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Frequent lung diseases. Lung diseases and their symptoms: possible pathologies and their manifestations

Diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract are the third most common in the world. And in the future they may become even more common. Lung diseases are second only to cardiovascular diseases and liver pathologies, which affect every fifth person.

Lung diseases are common in modern world, perhaps this is provoked by the unstable environmental situation on the planet or excessive hobby modern people smoking. In any case, pathological phenomena in the lungs must be combated as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Modern medicine copes very well with pathological processes in the human lungs, the list of which is quite large. What types of lung diseases are there, their symptoms, as well as ways to eliminate them, today we will try to look at them together.

So, a person has lung diseases of varying severity and intensity of manifestation. Among the most common are the following:

alveolitis;
asphyxia;
bronchitis;
bronchial asthma;
pulmonary atelectasis;
bronchiolitis;
neoplasms in the lungs;
bronchiectasis;
hyperventilation;
histoplasmosis;
hypoxia;
pulmonary hypertension;
pleurisy;
chronic obstructive disease(COPD);
pneumonia;
sarcoidosis;
tuberculosis;
pneumothorax;
silicosis
apnea syndrome.

For most uninformed people without medical education The list of such names does not mean anything. To understand what exactly this or that lung disease means, let’s consider them separately.

Alveolitis is a disease that consists of inflammation of the pulmonary vesicles - alveoli. In the process of inflammation, fibrosis of lung tissue begins.

Asphyxia can be recognized by a characteristic attack of suffocation; oxygen stops entering the blood and the amount of carbon dioxide increases. Atelectasis is the collapse of a certain part of the lung, into which air ceases to flow and the organ dies.

Chronic lung disease - bronchial asthma, very common in Lately. This disease is characterized by frequent attacks of suffocation, which can vary in intensity and duration.

Due to a bacterial or viral infection, the walls of the bronchioles become inflamed, and signs of a disease called bronchiolitis appear. In the case of inflammation of the bronchi, bronchitis appears.

Bronchospasm manifests itself in the form of frequent muscle contractions, as a result of which the lumen significantly narrows, causing difficulties in the entry and exit of air. If the lumen in the vessels of the lungs narrows gradually, then the pressure in them increases significantly, which causes dysfunction in the right chamber of the heart.

Bronchiectasis is characterized by constant dilation of the bronchi, which is irreversible. A feature of the disease is the accumulation of pus and sputum in the lungs.

Sometimes the mucous membrane of the lungs, the pleura, becomes inflamed, and a certain plaque forms on it. Such problems of the respiratory organs are called pleurisy in medicine. If the lung tissue itself becomes inflamed, pneumonia occurs.

In cases where a certain amount of air accumulates in the pleural area of the lung, pneumothorax begins.

Hyperventilation is a pathology that can be congenital or occur after a chest injury. It manifests itself in the form of rapid breathing at rest.

The causes of hypoxia can be different, ranging from injuries to nervous tension. This disease is characterized by obvious oxygen starvation.

Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis

Tuberculosis can rightfully be called a modern plague, because every year this disease affects everyone more people, as it is very contagious and transmitted by airborne droplets. The causative agent of this disease is Koch's bacillus, which can be treated with constant exposure drugs on the body.

Among pulmonary diseases, which still have unclear causes of formation, sarcoidosis can be noted. This disease is characterized by the appearance of small nodules on the organ. Often, cysts and tumors form on these paired organs, which must be removed surgically.

Fungal infections lungs are called histoplasmosis. Fungal infections of the lungs are dangerous diseases; they can be caught by constantly being in damp, unventilated areas. If a person’s living or working conditions are associated with dusty premises, then it may develop Occupational Illness called silicosis. Apnea syndrome- This is an unreasonable cessation of breathing.

The chronic form can develop in each of the above diseases. The main provoking factor is ignoring the signs of the disease and lack of qualified help.

Symptoms of respiratory tract diseases

The above lung diseases have their own characteristics and manifestation patterns, but there are a number of symptoms that are characteristic of all diseases of the respiratory system. Their symptoms are quite similar, but they can have different intensity and duration of manifestation. Among typical symptoms you can note:

attacks of suffocation accompanied by coughing;
weight loss;
loss of appetite;
expectoration of pus and sputum;
spasms in the sternum;
increased temperature, chills and fever;
dizziness;
decreased performance and weakness;
increased sweating;
whistling and wheezing chest;
frequent shortness of breath;

Treatment regimens for the lung disease itself and its symptoms are selected only by qualified doctor based on surveys and analysis results.

Some people try to treat themselves, but this is not worth doing, because you can cause a number of serious complications, which will be much more difficult to get rid of than the original illness.

