Download Lung Diseases - Patient Education Institute

Lung Diseases
Introduction
When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the
bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. People with lung
disease have difficulty breathing. The term lung disease refers to many disorders
affecting the lungs. Some lung diseases can lead to respiratory failure.
This reference summary explains lung diseases. It
covers the general symptoms of lung diseases. It also
covers common lung diseases and their treatments.
The Lungs
The lungs allow us to fill our blood with oxygen. The
oxygen we breathe is absorbed into our blood through
tissue in the lungs. When we breathe in, the air goes
through our mouth and our nose. From there it goes to
the throat, also known as pharynx. The air then goes
into the windpipe, also known as the larynx and
trachea. The windpipe leads to the lungs. From the
windpipe, air goes into a number of increasingly
smaller tubes called bronchial tubes.
Small balloon-like sacs called alveoli are at the end of the bronchial tubes. Oxygen
goes from the air into the blood through the alveoli. At the same time, carbon dioxide
leaves the blood through the alveoli and goes into the lungs where it is breathed out.
The inner lining of the bronchial tubes make mucus. Mucus helps trap dirt from the air.
Small brushes called cilia protect the respiratory tract. The cilia constantly push the
mucus out of the lungs automatically. If there is too much mucus, it can be coughed
out.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
1
General Symptoms
Different lung diseases share many of the same symptoms. The main symptom of a
lung disease is difficulty breathing.
Other common symptoms of lung diseases are:
• A cough that gets worse or does not go away.
• A tight feeling in the chest.
• Pain when you breathe in and out.
• Unintended weight loss.
• Repeated lung infections.
• Shortness of breath or wheezing.
Some lung diseases may also cause:
• Fever.
• Hoarseness.
• Sore throat or runny nose.
• Swelling in the face or neck.
• Weakness.
Other symptoms may include:
• Coughing up blood.
• Night sweats.
• Thick sputum.
Contact your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms or other changes.
Only your health care provider can tell what is causing your symptoms.
Asthma
Asthma is a common disease that affects the tubes that carry air in and out of the
lungs. Patients with asthma are sensitive to certain materials that cause an
inflammation or swelling of the inner lining of the lungs. This swelling can cause the air
passages to narrow. When an asthma attack happens, the lining of the lungs quickly
becomes swollen. The air passages fill up with thick mucus. The muscles around the
bronchial tubes tighten. This greatly decreases the airflow in the lungs and can be life
threatening.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
2
Some triggers of an asthma attack may include:
• Allergic substances, such as animal hair,
pollen or mold.
• Extreme conditions, such as very cold or very
hot weather.
• Particles in the air from pollution.
• Smoking and secondhand smoke.
Treatment for asthma may include avoiding triggers.
You can avoid triggers by:
• Bathing pets once a week.
• Getting rid of household items that may
accumulate dust, such as thick carpets or
blinds.
• Using air conditioning.
You should also avoid smoking and secondhand
smoke.
Medicines are used for the treatment of asthma and prevention of asthma attacks.
Medicines can decrease the inflammation of the bronchial tubes and decrease the
sensitivity of the lungs to allergens. Some of these medicines act quickly and are
inhaled. Others act over longer periods of time and are usually taken by mouth.
COPD
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It makes
breathing difficult and gets worse over time.
In COPD, less air flows in and out of the airways. This may
happen when:
• The airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.
• The airways make more mucus than usual, which can clog
them.
• The walls between air sacs are destroyed.
• The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
3
Smoking, irritants and lung infections can cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes,
the alveoli and most of the cells lining the inside of the lungs. Preventing COPD is
better than having to treat it. Avoiding smoking and the smoke from others is essential
in preventing the lung damage associated with these diseases. Avoiding other irritants
and pollution is also important.
To decrease the symptoms of COPD, health care
providers may recommend that you use:
• A humidifier.
• Chest physical therapy to improve coughing.
• Supplemental oxygen.
• Bronchodilators, medicines that open up the
bronchioles.
• Steroid medications to treat inflammation.
• Antibiotics to fight infections.
Infections
Many different infections can affect the lungs. These include:
• Influenza.
• Pneumonia.
• Tuberculosis.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by the
influenza virus. Flu viruses attack the nose, throat and lungs in humans. They spread
easily from person to person.
Infection with influenza viruses can result in severe illness and life threatening
complications. But most people recover within one or two weeks by:
• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Getting rest.
To avoid spreading the disease to others:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home and avoid contact with other people.
• Wash your hands frequently.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
4
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung. When a person has pneumonia, lung tissue
can fill with pus and other fluids. This makes it hard for oxygen to reach the
bloodstream. With pneumonia, a person develops a cough and fever and it might be
hard to breathe. There are more than 50 kinds of pneumonia. Bacteria cause bacterial
pneumonias. Viruses cause viral pneumonias. Fungi and other organisms can cause
other types of infectious pneumonia.
Antibiotics may be used to treat some types of
pneumonia, such as bacterial pneumonia. There are also
antiviral medicines that can reduce the severity of certain
viral infections. With treatment, most types of pneumonia
are cured in 1 to 2 weeks. Some people with severe
pneumonia may need to be hospitalized to get better.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infection that causes
more deaths in the world than any other infectious
disease. It spreads from person to person through air as
a person with active TB coughs, sneezes or expels air.
When treated, TB can be cured in 90% of all cases. The
treatment consists of taking medicine for a period of
months. People who have been treated for at least two
weeks are usually not contagious anymore.
Cancer
The body is made up of small cells. Normal cells in the body grow and die in a
controlled way. Sometimes cells keep dividing and growing in an uncontrolled way.
This causes an abnormal growth called a tumor. If the tumor invades nearby tissues
and body parts, it is called a malignant tumor, or cancer. Cancer cells spread to
different parts of the body through blood vessels and lymph channels. Cancers in the
body are given names, depending on where the cancer started. Cancer that begins in
the lungs will always be called lung cancer, even if it spreads to other places.
Cancer tends to run in families, so people with close relatives that have cancer should
be examined regularly for any sign of it. Experts also agree that smoking tobacco,
chewing tobacco and being exposed to tobacco smoke can all lead to lung cancer.
Exposure to chemicals or other factors in the environment, like pollution or asbestos,
might increase cancer risk, too. Asbestos is a material that can be found in insulation,
fireproofing and building materials.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
5
Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type of lung cancer and its stage. People
with lung cancer may have:
• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• Targeted therapy.
A combination of treatments may also be
used.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer
cells. Chemotherapy may be given in the
bloodstream through an IV or taken by
mouth. It can also be placed in a specific
area of the body. Radiation therapy uses
high-energy x-rays or other types of
radiation to kill cancer cells. External radiation uses a machine outside the body to
send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation places items containing small
amounts of radiation into or near the cancer. Targeted therapy uses drugs to block the
growth and the spread of cancer cells in the body. The drugs target certain types of
cells.
Summary
When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the
bloodstream. The cells in your body need
oxygen to work and grow. People with lung
disease have difficulty breathing. Some lung
diseases can lead to respiratory failure.
Common lung diseases include:
• Asthma.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
or COPD.
• Infections, including influenza,
pneumonia and tuberculosis.
• Cancer
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
6
Treatments for lung diseases may include:
• Chest physical therapy.
• Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding irritants and quitting
smoking.
• Medicines.
• Rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
For cancer, treatment may also involve surgery, chemotherapy,
radiation therapy or targeted therapy. A combination of these
treatments may be used. Contact your health care provider if
you have any symptoms of lung diseases. Only your health care
provider can tell what is causing your symptoms.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2017, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 02/25/2017
pmf30101
7