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Serious problems with mild symptoms. Lungs

/ 28.02.2018

Lung diseases and their symptoms. Signs, classification and prevention of major lung diseases.

Lung diseases in humans are considered one of the most dangerous (after heart diseases). The list of them is quite long, but the frequency of occurrence and the danger to life of the diseases are not the same. At the same time, every competent person who treats himself with care should be aware of all possible ailments and their manifestations. After all, as you know, early access to a doctor greatly increases the chances of a successful outcome of treatment.

The most common lung diseases in humans: list, symptoms, prognosis

People often confuse common diseases of the respiratory system with those that are specific to the lungs. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this if the patient does not try to cure himself, but clarifies the diagnosis with a doctor who can accurately determine the type of lung disease in a person. The list of the most “popular” of them includes:

  1. Pleurisy. Most often caused by a viral infection. One of the few pulmonary diseases accompanied by pain. As you know, there are no nerve endings in the lungs themselves, and they cannot hurt. Unpleasant sensations are caused by friction of the pleura. In mild forms, pleurisy goes away on its own, but it doesn’t hurt to see a doctor.
  2. Pneumonia. It often begins as pleurisy, but is much more dangerous. A deep cough is very painful. Treatment must be professional, otherwise it will be fatal.
  3. Signs: shortness of breath, chest swelling, box sounds, weak breathing. Primary is eliminated by breathing exercises and oxygen therapy. Secondary requires long-term medical or even surgical intervention.
  4. Tuberculosis. Everything is clear here: only medical supervision, long treatment and antibiotics.
  5. Tumors, including the second disease, accompanied by pain. Forecasts are usually pessimistic.

If we talk about lung diseases in humans, the list, of course, is not limited to this list. However, the rest are much rarer and often difficult to diagnose.

What do we pay attention to?

There are a number of signs that appear in almost any lung disease in humans. The list of symptoms can be presented as follows:

  1. Cough. Depending on the disease, it can be either dry or wet, painless or accompanied by pain.
  2. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth.
  3. Snoring - if you haven't suffered from it before.
  4. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or, in some cases, suffocation. Any changes in the rhythm or depth of breathing are a signal to immediately visit the clinic.
  5. Chest pain is usually caused by heart problems. But pulmonary diseases can also cause it in the above cases.
  6. Lack of oxygen, up to pale and blue skin, fainting and convulsions.

All these signs strongly suggest that a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed. He will make a diagnosis after listening, additional tests, and maybe an x-ray.

Rare but dangerous

A few words should be said about such a human lung disease as pneumothorax. He is often forgotten even experienced doctors, and it can manifest itself even in a completely healthy and young person. Pneumothorax is caused by the rupture of a small bubble in the lungs, which leads to their collapse, that is, deairing. Manifested by shortness of breath and severe pain; if urgent measures are not taken, it leads to the adhesion of part of the lung, and often death.

Pneumothorax is more often observed in patients with emphysema, but can also occur in a person who has never suffered from pulmonary diseases.

Specific diseases

Some lung diseases are caused by a person's chosen profession. Thus, chronic pulmonary obstruction or silicosis is typical for workers in the chemical industry, and pulmonary barotrauma is typical for divers. However, people are usually warned about the possibility of such diseases, pay enough attention to prevention and undergo regular medical examinations.

Lung diseases - symptoms and treatment.

Pulmonary embolism causes a blood clot to become lodged in the lungs. In most cases, embolisms are not fatal, but the clot can damage the lungs. Symptoms: sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain when taking a deep breath, pink, foamy cough discharge, acute feeling of fear, weakness, slow heartbeat.

Pneumothorax This is an air leak in the chest. It creates pressure in the chest. A simple pneumothorax can be treated quickly, but if you wait several days, surgery will be needed to unload the lungs. Those affected by this disease experience sudden and sharp pain on one side of the lungs and a fast heart rate.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is a mixture of two various diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Narrowing of the airways makes breathing difficult. The first symptoms of the disease: rapid fatigue after light work, even moderate exercise makes breathing difficult. You feel cold in your chest, the expectoration becomes yellow or greenish in color, and weight loss is uncontrollable. Bending over to put on your shoes reveals a lack of air to breathe. The causes of chronic disease are smoking and protein deficiency.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous tissue that covers the bronchi. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial epithelium caused by an infection or virus. Bronchitis One of the common symptoms of bronchitis is a cough, an increase in the amount of mucus in the bronchi. Other common symptoms are sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, mild fever, fatigue. In acute bronchitis, it is important to drink expectorants. They remove mucus from the lungs and reduce inflammation.

The first sign of chronic bronchitis is a lingering cough. If the cough persists for about 3 or more months a year over the course of two years, doctors determine that the patient has chronic bronchitis. In the case of chronic bacterial bronchitis, the cough lasts longer than 8 weeks with copious discharge of yellow mucus.

Cystic fibrosis
is hereditary disease. The cause of the disease is the entry of digestive fluid, sweat and mucus into the lungs through the producing cells. This is a disease not only of the lungs, but also of pancreatic dysfunction. Fluids accumulate in the lungs and create an environment for bacteria to grow. One of the first obvious signs illness - salty taste of skin.

Prolonged constant cough, breathing with a sound similar to a whistle, acute pain during inspiration - first signs of pleurisy, inflammation of the pleura. The pleura is the covering of the chest cavity. Symptoms include dry cough, fever, chills, and severe chest pain.

Asbestos is a group of minerals. During operation, products containing fine asbestos fibers are released into the air. These fibers accumulate in the lungs. Asbestosis causes difficulty breathing, pneumonia, cough, lung cancer.

Research shows that exposure to asbestos causes the development of other types of cancer: gastrointestinal, kidney, bladder, gall bladder, and throat cancers. If a production worker notices a cough that does not go away for a long time, chest pain, poor appetite, a dry sound similar to a crack comes out of his lungs when breathing - you should definitely do fluorography and contact a pulmonologist.

