Features of bronchial diseases

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 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. 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 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 different 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, and 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 a 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 of illness is a salty taste to the skin.

A prolonged, constant cough, breathing with a sound like a whistle, acute pain during inspiration are the 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, and a dry sound like a cracking sound comes out of his lungs when breathing, you should definitely do fluorography and consult 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 were 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 are assessed. 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 can be fatal. 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 human daily life. Most of the classified diseases 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 diseases.

Types of lung diseases

Lung diseases that fall under the purview of pulmonology can be sorted according to the signs with which they manifest themselves in the patient. The first type is obstructive pulmonary diseases, the second is restrictive diseases. In the first case, the patient experiences difficulty exhaling air from the lungs, and with a restrictive disease, on the contrary, difficulty arises when inhaling - the patient is unable to fill the entire possible volume of the lungs with air.

Obstructive pulmonary diseases

As we have already understood, during an obstructive disease the patient experiences difficulty in exhaling air. This may be due to lung damage or narrowing of the airways. Thus, with obstructive disease, during exhalation, air leaves the lungs more slowly than it would in a healthy person. The problem arises when the process of exhaling air is completed - a large amount of air remains in the lungs that did not have time to escape.

Most often, the disease manifests itself during physical activity, since along with an increase in respiratory rate, the time that the patient can spend exhaling decreases. With each subsequent inhalation of air, more and more air accumulates in the lungs, and less and less is exhaled.

The most common obstructive diseases:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic obstructive bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Bronchial asthma
• Cystic fibrosis

Restrictive lung diseases

In contrast, with restrictive lung disease, the patient is unable to completely fill the lungs with air when inhaling. The reason for this may be the inability of the lungs to expand to their normal volume. This may be a consequence of disorders associated with the rigidity of the chest wall or, on the contrary, muscle weakness or nerve damage. This is what leads to difficulty breathing air in patients with restrictive lung disease.

The following disorders can cause reconstructive lung disease:

• Interstitial lung diseases—eg, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Obesity - being overweight
• Scoliosis
• Neuromuscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy

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:

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Alveoli, the so-called air sacs, are the main functional. 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 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:

Hereditary and bronchopulmonary diseases

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

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:

• 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 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:

• 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!

The lungs are the main organ of the human respiratory system 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,.

Common respiratory diseases

These pathologies affect the body due to the entry of a pathogenic virus into it. As a result of infection, inflammatory processes begin in the body.

The following types of bronchial disease are distinguished:

• Pneumonia.
• Pleurisy.
• Pulmonary thromboembolism.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Respiratory distress syndrome.
• Bronchitis.
• Bronchial cancer, etc.

The development of these diseases is associated with destructive processes in the body. They lead to damage to the patient’s respiratory system, as a result of which his health sharply deteriorates.

A patient with bronchial disease often coughs. This symptom is the first sign of lung damage. Therefore, if you have a frequent and profuse cough, it is recommended to undergo a medical examination.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a lung disease associated with inflammation of the bronchi, the constituent elements of the pulmonary 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 a common cold. First of all, a cough appears, then a cough occurs, first dry, then with sputum discharge. 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. It can be caused by prolonged irritation of the bronchi by smoke or chemicals. This pathology occurs in smokers or people working in hazardous industries. The main symptom of chronic bronchitis is a cough with sputum. 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.

Content

• 1 Malformations (dysplasia) of the lungs. 1.1 Defects associated with underdevelopment of the organ as a whole or its anatomical, structural, tissue elements.
• 1.2 Defects associated with the presence of excess (additional) dysembryogenetic formations. Accessory lung (lobe) with normal blood supply.
• 1.3 Unusual location of anatomical structures of the lung that may have clinical significance1. "Mirror" lung.
• 1.4 Localized (limited) disorders of the structure of the trachea and bronchi.
• 1.5 Anomalies of the blood and lymphatic vessels of the lungs.

2 Bronchopulmonary manifestations of genetically determined systemic diseases, hereditary lung diseases.

3 Diseases etiologically associated with biological pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).

3.1 Bronchitis.

3.2 Pneumonia.

3.3 Infectious destruction of the lungs.

3.4 Regional and localized processes in the bronchial tree, etiologically associated with infection.

3.5 So-called specific lung diseases of bacterial etiology.

3.6 Fungal diseases (mycoses) of the lungs.

3.7 Parasitic lung diseases.

4 Lung diseases associated with exposure to chemical and physical damaging factors.

4.1 Pneumoconiosis.

4.2 Lung damage associated with the action of acutely irritating (poisonous) gases and fumes.

4.3 Lung lesions associated with aspiration of non-indifferent fluids.

4.4 Lung damage from radiation

4.5 Thermal lung damage

5 Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

6 Allergic lung diseases.

6.1 Pulmonary eosinophilic infiltrate.

6.2 Allergic alveolitis

7 Diffuse pneumosclerosis, granulomatosis and other lung lesions of unknown etiology, including pulmonary manifestations of collagen and other systemic diseases.

