Chronic Lung Problems

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Chronic lung problems are of three types which are interstitial lung problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary problems and non-tuburculous mycobacterium problems (NTM). These problems must be treated properly and on time otherwise they can put your life at risk. Following the doctor’s advice and maintaining a healthy diet is a good way to prevent this problem.

Symptoms

Chronic Lung Problems

The symptoms of such lung problems depend on the type of problems. Common signs can be cold, wet cough, constant cough, coughing blood, chronic cough, cough or severe cough. These signs can affect both or any one lung.

Causes

Chronic lung problems are more common in newborns who get lung injury and have to use ventilator and extra oxygen to breathe. Due to the injury, the tissues inside the lungs get swollen and break down causing scarring.

Different Chronic Lung Problems

  1. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Problems

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Problems (COPD), also called chronic obstructive lung problems is due to noxious particles or gas of tobacco smoking that result into abnormal swelling in lungs. This swelling affects the airways called chronic bronchitis which occurs when people cough up sputum. The inflammatory response results in the destructions of lung tissues. This problem is characterized by the sudden swelling and worsening symptoms called acute exacerbations which are caused due to air pollution.

  2. Breathing Problem

    Problem of breathing is the sensation of difficulty to breathe or not getting enough air. Usually, breathing problem is the result due to medical condition where age is not the issue. Medical cases can be pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary problems, heart failure, cancer and neurological disorders.

Causes of Breathing Problem

  1. Air passage gets blocked in the mouth, nose or throat, leading to difficulty in breathing.
  2. Heart problems where heart fails to pump enough blood for supplying oxygen to the body.
  3. Sometimes, emotional distress like anxiety leading to difficulty in breathing

Breathing Problems Related to Lungs can be:

  • Bronchitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Blood clot in the arteries of the lungs
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Problems
  • Asthma
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Airways problems leading to the lungs
  • Croup
  • Choking on something
  • Epiglottises

Chronic Lung Problems

Another chronic lung problem is chronic bronchitis that causes the passages of respiratory system to get inflamed and irritated, causing damage to the lungs and producing more mucus. The symptoms of this problem can be difficulty in breathing and cough and keeping it untreated can make it more injurious. Chronic bronchitis is the mucus reproduction for at least three months in two years where other causes are excluded. During such illness treatment, you should maintain a positive attitude. Though the condition is not curable, it can definitely be improved. The only difference between asthma and COPD is that the obstruction of airways in asthma is reversible while in COPD it is not possible.

Causes of Chronic Lung Problems

One of the vital causes of this problem rather any other problem is smoking which is any how injurious to health. Other things that can cause this problem are air pollution or any kind of allergy. The problems seriousness depends on how far the person has been smoking.

Emphysema

In this type of lung problems, walls of the air sacs get damaged in the lungs making it unable to transfer the oxygen in the bloodstream for body nourishment. Due to this, the lungs lose their capability to produce breath shortness during the activity performed. Air sacs are like the balloons which get inflated and deflated most of the times. This makes them loose their elasticity which results to the stale air getting stuck up in the lungs. Due to this, the lungs expand and decrease their functions.

Treatment of Chronic Lung Problems

To make for the shortness of the breathing ability of damaged lungs, extra oxygen with the pulse oximetry is used to measure the oxygen present in the blood.

  1. Surfactant replacement
  2. Mechanical ventilation
  3. Medicines like:
    • Antibiotics (to fight an infection)
    • Bronchodilators (to help open the airways)
    • Diuretics (to help reduce excess fluid in the lungs)
    • Steroids (to help reduce inflammation)

Chronic lung problems can be very risky for life; treating such illness is a must to avoid further complications.