Treatment and prevention

In most cases, antibacterial, antiviral and restorative therapy is prescribed to eliminate respiratory tract diseases. To combat cough, antitussive expectorants are used, and to reduce pain painkillers and antispasms are prescribed. The selection of drugs is carried out taking into account the age, weight and complexity of the patient’s disease. In the most severe cases it is prescribed surgical intervention with further chemotherapy in case of oncology, physiotherapeutic and health resort treatment.

There are a huge number of causes for the development of respiratory tract diseases, but prevention will help prevent lung diseases. Try to spend more time in the fresh air, stop smoking, pay attention to the cleanliness of the room you are in, because it is the dust and mites living in them that provoke spasms and attacks of suffocation.

Eliminate allergic foods from your diet and do not breathe chemical fumes that may come from powders and cleaning products. Adhering to such simple rules, you may be able to avoid diseases that can affect the lungs and respiratory tract. Don't neglect your health, because it is the most valuable thing you have. At the first signs of lung disease, immediately contact an allergist, therapist or pulmonologist.

Almost from early childhood, a person is susceptible to various diseases, among which, of course, can be considered ailments of the upper respiratory tract. There are more than enough reasons for the appearance of such diseases. Moreover, the course of the disease is different for everyone.

The main source of entry into the body pathogenic microbes is environment. It is the disruption of the air exchange process that leads to the fact that after a certain period of time the first symptoms of diseases begin to appear, often accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

In search of the truth, you can consider the main lung diseases, the list of which is headed by pneumonia. In addition, it is often diagnosed:

bronchial asthma;
bronchitis;
viral diseases;
pleurisy;
emphysema;
snore;
asphyxia;
hypoxia;
tracheitis;
apnea syndrome;
cancer formation, etc.

Each type of disease has its own symptoms and causes. Treatment involves the appointment of certain medical supplies, which can also be used in combination with folk remedies– rinses, compresses, inhalations.

Main symptoms

People with lung diseases note following signs manifestations of illness:

Cough

Most often, a cough can be triggered by irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. In this case, the cough is both constant and episodic. There is also a distinction between a dry cough and a cough with sputum. Chronic manifestation irritating symptom leads to frequent exacerbation of bronchial diseases.

Cough expectorants are used as biological material to carry out diagnostics, based on the results of which the causes of cough are established. Moreover, not only the shade of sputum is taken into account, but also their smell. If you neglect to consult a doctor in a timely manner and try to cope with the disease on your own, the disease may worsen and it will be more difficult to cope with it in the future.

Redness of the mucous membrane

Inflammation of the oral mucosa is a harbinger of more serious lung disease. Even allergic manifestation this symptom should not be left without due attention.

Snore

This, it would seem at first glance, simple symptom, unfortunately, not enough attention is paid. However, according to statistics, most people suffering from such inconvenience, after a certain period of time, have a fairly high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke with fatal. In addition, you feel constantly tired. To understand how dangerous snoring is for a particular person, you need to contact a doctor with complaints, who will prescribe a comprehensive examination.

Shortness of breath or suffocation

Unlike other symptoms of lung diseases, complaints of such an ailment should be the reason for an immediate trip to the doctor. Shortness of breath can cause discomfort not only during physical activity, but even during sleep.

Chest pain

Since there are no nerve endings on the lungs, there should be no pain as such. However, if such a symptom does occur, then the lung tissue may be affected. If pain in the sternum does not subside, then this may be one of the first manifestations of a cancerous tumor.

Insufficient oxygen supply to the lungs

This symptom can occur for a number of reasons. It is expressed in the complication of the respiratory process, which in turn does not allow oxygen to be supplied to the blood in sufficient quantities. There is a feeling of slight malaise, sometimes leading to loss of consciousness. The color of the skin loses its natural shade. With prolonged lack of oxygen, even convulsions can occur. Finding out the reasons for this symptom is very important, since inaction can be fatal.

Expectoration processes, etc.

This process is in a natural way removing mucus from the lungs. The accumulated mucus after each expectoration releases the lungs, improving the patient’s well-being. Moreover, expectoration serves as a kind of indicator of the healing process.

The above symptoms of lung disease are evidence that you should urgently contact a qualified specialist who, depending on the complexity of the situation, will prescribe adequate therapy. Self-medication is unacceptable.

Lifestyle and the presence of bad habits can aggravate the course of the disease, which will ultimately lead to the appearance of such an ailment as tuberculosis. The most terrible diagnosis, which in most cases is incurable, is considered lung cancer.

