Various lung diseases

The lungs are vital organs in the human respiratory system. When there is a disturbance in the lungs, you can experience symptoms, such as shortness of breath, persistent coughing, or shortness of breath accompanied by wheezing. A wide variety of diseases can cause lung problems, with different symptoms and severity. In order to anticipate the dangers, see more fully in the following review.

Various diseases that attack the lungs

The lungs function to regulate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. When you breathe in, the oxygen that is inhaled from outside will enter the lungs and circulate into the blood.

At the same time, carbon dioxide that is in the blood will enter the lungs to be expelled when you exhale into the air. The existence of problems or pain in the lungs can affect the continuity of this air exchange process.

In fact, there are many diseases that can cause lung problems. The following are some of the conditions and diseases in the lungs, ranging from the most common to those causing serious symptoms.

1. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder caused by narrowing of the airways due to inflammation. This narrowing of the airways can affect the work of the lungs, especially hindering the process of air exchange.

The condition of the narrowing of the airways is what causes the characteristic symptoms of asthma, namely wheezing (wheezing) giggled).

On relapse, some people may feel lung pain especially on the left, but it can also be on both sides. Other symptoms include shortness of breath and coughing.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the main cause of this lung disease is not certain. Asthma does not go away completely and can recur due to trigger factors, such as cold air, which can also worsen symptoms.

Fortunately, you can control the recurrence of symptoms with asthma medication and avoid triggers.

2. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common infectious disease of the respiratory system. Some people also refer to it as wet lungs. The cause of pneumonia is a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that attacks the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

Infection in the alveoli causes inflammation, so that the lungs are submerged by fluid and cause some cells to die as a result of the damage caused by the infection. This condition will make it difficult for oxygen in the lungs to flow into the blood vessels. As a result, sufferers will experience symptoms such as persistent cough and shortness of breath.

People who have lung disease due to pneumonia can catch the disease when they cough, sneeze or touch surfaces with hands that are contaminated with the virus.

3. Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a lung disease that occurs due to inflammation in the bronchi, which are the branches of the airways leading to the lungs. The main causes of bronchitis are viral infections and irritation of cigarette smoke.

Infection of the bronchi will cause inflammation so that the inhaled oxygen is blocked from entering the lungs. People who have lung disease due to bronchitis will also experience a prolonged cough with phlegm. The phlegm due to bronchitis is usually thick and colorless.

This disease can be acute with the condition that continues to improve after 10 days without leaving significant damage to the lungs. However, bronchitis can also be chronic and lead to conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

4. COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung disease that develops progressively. The symptoms will get worse with time. The American Lung Association explains that this disease includes two conditions, namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

If bronchitis attacks the lung branches, namely the bronchi, emphysema attacks the air sacs in the lungs, aka the alveoli. Both of these conditions can clog the airways in the lungs so that it is very difficult for the sufferer to breathe.

Symptoms of this disease will develop gradually, characterized by a persistent cough and shortness of breath that often appears, especially when doing activities.

Some of the main causes of lung disease are smoking, exposure to chemicals that irritate the lungs such as pollution from industrial waste, and genetic factors that cause the body to not produce Alpha-1 protein. This protein is useful for protecting the lungs.

5.Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is also a common lung disease. Transmission occurs through the air and drooling. However, TB transmission can occur from close contact and regular interaction with sufferers.

This disease is caused by a bacterial infection Mycobacterium tuberculosis which attacks the lungs. Bacteria can stay in the body, but are not actively infecting or what is known as latent TB. When actively infecting (active TB), the bacteria will cause symptoms such as a chronic cough.

Although bacteria initially cause infections in the lungs, they can also spread to various organs of the body, such as the lymph nodes, bones, and cause complications.

Therefore, it is important that you undergo regular tuberculosis treatment. The reason is, the risk of resistance to antibiotics can occur if you do not take medication as directed by your doctor.