Cause of pneumonia is a lung infection. Symptoms: fever and breathing with great difficulty. Treatment of patients with pneumonia lasts from 2 to 3 weeks. The risk of developing the disease increases after the flu or cold. It is difficult for the body to fight infection and lung diseases when weakened after illness.

As a result of fluorography nodules detected? Don't panic. Whether it is cancer or not will be revealed by subsequent thorough diagnostics. This is a complex process. Has one or several nodules formed? Is its diameter greater than 4 cm? Does it adhere to the walls of the chest, or the muscles of the ribs? These are the main questions that a doctor should find out before deciding on surgery. The patient's age, smoking history, and in some cases additional diagnostics. Observation of the nodule continues for 3 months. Often unnecessary operations are performed due to patient panic. A non-cancerous cyst in the lungs can resolve with the right medication.

Pleural effusion This is an abnormal increase in the amount of fluid around the lungs. May be the result of many diseases. Not dangerous. Pleural effusion falls into two main categories: uncomplicated and complex.

The cause of uncomplicated pleural effusion: the amount of fluid in the pleura is slightly greater than the required amount. This illness can cause symptoms of a wet cough and chest pain. A neglected, simple pleural effusion can develop into a complex one. In the fluid accumulated in the pleura, bacteria and infections begin to multiply, and a focus of inflammation appears. If left untreated, the disease can create a ring around the lungs, the fluid eventually turning into astringent mucus. The type of pleural effusion can only be diagnosed from a fluid sample taken from the pleura.

Tuberculosis
affects any organ of the body, but pulmonary tuberculosis is dangerous because it is transmitted by airborne droplets. If the tuberculosis bacterium is active, it causes tissue death in the organ. Active tuberculosis may be fatal outcome. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to remove tuberculosis infection from an open form to a closed form. It is possible to cure tuberculosis. You need to take the disease seriously, take medications and attend procedures. Do not use drugs under any circumstances, lead a healthy lifestyle.

Various lung diseases are quite common in Everyday life person. Most of the classified illnesses have severe symptoms of acute lung disease in humans and, if treated incorrectly, can lead to bad consequences. Pulmonology deals with the study of diseases.

Causes and signs of lung diseases

To determine the cause of any disease, you should contact a qualified specialist (pulmonologist), who will conduct thorough research and make a diagnosis.

Lung diseases are quite difficult to diagnose, so you need to undergo the entire list of recommended tests.

But there are common factors that can cause acute pulmonary infection:


There are a large number of objective signs characterizing lung disease. Their main symptoms:

Many of our readers actively use the Monastic Collection of Father George to treat coughs and improve their condition with bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, and tuberculosis. It contains 16 medicinal plants that are extremely effective in the treatment of chronic COUGH, bronchitis and cough caused by smoking.

Alveoli, the so-called air sacs, are the main functional ones. When the alveoli are damaged, individual lung pathologies are classified:

Diseases affecting the pleura and chest

The pleura is the thin sac that contains the lungs. When it is damaged, the following respiratory diseases occur:

Blood vessels are known to carry oxygen, and their disruption causes chest diseases:

  1. . Violation of pressure in the pulmonary arteries gradually leads to the destruction of the organ and the appearance of primary signs diseases.
  2. Pulmonary embolism. Often occurs with vein thrombosis, when a blood clot enters the lungs and blocks the supply of oxygen to the heart. This disease is characterized by sudden bleeding in the brain and death.

For constant pain in the chest, the following diseases are distinguished:

Hereditary and bronchopulmonary diseases

Hereditary respiratory diseases are transmitted from parents to child and can have several types. Basic:

Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system are based on acute respiratory infection. Most often, bronchopulmonary infectious diseases are characterized by mild malaise, gradually developing into an acute infection in both lungs.

Bronchopulmonary inflammatory diseases are caused by viral microorganisms. They affect the respiratory system and mucous membranes. Improper treatment can lead to the development of complications and the occurrence of more dangerous bronchopulmonary diseases.

The symptoms of a respiratory infection are very similar to the common cold, caused by viral bacteria. Infectious lung diseases develop very quickly and are of bacterial origin. These include:

  • pneumonia;
  • bronchitis;
  • asthma;
  • tuberculosis;
  • respiratory allergies;
  • pleurisy;
  • respiratory failure.


Infection in inflamed lungs develops rapidly. To avoid complications, a full range of treatment and prevention should be carried out.

Chest diseases such as pneumothorax, asphyxia, and physical causes severe pain and can cause breathing and lung problems. Here it is necessary to apply an individual treatment regimen, which has a sequence-related nature.

Suppurative diseases

Due to the increase purulent diseases the percentage of suppurative inflammations has increased causing problems with damaged lungs. Pulmonary purulent infection affects a significant part of the organ and can lead to serious complications. There are three main types of this pathology:

  • X-ray;
  • fluorography;
  • general blood analysis;
  • tomography;
  • bronchography;
  • testing for infections.

After all the studies performed, the doctor must determine individual plan treatment, necessary procedures and antibacterial therapy. It should be remembered that only strict adherence to all recommendations will lead to a quick recovery.

Compliance preventive measures for lung diseases significantly reduces the risk of their occurrence. To exclude respiratory diseases, you should adhere to simple rules:

  • maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
  • absence of bad habits;
  • moderate physical activity;
  • hardening of the body;
  • annual vacation on the seaside;
  • regular visits to a pulmonologist.

Every person should know the manifestations of the above diseases in order to quickly identify the symptoms of an incipient respiratory disease, and then seek treatment in time. qualified assistance, because health is one of the most valuable attributes of life!