Treatment can be prescribed only after thoroughly listening to the patient's breathing. If there are suspicions, the doctor is obliged to write out a referral for fluorography, which will provide a more accurate “picture” of the condition of the lungs. All currently available diagnostic methods provide each person with the opportunity to conduct an examination and promptly begin the treatment process, which can consist of either taking one drug or a whole complex.

The lungs are the main organ of the respiratory system human body, occupying almost the entire chest cavity. Like any other, lung diseases can be acute or chronic and are caused by both external and internal factors; their symptoms are very diverse. Unfortunately, lung diseases have recently become quite frequent and widespread and represent one of the most important threats to human life and health. Lung diseases rank 6th among the causes of high mortality throughout the world, often leading to disability and early loss of ability to work. All this depends on the high costs of hospitalization and medications needed to treat them.

The essence of the problem

The main function of the lungs is gas exchange - enriching the blood with oxygen from the air inhaled by a person and releasing carbon dioxide - carbon dioxide. The process of gas exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs and is ensured by active movements of the chest and diaphragm. But physiological role lungs in the work of the whole organism is not limited only to the process of gas exchange - they also participate in metabolic processes, perform secretory and excretory functions and have phagocytic properties. The lungs also participate in the process of thermoregulation of the entire body. Like all other organs, the lungs are also subject to the emergence and development various diseases, which can be both inflammatory and infectious nature- due to hitting them various kinds bacteria, viruses or fungi.

List of the most common lung diseases:

pneumonia;
bronchitis;
bronchial asthma;
tuberculosis;
emphysema;
lung cancer;
pneumonia.

Pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma

Pneumonia - inflammatory process, developing in the lungs as a result of the ingestion of various pathological microorganisms: bacteria, viruses or fungi. Sometimes the causative agents of pneumonia are various chemicals that enter the human body. Pneumonia can develop both on all tissues of the lung, on both sides, and on any separate part of it. The symptoms of pneumonia are quite painful sensations in the chest, cough, difficulty breathing, chills, fever and a sudden feeling of anxiety. Pneumonia is treated with penicillin antibiotics and is the most serious and dangerous lung disease, often leading to fatal outcome patient.

Bronchitis is an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane of the lungs, bronchioles. Most often occurs in young children and elderly people due to infection of the upper respiratory tract, as well as as a result allergic reactions. A symptom of bronchitis is a dry, irritating, sharp cough that gets worse at night. Bronchitis comes in two types: acute and chronic, the characteristic symptoms of which are difficulty breathing, whistling, swelling of the upper body, severe and persistent cough, accompanied copious discharge mucus and phlegm, skin faces acquire a bluish tint, especially in the area of the nasolabial triangle. Sometimes, in parallel with chronic bronchitis, a person develops obstructive bronchitis, its symptom is extremely difficult breathing, which is hampered by a narrowing of the lumen (obstruction) of the upper respiratory tract, caused by the inflammatory process and thickening of the walls of the bronchi. Chronic obstructive bronchitis is a lung disease that occurs mainly in smokers.

Bronchial asthma too chronic illness, manifested in the form of attacks of dry, irritating cough, ending in suffocation. During such attacks, narrowing and swelling of the bronchi and the entire chest occurs, which makes breathing difficult. Bronchial asthma progresses quite quickly and leads to pathological damage to lung tissue. This process is irreversible and has characteristic symptoms: constant debilitating cough, bluish skin due to constant lack of oxygen and rather heavy, noisy breathing.

Tuberculosis, emphysema, cancer

Tuberculosis is a lung disease caused by mycobacterium - Koch's bacillus, transmitted by airborne droplets. Infection occurs from a carrier of the disease and initial stage is practically asymptomatic. This happens because the antibodies produced immune system humans, envelop these mycobacteria in so-called cocoons, which can remain in the human lungs in a dormant state for quite a long period of time. Then, depending on the person’s health status, his lifestyle, external factors, depending on the number of mycobacteria that enter the body, the disease begins to progress and manifests itself in the form of sudden weight loss, increased sweating, rather reduced performance, weakness and body temperature constantly elevated to 37 °C.

Emphysema is the destruction of the walls between the alvioli of the lungs, which leads to an increase in lung volume and narrowing of the airways. Pathological damage tissue leads to disruption of gas exchange and significant loss of oxygen, which leads to breathing difficulties. For the lungs, the disease emphysema is quite secretive, its symptoms appear even with significant damage - a person develops shortness of breath, he rapidly loses weight, the skin turns red, it becomes difficult, almost impossible to breathe, and the chest becomes barrel-shaped.