8 Pathological conditions associated with impaired pulmonary circulation or acquired damage to the pulmonary vessels.

8.1 Pulmonary embolism.

8.2 Thrombosis of pulmonary vessels.

8.3 Congestion in the lungs associated with impaired outflow through the pulmonary veins (mainly in heart disease).

8.4 "Shock Lung"

8.5 Pulmonary hypertension.

9 Lung tumors.

9.1 Tumors of the lungs (bronchial tubes) are benign.

9.2 Malignant tumors of the lungs (bronchial tubes).

10 Mechanical lung injuries and their consequences.

10.1 Closed lung injuries.

10.2 Open lung injuries (wounds), including gunshots, bladed weapons, and others.

10.3 Consequences of wounds and other mechanical damage to the lungs.

10.4 Foreign bodies of the trachea and large bronchi (aspirated).

11 Diseases and pathological conditions that occur with primary damage to the pleura.

11.1 Pleurisy.

11.2 Hydrothorax.

11.3 Chylothorax.

11.4 Spontaneous pneumothorax (in the absence of detectable changes in the lung tissue).

11.5 Pleural tumors.

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 temperatures, it is recommended to take antipyretics; in case of severe cough, antitussives and expectorants. Quitting cigarettes promotes rapid recovery.

Lung cysts

This is a lung lesion in which intrapulmonary cavitary formations of various origins are formed. Cysts are divided into two types: true and false. True ones are formed as a result of a malformation of the small bronchi; in these cases, an epithelial lining is found. False ones are the result of inflammation or injury; there is no epithelial lining. Echinococcal cysts are isolated separately. Typical symptoms are not observed; they are most often discovered during medical examinations with fluorography, or when complications arise (rupture with the formation of spontaneous pneumothorax, bleeding or suppuration). Treatment is only operative (surgical). However, in some cases (rarely) with a single cyst, treatment may not be required.

Another classification of cysts:

• congenital
• acquired (caused by some disease)

Depending on the number of cavities, cysts are divided into single and multiple. The latter type is also known as polycystic lung disease. Depending on their location, cysts can be unilateral or bilateral (if both lungs are affected).

Causes of lung cysts:

• infectious-inflammatory process in the lung (the sputum in such cases is purulent, discharged “a mouthful”, 300-500 ml of sputum is released per day, gray-green in color; often a complication of pneumonia, mainly in alcoholics, because their liver is damaged, protein synthesis is inhibited, which limits the inflammatory process. If the cause is gangrene of the lung, the patient is unconscious, aspiration/inhalation of vomit is recorded, sputum can be 1-2 liters per day, it contains blood impurities.)
• lung tumors in the decay stage (this includes causes such as cancer)
• dystrophic disorders in the lungs (often occurs with pulmonary emphysema, when the connective tissue framework is too thin; this reason is typical for smokers who have been exposed to the bad habit for 10 years or more)
• lung malformations

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs independently or as a complication of certain diseases of the respiratory system. Some types of pneumonia do 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: high fever, chills, chest pain that gets worse with a deep breath, 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 damage

Closed lung injuries

A bruise or contusion of the lung occurs when there is a strong blow or compression of the chest in the absence of damage to the visceral pleura.
Depending on the strength of the mechanical impact, such injuries can occur with intrapulmonary hemorrhages of varying volumes, bronchial rupture and crushing of the lung. Minor bruises often go unrecognized; more severe ones are accompanied by hemoptysis, pain when breathing, tachycardia, and shortness of breath. During examination, hematomas of the soft tissues of the chest wall are often detected. In the case of extensive hemorrhagic infiltration of the lung tissue or crushing of the lung, shock and respiratory distress syndrome occur. Complications of a lung contusion can include post-traumatic pneumonia, atelectasis, and air cysts of the lung. Hematomas in the lung tissue usually resolve within a few weeks, but if they become infected, a lung abscess can form.

Lung rupture includes injuries accompanied by injury to the pulmonary parenchyma and visceral pleura. The “companions” of a lung rupture are pneumothorax, hemothorax, cough with bloody sputum, and subcutaneous emphysema. A bronchial rupture may be indicated by the patient's shock, subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema, hemoptysis, tension pneumothorax, or severe respiratory failure.

Open lung injuries

The uniqueness of the clinic of open lung injuries is due to bleeding, pneumothorax (closed, open, valve) and subcutaneous emphysema. The consequence of blood loss is pale skin, cold sweat, tachycardia, and a drop in blood pressure. Signs of respiratory failure caused by a collapsed lung include difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and pleuropulmonary shock. With an open pneumothorax, during breathing, air enters and leaves the pleural cavity with a characteristic “squelching” sound.

Traumatic emphysema develops as a result of air infiltration of the peri-wound subcutaneous tissue. It is recognized by a characteristic crunch that occurs when pressure is applied to the skin, an increase in the volume of soft tissues of the face, neck, chest, and sometimes the entire torso. Particularly dangerous is the penetration of air into the mediastinal tissue, which can cause compression mediastinal syndrome, deep respiratory and circulatory disorders.