The lungs are the main organ respiratory system human and consist of the pleura, bronchi and alveoli united into acini. In this organ, gas exchange of the body takes place: carbon dioxide, unsuitable for its vital functions, passes from the blood into the air, and oxygen received from the outside is carried through the bloodstream throughout all systems of the body. The basic function of the lungs may be impaired due to the development of any disease of the respiratory system or as a result of their damage (wound, accident, etc.). Lung diseases include: pneumonia, abscess, emphysema,.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a lung disease associated with inflammation of the bronchi, the constituent elements of the lungs. bronchial tree. Most often, the cause of the development of such inflammation is the penetration of a viral or bacterial infection into the body, lack of proper attention to throat diseases, and the ingestion of large amounts of dust and smoke into the lungs. For most people, bronchitis does not pose a serious danger; complications of the disease usually develop in smokers (even passive smokers), people with weakened immune systems, chronic heart and lung diseases, the elderly and young children.

The clinical picture of incipient acute bronchitis coincides with the clinical picture of ordinary colds. The first thing that appears is a cough, first dry, then with sputum. An increase in temperature may also occur. If left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the entire lung and cause pneumonia. Treatment of acute bronchitis is carried out with the use of anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs, expectorants, and drinking plenty of fluids. If the cause of the disease is a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Chronic bronchitis does not develop against the background of an incompletely cured acute form, as is the case with many diseases. Its cause may be prolonged irritation of the bronchi by smoke or chemicals. This pathology occurs in smokers or people working in hazardous industries. Main symptom chronic form bronchitis - cough with sputum discharge. Elimination of the disease is facilitated by changing lifestyle, quitting smoking, and ventilating the work area. To get rid of symptoms, bronchodilators are prescribed - special drugs that help expand the airways and make breathing easier by inhalation. During exacerbation, treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids is recommended.

Alveolitis

Alveolitis is an inflammation of lung tissue with its subsequent degeneration into connective tissue. This disease should not be confused with alveolitis, which occurs after poor-quality tooth extraction. The main cause of the development of the inflammatory process in the lungs can be: allergies, infections, inhalation of toxic substances. The disease can be recognized by such signs as: headache and muscle pain, fever, aching bones, chills, shortness of breath, cough. Lack of treatment for pulmonary alveolitis leads to the development of respiratory failure. Measures to eliminate the main signs of the disease depend on the cause of its occurrence. In case of allergic alveolitis, the patient’s interaction with the allergen should be excluded and an antiallergic drug should be taken. At elevated temperature It is recommended to take antipyretic drugs, in case of severe cough - antitussives, expectorants. Quitting cigarettes promotes rapid recovery.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs independently or as a complication of certain diseases of the respiratory system. Selected species pneumonia does not pose a danger to humans, while other types can be fatal. Lung infection is the most dangerous for newborns due to their still fragile immunity. The main symptoms of the disease are: heat, chills, chest pain, worse with deep inspiration, dry cough, blue lips, headaches, excessive sweating. The most common complications of pneumonia include: inflammation of the lining of the lungs (pleurisy), abscess, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema. Diagnosis of the disease is based on the results of a chest x-ray and blood test. Treatment can be prescribed only after its causative agent has been identified. Depending on what caused the pneumonia (fungus or virus), antifungal or antibacterial drugs are prescribed. In case of extreme heat, it is recommended to take antipyretic drugs (no more than three days in a row). Respiratory failure developing as a result of an infectious lesion of the lungs requires oxygen therapy.

Lung abscess

An abscess is an inflammation of a separate area of ​​the lung with the accumulation of a certain amount of pus in it. The accumulation of pus in the lung in most cases is observed against the background of the development of pneumonia. Predisposing factors may be: smoking, alcohol abuse, taking certain medical supplies, tuberculosis, drug addiction. Signs of the development of the disease are: severe cough, chills, nausea, fever, sputum with minor blood. The fever that occurs with a lung abscess usually cannot be relieved with conventional antipyretics. The disease requires treatment with large doses of antibiotics, since the drug must penetrate not just into the body, but also into the very source of inflammation and destroy its main pathogen. In some cases, drainage of the abscess is required, that is, removal of pus from it using a special syringe needle inserted into the lung through the chest. If all measures to eliminate the disease have not brought the desired result, the abscess is removed surgically.

Emphysema

Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic disease associated with impairment of the basic function of the lungs. The cause of the development of this pathology is chronic bronchitis, which results in disruption of the processes of breathing and gas exchange in the human lungs. The main symptoms of the disease: difficulty breathing or its complete impossibility, blueness of the skin, shortness of breath, widening of the intercostal spaces and supraclavicular area. Emphysema develops slowly, and at first its symptoms are almost invisible. Shortness of breath usually occurs only in the presence of excessive physical exertion, as the disease progresses, this symptom is observed more and more often, then it begins to bother the patient, even when he is in a state of complete rest. The result of the development of emphysema is disability. Therefore, it is very important to start treatment at the initial stage of the disease. In most cases, patients are prescribed antibiotics, drugs that dilate the bronchi and have an expectorant effect, breathing exercises, and oxygen therapy. Full recovery is possible only if you follow all the doctor’s instructions and stop smoking.

Pulmonary tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a disease caused by a specific microorganism - Koch's bacillus, which enters the lungs along with the air containing it. Infection occurs through direct contact with a carrier of the disease. There are open and closed forms of tuberculosis. The second occurs most often. Open form tuberculosis means that the carrier of the disease is able to excrete its pathogen along with sputum and transmit it to other people. With closed tuberculosis, a person is a carrier of the infection, but is not able to transmit it to others. The signs of this form of tuberculosis are usually very vague. In the first months from the onset of infection, the infection does not manifest itself in any way; much later, general weakness of the body, fever, and weight loss may appear. Treatment for tuberculosis should be started as early as possible. This is the key to saving a person’s life. To achieve optimal results, treatment is carried out using several anti-tuberculosis drugs at once. His goal is in this case is the complete destruction of the Koch bacillus present in the patient’s body. The most commonly prescribed drugs are ethambutol, isoniazid, and rifampicin. Throughout the entire period of treatment, the patient is in an inpatient setting at a specialized department of a medical clinic.