Another disease is lung cancer. Pathological, fatal disease, which is practically asymptomatic, especially on early stage of its development. Sometimes cancer can be identified by the presence of chest pain, cough, shortness of breath and hemoptysis. Cancers differ rapid growth pathological cells (metastasis), which spread throughout all organs and systems of the body. Therefore, cancer is considered a fatal disease and practically cannot be cured, especially at the stage of metastasis.

Sometimes there are cases of pneumonia developing without a cough. It's more dangerous disease, because when the body coughs naturally cleared of mucus and sputum, which contain a fairly large number of pathogenic microorganisms, causing inflammation. A cough signals a pathological process in the lungs and allows you to start on time necessary treatment, which reduces the risk of complications. In the absence of cough syndrome, the bronchi are not cleared of phlegm and mucus, which leads to worsening of the inflammatory process and the appearance of pus in the mucus and sputum.

What should the treatment be?

In any case, not even very severe cough You need to see a doctor, do the necessary laboratory tests and get diagnosed. Once the cause has been identified, symptoms of lung disease must be treated with medication. medicines prescribed by a doctor according to the disease and the degree of its development. Except drug therapy, you can use fairly simple and no less effective means traditional medicine:

Lung balm based on aloe leaves - prepared from crushed aloe leaves, which should be poured with grape wine and mixed with liquid honey. Infuse the mixture in a cool place for several weeks, then strain and consume 3 times a day daily for any lung diseases.
A medicinal mixture of carrot, beet, and black radish juice with the addition of alcohol and honey must be infused in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. Then drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day until the infusion ends. Then take a break while the new mixture is prepared. This composition helps well in relieving and alleviating the symptoms of all lung diseases.
You can cook this medicinal paste, which should be consumed 3 times a day with a glass goat milk or spread on bread, making a sandwich: 10 fresh yolks chicken eggs mix with sugar, add melted chocolate, lard and grated apple. Mix everything thoroughly and store in the refrigerator. This mixture- An excellent expectorant and also has properties to strengthen the immune system.

But still, in order to correctly determine the diagnosis, take medications and folk recipes, you should consult a doctor.

The scientific concept of “pain in the lungs” does not exist, and there is a simple explanation for this - there are no neurons in the lung tissue that are sensitive to irritation and transmit pain.

But patients regularly continue to turn to therapists with this problem, saying that their lungs hurt, which means that something hurts in the chest, which is perceived by the patient as pain in the lungs.

In contact with

The causes of this pain syndrome can be a variety of organ diseases thoracic- heart, spine, cartilage, bone or muscle tissue. These reasons can be established after undergoing specialized diagnostic procedures, including radiography or CT. Concomitant signs (symptoms) accompanying pain in the lung area can also give a more detailed idea of the processes occurring in the chest. Sometimes this is of decisive importance for determining the correct diagnosis, and therefore the timely adoption of therapeutic measures.

Do your lungs hurt and when?

Why is a patient so sure that he has problems with his lungs? Are there any characteristics how your lungs hurt? As already mentioned, the lungs do not contain sensory neurons, which means that pain cannot be localized in the lung tissue itself.

But, remembering the structure of the respiratory organs, we can conclude that pain in the lung tissue can occur due to pathologies in other organs that are an integral part of the respiratory system:

bronchi;
trachea;
pleura (pulmonary membrane).

Unlike the lungs, these segments of the respiratory system are innervated sensory neurons, which means that if the above organs are irritated by an inflammatory process, a prolonged cough, injury or a malignant tumor, a person may develop symptoms of lung problems such as pain in these organs.

Why can your lungs hurt?

What kind of pathological processes can be accompanied by pain, why do the lungs hurt? Pain in the pulmonary area can be caused by:

sharp;
(if the inflammatory process has affected the pleura);
lobar pneumonia;
thromboembolism pulmonary artery ();
aortic aneurysm;
diseases of the heart or its membrane (precordial syndrome, pericarditis);
damage to muscles, joints or bones (myositis, trauma, osteochondrosis), pinched nerves (intercostal neuralgia);
spontaneous.

Can a lung hurt due to pathologies of organs other than the thoracic organs of the body? Yes, pain syndrome in the thoracic region may also arise from problems digestive system- for example, pancreatitis or peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum. Only this pain in the lungs will be radiated (widespread) from the abdominal region, which is usually facilitated by a deep breath or rapid breathing. How can you understand that it is the lungs that hurt, or more precisely, that pain in the lung tissue is associated with diseases of the respiratory system? In this case, you can find a clue in additional symptoms of bronchopulmonary problems.

