. This may be a sign of the course of tuberculosis and even cancer.
Types of lung diseases:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD.
COPD is a disease of the lungs in which there is restriction of airflow. The lung tissue is inflamed as a result of inhalation of harmful particles and gases from the environment. It is believed that there is no complete cure for patients with the disease. That is why it is also called chronic.
Bronchitis
Most often, the cause of bronchitis is the use of cigarettes (for many years).
Lung infection can cause acute bronchitis. And when the patient has multiple illnesses from acute bronchitis, then we are already talking about chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is also triggered when there is a high degree of dust in the place where we work or live.
Asthma
Often observed in patients with asthma specific, sonorous breathing and unpleasant irritating cough.
Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease very common in children and also in adults. Asthma exacerbation has been linked to polluted air and environment.
Pulmonary embolism
We are talking about it when there is a blockage of the pulmonary artery. In this serious disease, a clot of clotted blood reaches the lung and clogs the artery.
Lung carcinoma
Lung cancer can go undiagnosed for a long time. Sometimes, when an X-ray or CT scan is performed for a completely different reason, a tumor formation is detected.
Patients should pay attention if they notice a change in speech, general fatigue, lack of appetite, bone and joint pain, weight loss. It is important to consult a doctor promptly to assess the condition and carry out necessary investigations.
There are also many other types of lung disease, including:
- Bronchiectasis
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary edema
Treatment and prevention of lung diseases
Especially important in lung diseases is early diagnosis. Therefore, any patient who exhibits symptoms, or notices that the frequency and nature of symptomatology are changing, should visit their treating physician. After a thorough examination, it is decided what diagnostic methods should be used to assess the patient's condition.
The earlier a disease is detected, the greater the chance that it will not become chronic.
For the treatment of lung diseases, antibiotic drugs, other types of drug therapies, surgical intervention in tumor formations are applied.
Some of the lung diseases make it into the top 3 diseases that took the most lives in 2019, for example.
