Common diseases affecting the Lungs

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One of the important organs of the body is the lung which is responsible for extracting oxygen from the environment and conveying it to the bloodstream for body usage.

There are two lungs in the body located in the chest below the rib cage; the left lung is smaller than the right lung. Primarily, the lungs are responsible for the intake of air from the atmosphere and convey it into the bloodstream before being distributed to the rest of the body. Smoking is the most common cause of lung disease.

Lung diseases
One of the diseases of the lungs is the respiratory disease affecting any part of the organs responsible for the exchange of gas from the upper respiratory tract to the bronchi and down into the alveoli. It is a common disease condition.

In addition to the above, asthma is another lung disease characterized with the narrowing and swelling of the airways and the production of too much mucus. The main cause of asthma is idiopathic in some people; however, it can be triggered by airborne allergens, infections, physical activity, cold air, some medications and stress.
Respiratory tract infections are other types of lung disease. The lower respiratory tract infections mostly caused by bacterial, viral and fungi include pneumonia and lung abscess. On the other hand, sinusitis, tonsillitis, ear infections are some of the associated infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Tumor of the respiratory system is another common lung disease which could be malignant and benign. Smoking is the leading cause of malignant tumors accounting for 15% of all diagnosed cancers and 30% of all cancer deaths.

Hamartoma is a common type of benign tumor which compresses the surrounding tissue but they are generally asymptomatic.

Pleural effusion is another common lung disease characterized with a build-up of fluid within the pleural cavity resulting from congestive heart failure or cirrhosis. Pleural effusion is also attributed to inflammation of the pleura together with an infection

Pulmonary embolism is another lung disease which happens when a blood clot formed elsewhere in the body moves to the heart and gets lodged in the lungs. It is a fatal condition leading to sudden death.

Pulmonary edema is caused by congestive heart failure when fluid leaks from capillaries into the air spaces within alveoli resulting in defective lung functions.

Pulmonary hemorrhage arises when damaged and inflamed capillaries expose blood into the alveoli.

 
Preventions

Avoid smoking
Reduce exposure to pollutant exposure
Avert the spread of infections
Engage in regular medical examinations
Engage in regular exercise