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 passion 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, a list of such names means nothing. 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 - the 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 - has become very common 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 deservedly be called a modern plague, because every year this disease affects more and 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 is an unjustified 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. Typical symptoms include:

  • 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 in the 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 painkillers and antispasms are prescribed to reduce pain. 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, surgery is prescribed with further chemotherapy in the 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 avoid breathing chemical fumes that may come from powders and cleaning products. By following these 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.

Various lung diseases are quite common in human daily life. Most of the classified illnesses have severe symptoms of acute lung disease in humans and, if not treated correctly, can lead to bad consequences. Pulmonology deals with the study of respiratory diseases.

Causes and signs of lung diseases

To determine the cause of any disease, you should contact a qualified specialist (pulmonologist), who will conduct thorough research and make a diagnosis.

Lung diseases are quite difficult to diagnose, so you need to undergo the entire list of recommended tests.

But there are common factors that can cause acute pulmonary infection:

  • environmental degradation;
  • presence of bad habits;
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system;
  • elevated blood sugar levels;
  • chronic diseases;
  • nervous disorders.

There are a large number of objective signs characterizing lung disease. Their main symptoms:

Presence of cough. When a pathological process occurs, inflammation forms in the lungs, and then a reflex cough occurs. The person feels:

  • discomfort;
  • pain;
  • burning in the throat;
  • chest compression;
  • lack of air.
  • Sputum formation. Due to the inflammatory process, sputum accumulates in the mucous membrane, which contains a large number of infectious bacteria. They can become pathogens.
  • Expectoration with blood. During development serious illnesses lungs there is a discharge of blood along with sputum. These symptoms require immediate consultation with a specialist;
  • Breathing problems. It is a sign of many lung diseases; shortness of breath can be caused by problems of the cardiovascular system. Careful diagnosis is required;
  • Pain in the chest area. Violation of the pleura is caused by pathology of the lungs in the sternum, a feeling of severe constriction appears.
  • It is worth noting that the symptoms of an infectious lung disease occur suddenly and almost immediately cause fever, such as high fever, cold tremors, and profuse sweating.

    Classification

    It is difficult to say what types of lung diseases there are. After all, there are a lot of them and they can affect different parts of the lungs and even other organs. The most common classification of lungs looks something like this:

    • diseases affecting the respiratory tract;
    • lung diseases affecting the alveoli;
    • diseases affecting the pleura;
    • diseases affecting the chest;
    • hereditary diseases;
    • bronchopulmonary diseases;
    • suppurative diseases;
    • lung malformations.

    Diseases affecting the respiratory tract

    The classification of diseases depends on many factors that directly affect the rapid development of the disease. Depending on the source of the lesion, the following respiratory diseases are distinguished:

    1. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In the acute course, an incessant chronic cough is observed, which is difficult to treat.

    Emphysema is a type of COPD that causes destruction and damage to lung tissue. There is a disturbance in oxygen metabolism, and the release of carbon dioxide increases in dangerous amounts.

    Characteristic symptoms include sudden weight loss, difficulty breathing, and redness of the skin.

  • Asphyxia. Occurs as a result of physical damage to an organ or respiratory tract, is accompanied by a sharp lack of oxygen and can threaten fatal.
  • Acute bronchitis. Damage to the bronchi when an infection or virus occurs. Characterized by severe cough with sputum, fever, chills. An improperly treated disease can easily develop into chronic bronchitis. In this case, the cough practically does not stop and occurs at the slightest weakening of the immune system.
  • Alveoli, the so-called air sacs, are the main functional segment of the lungs. When the alveoli are damaged, individual lung pathologies are classified:

    Pneumonia. The nature of the origin of the disease is infectious and causes pneumonia. The disease progresses rapidly, so initial symptoms require hospital treatment. Main symptoms:

    • chills;
    • a sharp increase in temperature;
    • cough;
    • labored breathing.

    Tuberculosis. Causes gradual damage to the lungs and, if untreated, leads to death. The causative agent is Koch's bacillus, which penetrates the body and, under favorable conditions, begins to develop rapidly. To prevent the disease, it is necessary to carry out annual examination. In the initial stages, the first signs of the disease are:

    • presence of low-grade fever;
    • persistent chronic cough.
  • Pulmonary edema. Fluid entering the lungs from blood vessels leads to inflammation and swelling of the organ. The disease is quite dangerous, so it is necessary to quickly carry out a diagnosis and a set of therapeutic measures for prevention.

    Lungs' cancer. Dangerous disease, which in the final stages leads to death. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that in the initial stages it is very difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a quick effective treatment. Indirect signs cancer may be:

    • coughing up blood;
    • severe shortness of breath;
    • low-grade fever;
    • sudden weight loss.
  • Silicosis. An occupational disease that occurs among workers in the heavy, chemical, and mining industries. The disease develops over several years, and final stages characterized by respiratory failure, persistent cough, fever.
  • Acute respiratory syndrome. A sharp destruction of organ tissue occurs and constant artificial ventilation lungs. It is very rare and practically untreatable.
  • Diseases affecting the pleura and chest

    The pleura is the thin sac that contains the lungs. When it is damaged, the following respiratory diseases occur:

    1. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura due to physical or infectious lesions of the outer layer of the lungs. The main symptoms are severe chest pain and irregular breathing.
    2. Pneumothorax. Air entering the pleural cavity, which can lead to lung collapse. Requires immediate hospitalization and proper treatment.

    Blood vessels are known to carry oxygen, and their disruption causes chest diseases:

    1. Pulmonary hypertension. Violation of pressure in the pulmonary arteries gradually leads to the destruction of the organ and the appearance of primary signs of the disease.
    2. Pulmonary embolism. Often occurs with vein thrombosis, when a blood clot enters the lungs and blocks the supply of oxygen to the heart. This disease is characterized by sudden bleeding in the brain and death.

    For constant pain in the chest, the following diseases are distinguished:

    1. Hypoventilation during overweight. Excess body weight puts direct pressure on the chest and can cause serious respiratory problems.
    2. Nervous stress. Damage to the nerve fibers in the lungs also leads to diseases that cause the destruction of this organ. An example of such a disease is myasthenia gravis.