In the late period, penetrating lung injuries are complicated by suppuration of the wound canal, bronchial fistulas, pleural empyema, pulmonary abscess, and gangrene of the lung. The death of patients can occur from acute blood loss, asphyxia and infectious complications.

Ventilator-induced lung injury

Barotrauma in intubated patients occurs due to rupture of lung or bronchi tissue during high-pressure mechanical ventilation. This condition may be accompanied by the development of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, lung collapse, mediastinal emphysema, air embolism and a threat to the patient’s life.

The mechanism of volumatic trauma is based not on rupture, but on overstretching of the lung tissue, which entails an increase in the permeability of the alveolar-capillary membranes with the occurrence of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Atelectotrauma is the result of impaired evacuation of bronchial secretions, as well as secondary inflammatory processes. Due to a decrease in the elastic properties of the lungs, on exhalation, the alveoli collapse, and on inhalation, they become unstuck. The consequences of such lung damage can be alveolitis, necrotizing bronchiolitis and other pneumopathy.

Biotrauma is lung damage caused by increased production of systemic inflammatory response factors. Biotrauma can occur with sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, traumatic shock, prolonged compartment syndrome and other severe conditions. The release of these substances not only damages the lungs, but also causes multiple organ failure.

Radiation damage to the lungs

Radiation damage to the lungs occurs as pneumonia (pulmonitis) with the subsequent development of post-radiation pneumofibrosis and pneumosclerosis. Depending on the period of development, they can be early (up to 3 months from the start of radiation treatment) and late (after 3 months or later).

Radiation pneumonia is characterized by fever, weakness, expiratory shortness of breath of varying severity, and cough. Typical complaints are chest pain that occurs during forced inhalation. Radiation damage to the lungs should be differentiated from metastases to the lung, bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

Depending on the severity of respiratory disorders, there are 4 degrees of severity of radiation damage to the lungs:

1. a slight dry cough or shortness of breath on exertion is bothering you;
2. I am bothered by a constant hacking cough, the relief of which requires the use of antitussive drugs; shortness of breath occurs with slight exertion;
3. the patient is bothered by a debilitating cough that is not relieved by antitussive drugs, shortness of breath is pronounced at rest, the patient requires periodic oxygen support and the use of glucocorticosteroids;
4. severe respiratory failure develops, requiring constant oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation.

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 medications, 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.

Etiology of acute and chronic bronchitis

In a patient suffering from bronchial disease, air flow to the lungs is impaired. This causes him to cough and have difficulty breathing.

Bronchitis can be classified into 2 forms: acute and chronic. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract. Its main symptoms:

• Edema of the bronchi.
• Hacking cough.
• Copious sputum production.

Bronchitis is of viral origin. It can also occur after contact with exhaust or chemical gases.

Acute bronchitis can only be stopped if therapeutic therapy is aimed at thinning the sputum. We can talk about a chronic form only if, at an early stage of the development of the disease, due attention was not paid to its treatment. It is characterized by a viscous state of sputum and a difficult inhalation process. In acute bronchitis, bronchial obstruction occurs.

One of the most dangerous complications of bronchitis is cyanosis due to insufficient oxygen supply to the body. Cyanosis is characterized by a blue discoloration of some areas of the skin on the patient's body.

There is a risk of bronchiectasis. It is characterized by suppuration that occurs in the respiratory tract. The suppurative process occurs mainly in the lower part of the lungs. Men are more susceptible to this disease.

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, blue discoloration 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.

Symptoms of lung disease

The main symptom that primarily manifests itself in both obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease is shortness of breath. At first it appears only during heavy physical exertion, but over time the disease progresses and shortness of breath can begin to appear even when the person is at complete rest.

The next symptom that should not be ignored is, of course, a cough. This is a very common symptom of lung diseases. The cough is usually dry or with expectoration of sputum - in most cases white, but in chronic bronchitis - greenish or yellowish, due to the content of pus and pathogenic microbes in the sputum.

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. The open form of 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. Its goal 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 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.

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 - 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 stop in 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 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, 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.

Causes of COPD

Long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs and airways is usually the cause of COPD.

The most common irritant that causes COPD is tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke from smoking a pipe, cigar, cigarettes, etc. can also cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially if the smoke is inhaled directly into the lungs.

Passive smoking, air pollution, chemical fumes or dust from the environment or workplace may also contribute to the development of COPD. (Passive smoking is inhaling tobacco smoke when other people smoke near you.)

In rare cases, a genetic disorder called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may play a role in COPD. People with this disease have low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a protein made in the liver.

If a person has low levels of AAT protein, it can cause lung damage and the development of COPD if you are exposed to smoke or other lung irritants. If you have this condition and you smoke, COPD can get worse very quickly.

Although rare, some people with asthma may develop COPD. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways. Treatment can usually reverse inflammation and relieve swelling. However, if asthma is not treated, COPD may develop.