As a component of a larger, intricate system, the lungs expand and contract hundreds of times a day to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. These absorb oxygen from the atmosphere and transfer it into the blood. During a normal day, you will breathe 25,000 times a day. People with lung diseases will experience breathing problems. Some lung diseases can also lead to respiratory failure.
Lungs diseases prevent your lungs from working properly. Some of the common types of lung diseases are:
Airway diseases: These diseases affect the airways that carry oxygen and other gases into and out of the lungs. The disease causes narrowing or blockage of the airways. Common airway diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchiectasis.
Lung tissue disease: The illness has an impact on the lung tissue’s composition. It results in inflammation or scarring of the lung tissue, which hinders the complete expansion of your lungs. Emphysema: Lung damage is the cause of this illness.
Emphysema: The disease occurs due to damage to the lungs. The air is trapped in the lungs in the form of COPD. The patient will find it difficult to expel the air.
Lung circulation disease: The disease affects the blood vessels in the lungs. The patient will find it difficult to expel the air. It affects the ability of the lungs to take up oxygen and release carbon dioxide. An example of lung circulation disease is pulmonary hypertension, causing shortness of breath in the patient.
Cystic fibrosis: In this condition, the person will have trouble clearing mucus out of the bronchi. This condition leads to repeated infection of the lungs
Lung Diseases Affecting the Air Sacs (Alveoli)
Your airway branches into tiny tubes called bronchioles that end in a cluster of air sacs, called alveoli. The majority of your lungs are made up of these air sacs. The common lung diseases that affect the alveoli are:
Pneumonia: This infection of the alveoli is usually the result of bacteria or viral activities. COVID-19 is also a part of pneumonia.
Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease that develops when pneumonia gradually worsens.
Lung cancer: It can begin in any section of your lungs and comes in a variety of forms. The primary lung region or the area next to the air sacs are where the illness most frequently manifests.
Lung diseases affecting blood vessels
The blood vessels near the lungs can develop below diseases:
Pulmonary embolism (PE): In this condition, a blood clot, usually the deep veins, known as thrombosis, breaks off, travels to the heart, and gets pumped into your lungs. Breathlessness is caused by the clot adhering to the pulmonary artery.
Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure can cause this condition. The condition often leads to shortness of breath and pain in the chest.
Lung diseases affecting the chest wall
Muscles connect your ribs to each other, helping your chest to expand. Your diaphragm descends with each breath, causing chest expansion. There are two prevalent disorders of the chest wall:
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome: Being overweight or obese prevents your chest from expanding normally because of the excess weight on your abdomen and chest. Many people may experience severe health issues as a result of the illness.
Neuromuscular disorders: This condition impairs the proper function of the nerves controlling your respiratory system. Myasthenia gravis and amytrophic lateral are the two common examples of neurological disorders. Lung diseases and other diseases affect a number of people all over the USA and other parts of the world. By offering your workers a suitable health plan that covers the costs of their lung and other ailments, you as their employer can make sure they are always in the best possible health. If you are having trouble selecting a plan for your staff, the PrudentRx program professionals can assist you in creating a personalized plan that best meets your staff’s needs so that your employees have maximum coverage from the PrudentRx drug list, while out-of-pocket expenses are optimized, including CVS copay optimization. You can go to the PrudentRx FAQs for additional information.