    Hereditary and bronchopulmonary diseases

    Hereditary respiratory diseases are transmitted from parents to child and can have several types. Basic:

    1. Bronchial asthma. It is of an allergic nature, characterized by sudden spasms, breathing problems, and shortness of breath.
    2. Cystic fibrosis. Causes excessive mucus in the lungs, has a hereditary predisposition, systemically affects the endocrine glands.
    3. Primary dyskinesia. Congenital damage to the bronchi, which causes purulent bronchitis. Requires individual treatment.
    4. Fibrosis. Fibrous changes, respiratory failure, shortness of breath and other associated symptoms occur;
    5. Hemosiderosis. Occurs due to pulmonary hemorrhages and hemolysis of red blood cells

    The basis of diseases of the bronchopulmonary system is an acute respiratory infection. Most often, bronchopulmonary infectious diseases are characterized by mild malaise, gradually developing into an acute infection in both lungs.

    Bronchopulmonary inflammatory diseases are caused by viral microorganisms. They affect the respiratory system and mucous membranes. Improper treatment can lead to the development of complications and the occurrence of more dangerous bronchopulmonary diseases.

    The symptoms of a respiratory infection are very similar to the common cold, caused by viral bacteria. Infectious lung diseases develop very quickly and are of bacterial origin. These include:

    Infection in inflamed lungs develops rapidly. To avoid complications, a full range of treatment and prevention should be carried out.

    Chest conditions such as pneumothorax, asphyxia, and physical damage to the lungs cause severe pain and can cause breathing and lung problems. Here it is necessary to apply an individual treatment regimen, which has a sequence-related nature.

    Suppurative diseases

    Due to the increase in purulent diseases, the percentage of suppurative inflammations causing problems with damaged lungs has increased. Pulmonary purulent infection affects a significant part of the organ and can lead to serious complications. There are three main types of this pathology:

    1. Lung abscess. Formation of a purulent cavity in the lung tissue. It has acute and chronic forms. The main pathogen is hemolytic staphylococcus. The form of the disease is severe: high fever, pain in the affected part of the lung, purulent sputum, expectoration of blood. Treatment is carried out with lymphatic drainage and antibacterial therapy. The prognosis is positive, but if recovery does not occur within two months, then the disease becomes chronic;

    Gangrene of the lung. Significant spread of necrotic tissue without designated boundaries.

    The course of the disease is severe and, if not treated correctly, leads to death. There is a fever, an excessive increase in leukocytes in the blood, a dry and persistent cough, and severe pain at the site of the lesion. For a favorable prognosis, hospital treatment is required.

    Purulent pleurisy. Acute purulent inflammation pleural cavity. The disease progresses quickly, so treatment must be started immediately. The main method is to extract the pus and then use penicillin antibiotics. If detected early, the prognosis is satisfactory. Main features:

    Lung malformations

    Lung malformations include all irreversible changes in the structure of the lungs during the embryonic stage of development. The main malformations of the lungs:

    1. Aplasia is the absence of part of an organ.
    2. Agenesis is the complete absence of the respiratory system.
    3. Hypoplasia is a complete underdevelopment of the respiratory system.
    4. Tracheobronchomegaly is an excessive distance between the trachea and bronchi. Provokes the development of trocheic bronchitis.
    5. Tracheobronchomalacia is a disorder of the cartilaginous system of the bronchi and trachea, which leads to constant apnea.
    6. Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the trachea and bronchi. There is a complete disruption of the swallowing process. Such malformations of the lungs cause severe difficulties for human life.
    7. An additional lobe is the presence of excess lung tissue.
    8. Sequestration is the development of separate lung tissue, equipped with its own circulation. Against this background, atypical pneumonia develops.
    9. Azygos vein. The right side of the lung is divided by the azygos vein.

    It is worth noting that lung malformations can be easily noticed when ultrasound examination fetus and prevent the possibility of their development.

    But not all pathologies can be corrected, so constant monitoring is necessary and, if necessary, appropriate therapy is carried out.

    Diagnosis and preventive measures

    Definition accurate diagnosis is collateral Get well soon. During the initial examination, the pulmonologist must take into account everything external factors manifestations of respiratory diseases, patient complaints.

    Then draw up a preliminary list of tests and assign certain research methods, for example:

    • X-ray;
    • fluorography;
    • general blood analysis;
    • tomography;
    • bronchography;
    • testing for infections.

    After all the studies, the doctor must determine an individual treatment plan, necessary procedures and antibacterial therapy. It should be remembered that only strict adherence to all recommendations will lead to a quick recovery.

    Compliance with preventive measures for lung diseases significantly reduces the risk of their occurrence. To exclude respiratory diseases, you should follow simple rules:

    • maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
    • absence of bad habits;
    • moderate physical activity;
    • hardening of the body;
    • annual vacation on the seaside;
    • regular visits to a pulmonologist.

    Every person should know the manifestations of the above diseases in order to quickly identify the symptoms of an incipient respiratory disease, and then seek qualified help in time, because health is one of the most valuable attributes of life!

    Read better what Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation Victoria Dvornichenko says about this. For several years I suffered from feeling unwell- constant colds, problems with the throat and bronchi, headaches, weight problems, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, weakness, loss of strength, weakness and depression. Endless tests, visits to doctors, diets, pills did not solve my problems. The doctors no longer knew what to do with me. BUT thanks simple recipe, headaches, colds, gastrointestinal problems in the past, my weight has returned to normal and I feel HEALTHY, full of strength and energy. Now my attending physician is surprised how this is so. Here is a link to the article.

    What are the types of lung diseases: treatment and prevention

    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 a common occurrence in the modern world, perhaps this is caused by the unstable environmental situation on the planet or by modern people’s excessive passion for smoking. In any case, pathological phenomena in the lungs must be combated as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear.

    Variety of diseases

    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;
    • bronchospasm;
    • 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 - the 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 - has become very common 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 deservedly be called a modern plague, because every year this disease affects more and 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 to drugs on the body.