6. Pleural effusion

The term wet lung is often used in pneumonia, but there are also other disorders that can indicate the same condition, namely pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion occurs when there is a buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity that is located between the lungs and the chest wall. This condition can occur due to certain health problems such as heart failure, lung infections, cancer, or pancreatitis.

In the pleura, there is normally fluid that can help the movement of the lungs in the process of breathing. However, excess fluid in the lungs can actually make it difficult for a person to breathe.

In addition to pain in the lungs, this condition can cause the sufferer to have difficulty breathing, coughing, fever, and have low levels of oxygen in the blood.

7. Pleuritis

Pleuritis is inflammation that attacks the pleura, which is the membrane that separates the sides of the lungs and the chest wall.

Inflammation of the pleura can be caused by a bacterial infection that attacks the airway, tumors, broken ribs, lung cancer, injuries to the chest, to lupus. Inflammation of the lining of the lungs can cause chest pain when breathing along with symptoms of cough and fever.

However, the pain in the lungs can get worse and spread to the upper body, affecting the shoulders and back.

Pulmonary disorders such as pleural effusions can also arise due to inflamed pleura. In addition, dangerous complications run the risk of causing the lungs to become compressed by fluid and pus and cause respiratory failure.

If inflammation attacks the left lung, you can feel a sharp pain in the lung or left chest.

8. Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is when one of the arteries in the lung becomes blocked by a blood clot. The cause of this lung disease is the presence of clots in the blood vessels that flow from the legs to the lungs.

As a result, this clot blocks the flow of blood to the lungs. Pulmonary embolism can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and coughing up blood.

Generally, this lung disease is experienced by the elderly (over 70 years old) and people who are obese. This condition that causes blockage of the blood vessels to the lungs can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

You need to seek immediate medical attention if you experience unbearable chest pain and other symptoms of pulmonary embolism.

9. Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a condition that occurs when air leaks from the lungs and enters between the lungs and the chest wall. The air that leaks can exert pressure and damage the lungs.

These health problems can occur suddenly in healthy people and people who have complications of lung disease. Other causes of this disease are lung cancer, COPD, chest injuries, and chest or stomach surgery.

Pneumothorax actually indicates that the lungs cannot function optimally in circulating air. Therefore, this condition usually causes symptoms, such as chest pain, respiratory failure, and heart failure.

10. Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation is a condition when carbon dioxide levels in the body are drastically reduced. This condition usually occurs when a person experiences a panic attack (panic attack).

This condition greatly affects the work of the lungs, characterized by changes in the phase of breathing such as breathing too quickly and pain in the chest.

The amount of carbon dioxide that is wasted triggers narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. As a result, you will feel dizzy, have headaches, difficulty concentrating, numbness and tingling in your fingers, until you lose consciousness or faint.

Other causes that can trigger hyperventilation are excessive fear or phobia, stress, side effects of drugs, pregnancy, and infections in the lungs.

Panic attacks can come repeatedly, but you can overcome them by doing deep breathing techniques, managing stress, and if necessary antidepressant medication is taken under the supervision of a doctor.

11. Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a dangerous lung disease. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer, namely left lung pain or chest pain, persistent cough, wheezing, coughing up blood, hoarseness, to inflammation in the lungs.

However, the severity of symptoms can differ depending on the stage or stage of cancer cell development.

Everyone is at risk of developing lung cancer, but active and passive smokers have a higher risk. In addition, this disease can not only attack the lungs, but also spread to other parts of the body.

12. Costochondritis

Costochondritis occurs when the cartilage in the ribs becomes inflamed, causing pain. Left lung pain can be a symptom if the inflamed bone is in the left chest.

This pain does not only occur in the chest but also spreads to the back. Costochondritis is not life threatening, but the pain can be bothersome. This condition occurs due to lifting weights too heavy.

There are various diseases that can cause lung problems. Despite having similar symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath, each disease can have a different symptom severity.

Each of these diseases needs to be anticipated, but you need to be aware of diseases that have a serious impact such as damage to the lungs. If you experience respiratory problems that don't go away, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.