Additional symptoms for bronchopulmonary problems

If the lungs hurt, what symptoms might suggest that the pain is indeed of pulmonary origin, that is, the trachea, bronchi or pleura are affected by the pathology? Most common for problems with mild symptoms that appear in parallel with back pain in the lung area or when the lungs hurt in front, these are:

dry or ;
increased body temperature;
general weakness, fatigue;
lack of air, shortness of breath;
wheezing in the lungs.

The last of the above symptoms, in addition to the clear manifestation of acute bronchitis or pneumonia, can be called the most dangerous sign if the lungs hurt in the front, and blood appears in the coughed up sputum. Such signs most often indicate the presence of respiratory organs tumor process (if the inflammatory nature of the disease is excluded).

Men are much more likely to develop bronchopulmonary cancer than women, especially older men. If we talk about how the lungs hurt, the symptoms in women are no different from clinical manifestations in men.

If wheezing is heard during breathing or detected during auscultation (listening to the chest), this is a serious reason for in-depth diagnosis.

What does pain mean?

The variability of manifestations of pulmonary pain, the correlation (relationship) of this pain with external influences and other factors are also important. diagnostic value. Let's look at the most common factors.

It would seem that when your lungs hurt, what symptoms, if not a cough, confirm the pulmonary nature of the problem that has arisen? And indeed: the most common reasons such a combination of symptoms is bronchopulmonary:

acute or chronic bronchitis;
COPD;
bronchial asthma in the acute stage;
pneumonia with inflammation spreading to the pleura;
bronchopulmonary tumors.

But it happens that the lungs hurt due to an annoying cough caused by other reasons, for example:

entry into the respiratory tract of a foreign object or liquid (including due to the release gastric juice into the esophagus and further - onto the vocal cords with pharyngolaryngeal reflux);
reaction to an allergen, including cold air;
ENT diseases or heart disease;
taking some antihypertensive drugs, side effect which is a cough.

All these factors should be kept in mind when collecting anamnesis and drawing up a symptomatic picture.

No cough

Sometimes the lungs hurt without a cough, but this does not necessarily mean there is no lung problem. The coughless course of diseases such as bronchopulmonary cancer is known to medicine and is considered more dangerous - if only because it complicates diagnosis and, as a result, delays the start of treatment.

If your lungs hurt, but there is no cough, you can assume other provoking factors:

thoracic injury (sometimes hidden, not immediately noticed);
angina attack, myocardial infarction and other heart pathologies;
tuberculous lesions of the lungs, bronchi, trachea or bone tissue thoracic region;
osteomyelitis, arthrosis or arthritis of the sternum or ribs;
pinched intercostal nerve (neuralgia);
a nonspecific manifestation of herpes zoster - a herpetic disease that causes pain similar to neuralgia;
pathology of the spleen or the adjacent part of the large intestine, in contact with the chest organs on the left.

With such a variety of reasons for differential diagnosis Pain in the chest is accompanied by additional symptoms that indicate problems with the lungs.

In women, among other things, the lungs may (feel) hurt during pregnancy due to the enlargement of the fetus and, as a result, increased pressure of the diaphragm on the chest.

Right-sided pulmonary pain often indicates:

pneumonia with transition to the pleura of the right lung;
muscle strain due to excessive physical activity;
intercostal neuralgia on the right;
right-sided thoracic injury;
embolism (blockage with a blood clot) of the right pulmonary artery;
tumors of the right lung;
dysfunction of the esophageal sphincter (gastroesophageal reflux);
exacerbation of diseases of the biliary system, biliary colic, radiating to the chest.

When one lung hurts, the symptoms that are called additional can significantly clarify the picture of the disease, so you should pay attention to such signs as temperature, cough (and its nature), general state and others.

Smokers often experience pain in the lung area after smoking. No matter how much the lungs hurt in a person who smokes, symptoms that clearly indicate the connection of pain with a bad habit should not only alert you, but also force you to see a doctor as soon as possible. After all, the body sends pain signals from the chest during diseases, which are extremely dangerous to joke about.

Causes, causing pain in the chest, and in the case of smoking can be divided into pulmonary and extrapulmonary.

TO pulmonary causes pain after coughing include: COPD, chronic bronchitis (a rare smoker does not suffer chronic diseases lungs, accompanied by cough), pleurisy (inflammation of the pulmonary membrane), pneumosclerosis (replacement of organ sections connective tissue) or bronchopulmonary cancer.
Extrapulmonary provoking factors of chest pain - cardiac ischemia, angina pectoris and the likelihood of a heart attack, cholelithiasis, gastritis or peptic ulcers(the pain has a “shooting” character), osteochondrosis or neuralgia.

Vulnerability smoking man to pathologies of the lungs, heart and gastrointestinal tract is much higher, since bad influence Nicotine affects primarily the vital systems of the body.