    Among the pulmonary diseases that 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 of the 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 rooms, then an occupational disease called silicosis may develop. Apnea syndrome is an unjustified 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. Typical symptoms include:

    • 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 in the chest;
    • frequent shortness of breath;
    • chest pain.

    Treatment regimens for lung disease itself and its symptoms are selected only by a qualified doctor based on examinations and test 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 painkillers and antispasms are prescribed to reduce pain. 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 avoid breathing chemical fumes that may come from powders and cleaning products. By following these 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.

    Lung diseases in humans: list, causes, symptoms and treatment methods

    Lesions of the human pulmonary system go far beyond the limited spectrum that is considered critical. So, many people know what pneumonia or tuberculosis is, but they may hear about such a deadly disease as pneumothorax for the first time in the doctor’s office.

    Each section of the respiratory apparatus, and in particular the lungs, is important for its irreplaceable functionality, and the loss of one of the functions is an irreparable disruption in the operation of the entire complex mechanism.

    How do lung diseases occur?

    In the modern world, it is customary to open the list of lung diseases in humans with a long list of vices acquired due to poor environmental conditions. However, it would be more appropriate to place congenital pathologies in first place among the causes. The most serious illnesses lungs belong specifically to the category of developmental anomalies:

    • cystic formations;
    • additional pulmonary lobe;
    • "mirror lung"

    Next in line are diseases not related to the patient’s living conditions. These are genetic lesions, that is, inherited. Distorted chromosomal code becomes a frequent culprit of such anomalies. An example of such a congenital anlage is considered to be a pulmonary hamartoma, the causes of which are still the subject of debate. Although one of the leading reasons is still called the weak immune defense that is formed in the child in the womb.

    Further, the list of lung diseases in humans continues the list of acquired disorders formed by penetration into the body pathogenic microflora. First of all, the bronchi and trachea suffer from the activity of the bacterial culture. Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) develops against the background of a viral infection.

    And the list of lung diseases in humans is completed by pathologies provoked by environmental conditions, environmental conditions or the patient’s lifestyle.

    Lung diseases affecting the pleura

    The paired organs, the lungs, are enclosed in a transparent membrane called the pleura. A special pleural fluid is placed between the layers of the pleura to facilitate the contractile movements of the lungs. There are a number of diseases that disrupt the distribution of lubricant in the pleural plane or are responsible for the entry of air into a sealed cavity:

    1. Pneumothorax is a life-threatening disease, since the air leaving the lungs fills the voids in the chest and begins to compress the organs, limiting their contractility.
    2. Pleural effusion, or otherwise - the formation of fluid filling between chest wall and lungs, prevents the full expansion of the organ.
    3. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, often a late consequence of frequent contact of the respiratory system with asbestos dust.

    Below we will consider one of the most common diseases of the pleura - pulmonary pleurisy. The symptoms and treatment of this pathology depend on the form in which it develops.

    Pleurisy of the lungs

    Factors provoking pleural inflammation are any conditions that contribute to incorrect functioning of the lungs. These may be protracted illnesses that cannot be treated or have not been treated:

    Sometimes pleurisy develops as a result of a heart attack or severe physical trauma to the sternum, especially if the patient has had a rib fracture. A special place is given to pleurisy that develops against the background of tumors.

    Varieties of pleurisy determine two directions of development of pathology: exudative and dry. The first is characterized by a painless course, since pleural cavity filled with moisture, which conceals inconvenience. The only sign of illness will be pressure in the sternum, the inability to take a full breath without a feeling of tightness.

    Dry pleurisy causes chest pain when inhaling or coughing. Sometimes discomfort and painful sensations transferred to the back and shoulders. The difference in the symptoms of two types of one disease is expressed by the presence or absence (as in this case) of liquid filling in the voids of the pleura. Moisture does not allow the sheets of the shell to rub together and cause pain, while a small amount of it is not able to form a sufficient barrier from friction.

    As soon as the symptoms of pulmonary pleurisy are identified and the treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed, they begin to relieve the alarming consequences. So, to pump out excess fluid, which creates pressure on the organs and prevents full breathing, a puncture is used. The procedure has a double meaning - it restores the ability of the lungs to contract normally and provides material for laboratory analysis.

    Lung diseases affecting the airways

    Respiratory tract damage is diagnosed based on several indicators:

    1. Shortness of breath, shortness of breath, or shallow, shallow breathing. In advanced forms of the disease, acute asphyxia is observed. All types of disorders in the functioning of the respiratory system are characterized by a disruption of the respiratory rhythm, which manifests itself in a painless or painful form.
    2. Cough – wet or dry, with or without blood in the sputum. Based on its nature and the time of day when it manifests itself most strongly, the doctor can make a preliminary decision on the diagnosis, having only a package of primary studies.
    3. Pain, varying in localization. When visiting a doctor for the first time, it is important to correctly assess the pain sensations that arise as sharp, pulling, pressing, sudden, etc.

    The list of lung diseases in humans that reflect these symptoms includes:

    1. All types of asthma - allergic, nervous, hereditary, caused by toxic poisoning.
    2. COPD is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that underlies such pathologies as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory failure. COPD is, in turn, divided into chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
    3. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary abnormality that prevents the regular removal of mucus from the bronchi.

    Let us consider below the last disease on the list as the least known of those listed.

    Cystic fibrosis of the lungs

    Manifestations cystic fibrosis noticeable in the first year of a child’s life. Expressive signs are a cough with heavy, thick, stringy mucus, lack of air (shortness of breath) with little physical effort, inability to digest fats and lag in height and weight relative to the norm.

    The origin of cystic fibrosis is blamed on a distortion of the seventh chromosome, and the hereditary transmission of the damaged gene is due to a high percentage (25%) when the pathology is diagnosed in two parents at once.

    Treatment often involves removing acute symptoms course of antibiotics and replenishment of the enzyme composition of the pancreas. And measures to increase bronchial patency depend on the severity of the patient’s condition.

