Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

6 Diseases That Can Damage Your Lungs (Besides COVID-19)

Photo by Image Point Fr from Shutterstock

Examples:

  • Asthma – For someone that suffers from asthma, breathing can be sometimes extremely difficult. The airways can become swollen and narrow. The person feels as if they cannot get enough air. Asthma events can occur after the person has been exposed to a “trigger”, like smoking, pollution, or pet hair. At least 25 million people in America suffer from asthma. It is a chronic condition, so there is no cure for it.
  • COPD – COPD thickens and produces damage to the airways. Over time, this kind of damage results in the lungs producing more mucus than usual, clogging up the airways. The usual symptoms of COPD are coughing up lots of mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, and a tight chest. The principal cause of COPD is smoking, and there is no cure for this condition. It is a progressive disease that ends up getting worse over time, especially if the person doesn’t quit smoking.
  • Bronchiectasis – This disease targets the small airways in the lungs called bronchi. The walls of your bronchi become thick and they get swollen, which only prevents the lungs from working properly. It can also lead to a buildup of excess mucus, and infections. Some symptoms include coughing up blood, shortness of breath, feeling exhausted, fever, chills, a whistling sound when breathing, and chest pain. There is no cure for this disease, and the symptoms worsen over time.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis – Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of the lungs. It makes it difficult for the body to get the proper oxygen into its bloodstream. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath that worsens during exercise, a dry cough, fast and shallow breathing, tiredness, and aching joints and muscles.
  • Sarcoidosis – Sarcoidosis is a condition that appears when a person’s immune system cells clump, in order to form granulomas. While it can happen in any organ, the lungs are most commonly affected. The general symptoms are feeling tired or having a fever. While most people will feel better (even without treatment), in others, sarcoidosis can lead to permanent lung scarring. Just like with pulmonary fibrosis, it might make it more difficult for the body to get its needed oxygen.
  • Pulmonary hypertension – Pulmonary hypertension is by far the most common lung circulation disease. It occurs when high blood pressure damages the lung’s blood vessels, making them stiff and narrow. This causes the heart to pump harder. The symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, lightheadedness or fainting, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and edema. There are many complications linked to this condition, which include heart failure, blood clots, bleeding in the lungs, and liver damage.
PREV12 3
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Reddit
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

READ NEXT

Discover If You Suffer From Type 2 Diabetes

You’re constantly running to the bathroom, especially at night According to the UK’s National Health Service, peeing more than usual can be a sign that you’re developing type 2 diabetes.

These Are the Worst Hereditary Conditions

We inherit a lot of who we are from our parents and extended family, some good and some bad. Unfortunately, in some cases, serious and potentially debilitating diseases are passed

How to Get Rid of a Rash: 4 Home Remedies 

Aloe vera Aloe has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant. Although it’s widely used, much of the evidence for its effectiveness is anecdotal, and more studies are

9 Things That Make Psoriatic Arthritis Worse

You don’t follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor Unfortunately, we live in an era where things are becoming more and more expensive and we have to pay a lot

7 Common Things That Could Trigger Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults—18 percent of the population—every year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Here Are the Signs of an Underactive Thyroid

You feel down Feeling particularly down in the dumps can be a debilitating side effect of hypothyroidism. Dr. Srinath explains that “Depression can be related to other symptoms of hypothyroidism

6 Healthy Habits That Can Improve Your Health

Take cold showers It may sound crazy, but research has shown that the drop-in temperature can bring a myriad of benefits. From faster workout recovery to increased fat burning, cold

Dentists Reveal 10 Foods That Damage Our Teeth

Soda It’s no surprise that soda is not great for your teeth. A 12-ounce can of soda has a whopping 39 grams of sugar—that’s almost 10 teaspoons. But that’s not

RELATED POSTS

Scroll to Top