It is necessary to remember the high probability of serious consequences of long-term smoking and try to get rid of the bad habit before the lungs begin to hurt; these symptoms in men who continue to smoke appear, as a rule, at already advanced stages of dangerous diseases.

When inhaling

Almost all of the reasons already discussed can provoke increased chest pain when breathing - on inhalation or exhalation.

If your lungs hurt from the back and get worse when you inhale, this is probably a sign of osteochondrosis or intercostal neuralgia.
If the pain is located closer to the lower edge of the respiratory organs, this may indicate organ diseases abdominal cavity, painful sensations from which spread to the pleural area.
When pain is localized in the sternum, especially if it radiates to the shoulder or left hand and lower limb and intensifies on inspiration, there is reason to suspect cardiac pathology.
General weakness, difficulty breathing, elevated temperature and a cough that causes such painful sensations as the lungs hurt are symptoms of bronchopulmonary problems.
If your lungs hurt when you inhale, this may be a signal of injury to the ribs or other segments of the chest.

Wheezing in the lungs

Wheezing sounds in the respiratory organs, accompanied by pain, can be classified as alarming symptoms in all respects, be it pulmonary or extrapulmonary problems. Pulmonary rales can be inspiratory (audible when inhaling) or expiratory (audible when exhaling).

Inspiratory wheezing is characteristic of acute bronchitis, expiratory wheezing is characteristic of bronchial asthma. Wheezing is observed with pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, abscess, tuberculosis and malignant tumors.

When the lungs hurt and wheeze, what symptoms can complement clinical picture bronchopulmonary disease?

Increased body temperature.
Weakness, sweating, fatigue.
Wet or (with wheezing, it is more often wet).
Difficulty, spasms of breathing.

If wheezing is found in the lower lungs, it may be a sign of pneumonia or obstructive pulmonary disease in the lungs. chronic form. COPD often develops after untreated acute bronchitis and does not always occur with fever.

Extrapulmonary causes of wheezing may include heart problems, heart attack, or pulmonary edema caused by severe diseases of other organs.

What other pains can be mistaken for pulmonary pain?

Unfortunately for both doctors and patients, even such an extensive list of diseases does not reflect the entire scope of possible provocateurs of pain in the pulmonary area.

Chest pain often develops due to problems completely unrelated to the respiratory system, but due to its intensity it can be mistaken for pulmonary pain.

Most often, cardiac pathologies (they have already been mentioned), neuralgia and myositis (inflammatory process in the muscles) are mistaken for pulmonary pain. The latter can be provoked by:

typhoid fever, gonorrhea, influenza and other acute infections;
metabolic pathologies - gout, diabetes;
overwork of muscle tissue.

Due to the syndrome of air accumulation in the splenic flexure of the large intestine, a person’s lungs often hurt (at least it seems so to him), and very severely. Gases are compressed by the muscles of the large intestine exactly in the place where the bend of the intestine reaches the level of the thoracic calving, closer to the left side, which is why the pain is often confused with a heart attack.

What to do?

It is difficult to understand such a variety of causes of pain. Therefore, you should not self-diagnose if your lungs hurt. What to do if pain occurs in the pulmonary area? Going to the doctor is the only correct answer.

Firstly, the doctor knows better. Secondly, in medical institution You can take blood and sputum tests, undergo an X-ray or ECG examination, bronchoscopy (inpatient) or computed tomography. Thanks to modern instruments diagnostics, the cause of the pain will be established in as soon as possible, which means that proper treatment is started on time. And in the absence or incorrectly selected treatment pathological process will progress and may lead to irreversible consequences.

There are situations when it is not necessary to go to the doctor, but to call an ambulance:

if the lungs hurt too severely and are sent to left hand, under the shoulder blade;
the patient's breathing rate is more than 30 breaths per minute;
if the patient has lost orientation in space, reacts poorly to questions and everything around him;
the patient's systolic pressure dropped to 90 mmHg;
diastolic pressure dropped below 60 mmHg.

If these symptoms are observed against the background of severe pulmonary pain, calling an ambulance is mandatory.

Useful video

For information about common symptoms and manifestations of pulmonary pain, watch this video:

Conclusion

Lung tissue cannot hurt because it is not innervated by sensory neurons.
If a person thinks that the respiratory organs still hurt, this symptom may hide dozens of different somatic and neurological diseases.
To determine the pulmonary nature of pain in the chest area are important additional symptoms bronchopulmonary problems.
Only a doctor can determine exactly why the lungs hurt or why pain is radiating from other organs.