    Lung diseases affecting the alveoli

    The bulk of the lungs are made up of alveoli - saturated with air voluminous bags covered by a dense capillary network. Cases of fatal lung diseases in humans are usually associated with damage to the alveoli.

    Among these diseases are:

    • pneumonia (pneumonia) as a result of bacterial infection;
    • tuberculosis;
    • pulmonary edema caused by direct physical damage to the lung tissue or disruption of the myocardium;
    • a tumor localized in any segment of the respiratory organ;
    • pneumoconiosis, classified as an “occupational” disease and developing from irritation of the lungs by dust elements of cement, coal, asbestos, ammonia, etc.

    Pneumonia is the most common lung disease.

    Pneumonia

    The main symptom of pneumonia in adults and children is a cough - dry or wet, as well as an increase in temperature in the range of 37.2° - 37.5° (with focal inflammation) and up to 39 ° C with a standard clinic.

    The influence of pathogenic bacteria is called the main cause of pneumonia. A smaller percentage is attributed to the action of viruses and only 1-3% is attributed to fungal infections.

    Infection with infectious agents occurs through airborne droplets or by transfer of the agent from the affected organ. The second situation often occurs with advanced caries.

    Hospitalization for severe symptoms of pneumonia in adults occurs in severe cases; in milder forms of inflammation, the patient is prescribed home treatment with bed rest. The only effective method against pneumonia is broad-spectrum antibiotics. If the patient’s body does not have a positive reaction to the chosen remedy after three days, the doctor selects an antibiotic of a different group

    Interstitial lung diseases

    The interstitium is a kind of frame that supports the alveoli with almost invisible but durable tissue. During various inflammatory processes in the lungs, the interstitium thickens and becomes visible during hardware examination. Damage to the connective membrane is caused by various factors and can be of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin. Exposure to non-removable dust elements and medications cannot be ruled out.

    Alveolitis

    Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis is a progressive disease affecting the alveoli through damage to the interstitium. The symptoms of diseases in this group are not always clear, as is the nature of the pathology. The patient suffers from shortness of breath and dry painful cough, then difficulties with breathing lead to the fact that the person becomes unable to perform the simplest physical efforts, such as climbing to the second floor. Treatment of idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis, up to complete reversibility of the disease, is possible in the first three months after the first signs appear and involves the use of glucocorticoids (drugs that relieve inflammation).

    Chronic nonspecific lung diseases

    This group includes various lesions respiratory organs of an acute and chronic nature, characterized by similar clinical manifestations.

    The leading factor in nonspecific lung diseases is called negative conditions external environment, which includes human inhalation of harmful substances from chemical production or nicotine tar when smoking.

    Statistics distribute the ratio of cases of COPD between two main diseases - chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma - and attribute the percentage balance (about 5%) to other types of respiratory tract damage. In the absence of proper treatment, nonspecific pulmonary diseases progress to tuberculosis, cancer, pneumosclerosis, and chronic pneumonia.

    There is no general systemic therapy for the treatment of COPD. Treatment is carried out based on the diagnostic results and involves the use of:

    • antimicrobial agents;
    • UV and microwave;
    • bronchodilators;
    • immunomodulators;
    • glucocorticosteroids.

    In some cases, for example, when acute and chronic lung abscess has developed, a decision is made to remove a section of the affected organ in order to stop further spread of the disease.

    Prevention of lung diseases

    The basis of measures to prevent the development of pulmonary diseases is an accessible diagnostic procedure - a fluorogram, which must be taken every year. It is equally important to monitor the health of the oral cavity and urinary system, as areas where infections are most often localized.

    Any cough, difficulty breathing or a sharp increase in fatigue should be a reason to contact a therapist, and pain in the sternum, in combination with any of specified symptoms, is a good reason to make an appointment with a pulmonologist.

    One of the most serious global health problems today. The success of their treatment depends on timely and correct diagnosis, as well as the correct selection of methods to combat these diseases. If you try to compile a complete list of all lung diseases, in total it will include more than forty names of ailments of various natures, including: bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, cancer, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary vascular diseases, tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis, etc.

    Having made a conditional generalization, the entire list of lung diseases can be conditionally divided according to the specifics of their occurrence into:

    • acute respiratory diseases of the lungs caused by infection;
    • lung diseases that were provoked by certain external agents;
    • chronic lung diseases COPD.

    The main task of the lungs is to provide the body with oxygen. In addition, they also perform an excretory function, excessive overload of which leads to most diseases. In addition, a malfunction in the functioning of other organs and systems of the body can also become one of the causes of some diseases from the list of lung diseases. It is safe to say that the leading place among all the items on this list is occupied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or, for short, COPD. It accounts for more than 50% of the total number of respiratory tract diseases.

    COPD is a lung disease with a medical history characterized by partially irreversible restriction of air flow in the respiratory tract. Ultimately, this can lead not only to a decrease in a person’s ability to work, but also, in the worst case, to disability. A lung disease like COPD has a fast flow. This is especially facilitated by the presence of other diseases of the respiratory and cardiac systems. Therefore, it is very important to identify the disease in time and take the necessary measures.

    Causes of Lung Diseases

    Environmentally unfavorable conditions, work in hazardous industries and, above all, smoking are the causes of the development of lung disease (COPD) after all, it is smoke, penetrating the body through inhalation, that irreversibly damages the bronchi and pulmonary alveoli, causing negative changes in the respiratory system. Many people mistakenly believe that only cigarettes are a threat. Along with them, the cause of the development of chronic pulmonary diseases and COPD may include hookahs, pipes and smoking mixtures. And, although the disease does not manifest itself at the initial stages, after 7-10 years it will definitely make itself felt not only with shortness of breath and wheezing in the chest, but also chronic bronchitis, and perhaps even cancer.

    For medical history COPD that affects every 5 smokers is characterized by a progressive nature. The only test for diagnosis COPD is spirometry - analysis of the air exhaled by a patient using a special device to determine the nature of the symptoms of the disease.

    Inflammatory Lung Diseases

    Pneumonia. The most common inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract is pneumonia. This disease is also called pneumonia. Unlike viral diseases of the respiratory system, pneumonia is bacterial in nature, which makes its course more severe and requires treatment with antibiotics. Often the disease occurs with pronounced intoxication: a sharp increase in temperature to 37.5-39C, wheezing in the lungs, sore throat, chills. The picture of the medical history of such a lung disease as pneumonia looks quite optimistic if the disease is detected in time using blood and sputum tests. After the first days of taking antibiotics, the patient experiences positive dynamics: the temperature decreases and the general physical condition improves. However, weakness can persist for up to 2 weeks after complete recovery from pneumonia.

    It should be noted that the most important thing in the process of treating pneumonia is the correct selection of antibiotics. The fact is that some bacteria may be resistant to the components of a particular drug, and, accordingly, a positive effect from its use will not follow. In order to identify the causative agent of an inflammatory lung disease such as pneumonia, an appropriate blood test is performed.

    Antibiotics are serious medications for fighting bacterial infections. Their use may lead to disruption of the body's microflora, therefore independent use Taking these medications for lung disease, in particular pneumonia, without prior consultation with a specialist who will tell you which specific group of antibiotics the patient should take is extremely undesirable.

    remember, that pneumonia is a serious lung disease, complications of which can lead to death, therefore, when the first symptoms are detected, you must consult a doctor who will prescribe an individual drug suitable for treatment.

    Prevention of Lung Diseases

    Do not forget about the other mandatory comprehensive methods of combating infectious diseases lungs, in particular pneumonia, namely: drinking plenty of fluids, taking antihistamines and expectorants; eating vitamins; ventilation and wet cleaning of the room in which the patient is located.

    An important role in the fight cancer, COPD, inflammatory lung diseases prevention plays a role, which, first of all, should consist of eliminating risk factors. You should avoid contact with sick people, strengthen your respiratory system by spending more time in the fresh air and playing sports, stop smoking and remember that preventing a disease is always much easier than curing it.

    In a person. The list of them is quite long, but the frequency of occurrence and the danger to life of the diseases are not the same. At the same time, every competent person who treats himself with care should be aware of all possible ailments and their manifestations. After all, as you know, early access to a doctor greatly increases the chances of a successful outcome of treatment.

    The most common lung diseases in humans: list, symptoms, prognosis

    People often confuse common diseases of the respiratory system with those that are specific to the lungs. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this if the patient does not try to cure himself, but clarifies the diagnosis with a doctor who can accurately determine the type of lung disease in a person. The list of the most “popular” of them includes:

    1. Pleurisy. Most often caused by a viral infection. One of the few pulmonary diseases accompanied by pain. As you know, there are no nerve endings in the lungs themselves, and they cannot hurt. Unpleasant sensations are caused by friction of the pleura. In mild forms, pleurisy goes away on its own, but it doesn’t hurt to see a doctor.
    2. Pneumonia. It often begins as pleurisy, but is much more dangerous. A deep cough is very painful. Treatment must be professional, otherwise it will be fatal.
    3. Signs: shortness of breath, chest swelling, box sounds, weak breathing. Primary is eliminated by breathing exercises and oxygen therapy. Secondary requires long-term medical or even surgical intervention.
    4. Tuberculosis. Everything is clear here: only medical supervision, long-term treatment and antibiotics.
    5. Tumors, including the second disease, accompanied by pain. Forecasts are usually pessimistic.

    If we talk about lung diseases in humans, the list, of course, is not limited to this list. However, the rest are much rarer and often difficult to diagnose.

    What do we pay attention to?

    There are a number of signs that appear in almost any lung disease in humans. The list of symptoms can be presented as follows:

    1. Cough. Depending on the disease, it can be either dry or wet, painless or accompanied by pain.
    2. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth.
    3. Snoring - if you haven't suffered from it before.
    4. Shortness of breath, difficulty or shallow breathing, in some cases - suffocation. Any changes in the rhythm or depth of breathing are a signal to immediately visit the clinic.
    5. Chest pain is usually caused by heart problems. But pulmonary diseases can also cause it in the above cases.
    6. Lack of oxygen, up to pale and blue skin, fainting and convulsions.

    All these signs strongly suggest that a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed. He will make a diagnosis after listening, additional tests, and maybe an x-ray.

    Rare but dangerous

    A few words should be said about such a human lung disease as pneumothorax. Even experienced doctors often forget about it, but it can manifest itself even in a completely healthy and young person. Pneumothorax is caused by the rupture of a small bubble in the lungs, which leads to their collapse, that is, deairing. Manifested by shortness of breath and severe pain; if urgent measures are not taken, it leads to the adhesion of part of the lung, and often death.

    Pneumothorax is more often observed in patients with emphysema, but can also occur in a person who has never suffered from pulmonary diseases.

    Specific diseases

    Some are caused by a person's chosen profession. Thus, chronic pulmonary obstruction or silicosis is typical for workers in the chemical industry, and pulmonary barotrauma is typical for divers. However, people are usually warned about the possibility of such diseases, pay enough attention to prevention and undergo regular medical examinations.

    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 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 necessary treatment. 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, and bacterial infection are eliminated with antibiotics.
    Bronchial asthma The occurrence of an inflammatory reaction in the 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 of 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. Each human lung contains a little more than 300 million alveoli, but failure of even a small part will certainly affect the functioning of the entire body.

    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 concerned about 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 surgical removal. Radiation and chemotherapy are then used.

    This group of diseases is associated with human professional activity 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 forms, 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; throughout the course of the disease there is a slight fever, weakness, and 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

    If you are overweight, the breathing process is difficult, which over time can cause respiratory failure. Various inflammatory diseases of the 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 a large amount of fluid.

    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 with the correct work and rest regime 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 of respiratory infections;
    • treatment of chronic diseases;
    • strengthening the immune system, playing sports, hardening;
    • scheduled fluorography.


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