The lungs are a vital organ; without their work it is impossible to supply all parts of the body with oxygen. Any pathological process affects the functionality of the lung and bronchial tissue, preventing the respiratory organs from working correctly. And a lack of oxygen in other organs can lead to their disease. Therefore, it is so important to treat diseases of the lungs and bronchi at the first manifestations of the disease, and to avoid the causes that cause them.

Causes of lung diseases

There are several factors that can provoke an inflammatory process in the lungs:

Bad habits, especially smoking.
Bad ecology. The inhaled air contains exhaust gases, harmful emissions from factories and factories, fumes from building materials and household chemicals.

Types of lung diseases

Each part of the lower respiratory tract can be affected by a pathological process. Lung diseases can be congenital, acquired, chronic or acute, localized or diffuse. Depending on the damage to a certain part of the lower respiratory system, lung diseases can be grouped into the following groups:

associated with respiratory tract damage;
affecting the alveoli;
associated with pleural lesions;
affecting the chest.

The severity of the disease, its prognosis and the necessary treatment depend on which part of the respiratory system is affected. Most often, respiratory tract disease affects all tissues of the lungs and bronchi.

Lung pathologies affecting the airways

In this case, the pathological process affects the trachea and the bronchi below it, causing breathing problems. The main diseases of these organs include: bronchial asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, emphysema.

The table shows lung diseases with damage to the respiratory tract.

Diagnosis	Cause	Symptoms	Treatment
Bronchitis	Viral or bacterial infection.	Cough with sputum, sometimes fever.	If it is viral in nature, mucolytic and expectorant drugs, physiotherapy, bacterial infection eliminated with antibiotics.
Bronchial asthma	Emergence inflammatory reaction V respiratory tract in response to various external stimuli. Hereditary factor, allergies, excess weight.	Cough with vitreous sputum. Shortness of breath and attacks of suffocation, accompanied by wheezing. Bronchospasm, making it difficult to exhale.	Inhalation of bronchodilators. Basic drugs: glucocorticoids, cromones.
Emphysema	Chronic bronchial obstruction.	Shortness of breath, oxygen deficiency due to overstretching of the alveoli and disruption of gas exchange in them.	For primary emphysema - symptomatic: oxygen therapy, breathing exercises, avoidance of smoking. In secondary cases, treatment of the underlying disease occurs.
COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Smoking, occupational hazards, heredity.	Chronic cough with mucous discharge, and in case of exacerbation - purulent sputum, shortness of breath.	Smoking cessation, exclusion of occupational hazards, glucocorticosteroids, bronchodilators, mucolytics, and, if necessary, antibiotics.
Bronchiectasis	Complication chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, lung abscess, pulmonary fibrosis. Expansion and suppuration of the local part of the bronchial tree.	Malaise, cough with purulent sputum, fever. The flow is seasonal.	Antibiotics, mucolytics, bronchodilators, drainage position for sputum discharge, physiotherapy and massage, sometimes surgical treatment.
Cystic fibrosis	A hereditary disease associated with a mutation of the gene responsible for the transmembrane regulation of cystic fibrosis. The disease is systemic and has not only a pulmonary form.	Viscous sputum is poorly separated with a cough, which causes blockage of the bronchi and alveoli, the development of emphysema and atelectasis.	Symptomatic treatment: removal of sputum by physical, chemical and instrumental methods, inhalations with mucolytics and bronchodilators, antibiotics, corticosteroid drugs for complications.

Lung diseases affecting the alveoli

Alveoli are the smallest bubbles in which the process of gas exchange occurs, and venous blood turns into arterial blood. Therefore, the role of the alveoli in the body is difficult to overestimate. In every human lung There are a little more than 300 million alveoli, but failure of even a small part will certainly affect the functioning of the entire organism.

The most common lung diseases associated with damage to the tissues of this organ: pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema, cancer, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary edema.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is not as harmless as it might seem. Despite the large number of different antibiotics, almost every tenth case of the disease still ends in death. If part of the lung is affected, they speak of focal pneumonia, when an entire lobe or the entire lung is affected, we are talking about lobar pneumonia.

Causes of pneumonia: bacterial, viral and fungal infections, injuries, lung surgeries, complications of other diseases, long stays in bed with serious illnesses.

With focal pneumonia, the symptoms are smoothed out. The temperature rises gradually and rarely rises above 39 degrees. It fluctuates throughout the day. Patients are worried severe weakness, sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling, cough with mucopurulent sputum.

Typical lobar pneumonia has the following symptoms:

a sharp increase in temperature, often accompanied by chills;
cough, first dry, and then with “rusty” sputum.

The condition of the patients is serious, there are cardiac dysfunctions.

Pneumonia is most often treated in a hospital. It should include antibiotics, which are prescribed in accordance with the pathogen found during sputum analysis. You will need mucolytics and bronchodilators, antipyretics, and immunostimulating agents. Antihistamines will be useful.

A severe lung disease caused by a mycobacterium called Koch bacillus. May have extrapulmonary forms. Before the advent of modern anti-tuberculosis drugs, it was rarely cured. Even now, this lung disease is one of the ten diseases that most often lead to death.

Tuberculosis infection occurs through airborne droplets. A quarter of the world's population are its bacteria carriers. The bacteria begins to multiply and causes lung disease. Long time it is almost asymptomatic. Mild weakness, lethargy, weight loss, a slight cough and a slight increase in temperature are often attributed to fatigue or a cold.

A severe cough, hemoptysis, chest pain and an increase in temperature to high numbers indicate that the disease has advanced, and tuberculosis will require long and persistent treatment. Treatment should be comprehensive and include multicomponent anti-tuberculosis therapy, immunostimulating drugs, proper nutrition, stay in specialized sanatoriums.

Up to 18.5% of cancer patients in Russia die from this disease. Lung cancer is insidious in that it does not manifest itself at first, especially if the tumor is located on the periphery of the lung tissue. The reasons for its appearance are different and not always clear: smoking, inhalation of dust, including asbestos, viruses, metastases from other organs.

The first symptom of the disease is often a chronic cough. At first it is dry, then it becomes wet. Purulent sputum may be mixed with blood. The temperature rises, weight decreases, weakness, shortness of breath are observed, and signs of intoxication of the body appear. At this stage, it is not difficult to diagnose this lung disease, since the tumor is quite large.

The prognosis of this lung disease depends on the timely treatment started. If the tumor is operable, they resort to it surgical removal. Radiation and chemotherapy are then used.

This group of diseases is associated with professional activity humans and is the result of long-term inhalation of dust:

coal;
talc;
asbestos;
silicates.

It begins with a dry cough and chest pain. Then pulmonary, and soon heart failure follows. The disease is irreversible, as pulmonary fibrosis develops, i.e., the lung tissue is replaced by connective tissue. Therapy is aimed at slowing down the process, removing dust, stimulating the immune system and reducing allergic reactions.

Pulmonary edema

Signs of pulmonary edema:

breathing disorder, expressed in severe shortness of breath even at rest, breathing is heavy, bubbling;
a state of suffocation, it forces the patient to take a forced position with the upper part of the body raised;
severe chest pain (pressing);
tachycardia, which becomes pronounced;
cough with pink, foamy sputum;
sticky sweat, cyanosis, pale skin;
confusion, possible loss of consciousness.

When pulmonary edema occurs, the patient must be urgently taken to the hospital.

Lung diseases affecting the pleura

Among them are: pleurisy, pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax is the penetration of air into the pleural cavity. The condition is fraught with collapse and requires emergency medical care.

This is a lung disease caused by viruses, bacteria, injuries, and tumors. It can be a complication of syphilis, tuberculosis and pancreatitis. In 60% of cases of pneumonia, pleurisy develops, which almost always resolves spontaneously.

First, dry pleurisy is formed, which causes severe pain in the chest due to friction of the pleura. When fluid (exudate) appears, the pain decreases, but shortness of breath appears due to compression of the lungs. A reflex dry cough develops and persists throughout the course of the disease. slight fever, weakness, sweating.

Treatment of the disease is carried out in a hospital, since wet pleurisy requires suction of exudate using a puncture. Subsequently, complex anti-inflammatory treatment is carried out. Pleurisy of tuberculous etiology requires special medications.

Lung pathologies affecting the chest

At overweight the breathing process is difficult, which over time can cause respiratory failure. Various inflammatory diseases back muscles can also cause difficulty breathing.

Deformation of the chest or damage to the pulmonary vessels causes diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Over time, they lead to the formation of the so-called pulmonary heart. This pathology can occur suddenly due to blockage of a pulmonary artery by a thrombus or valvular pneumothorax. The cause of this condition may be prolonged, severe pneumonia, exudative pleurisy with plenty of liquid.

The slow formation of the cor pulmonale is facilitated by obstructive processes in the respiratory organs, increased pressure in the vessels of the lungs - pulmonary hypertension, fibrotic processes in the lung tissue.

Prevention

Compliance correct mode work and rest will help to avoid the risk of many diseases, including respiratory diseases. What else can you do:

to give up smoking;
maintaining home hygiene;
prevention of occupational hazards;
correct and timely treatment respiratory infections;
treatment of chronic diseases;
strengthening the immune system, playing sports, hardening;
scheduled fluorography.