What are the types of lung diseases: treatment and prevention. Lung diseases, symptoms and treatment of lung diseases. Which lung diseases are dangerous? What are the types of lung diseases?

The lungs are a paired organ that carries out human breathing, located in the chest cavity.

The primary task of the lungs is to saturate the blood with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The lungs are also involved in the secretory-excretory function, metabolism, and acid-base balance of the body.

The shape of the lungs is cone-shaped with a truncated base. The apex of the lung protrudes 1-2 cm above the collarbone. The base of the lung is wide and located in the lower part of the diaphragm. The right lung is wider and larger in volume than the left.

The lungs are covered with a serous membrane, the so-called pleura. Both lungs are located in the pleural sacs. The space between them is called the mediastinum. The anterior mediastinum contains the heart, large vessels of the heart, and the thymus gland. In the back - trachea, esophagus. Each lung is divided into lobes. The right lung is divided into three lobes, the left into two. The base of the lungs consists of the bronchi. They are woven into the lungs and form the bronchial tree. The main bronchi are divided into smaller, so-called subsegmental bronchi, and these are already divided into bronchioles. The branched bronchioles make up the alveolar ducts and contain the alveoli. The purpose of the bronchi is to deliver oxygen to the pulmonary lobes and to each pulmonary segment.

Unfortunately, the human body is susceptible to various diseases. The human lungs are no exception.

Lung diseases can be treated with medications; in some cases, surgery is required. Let's look at lung diseases that occur in nature.

A chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, in which persistently increased sensitivity of the bronchi leads to attacks of bronchial obstruction. It is manifested by attacks of suffocation caused by bronchial obstruction and resolving independently or as a result of treatment.

Bronchial asthma is a widespread disease, affecting 4-5% of the population. The disease can occur at any age, but more often in childhood: in about half of patients, bronchial asthma develops before the age of 10, and in another third - before the age of 40.

There are two forms of the disease - allergic bronchial asthma and idiosyncratic bronchial asthma; a mixed type can also be distinguished.
Allergic bronchial asthma (also exogenous) is mediated by immune mechanisms.
Idiosyncratic bronchial asthma (or endogenous) is caused not by allergens, but by infection, physical or emotional stress, sudden changes in temperature, air humidity, etc.

Mortality from bronchial asthma is low. According to the latest data, it does not exceed 5,000 cases per year per 10 million patients. In 50-80% of cases of bronchial asthma, the prognosis is favorable, especially if the disease arose in childhood and is mild.

The outcome of the disease depends on correctly selected antimicrobial therapy, that is, on the identification of the pathogen. However, isolation of the pathogen takes time, and pneumonia is a serious disease and treatment must be started immediately. In addition, in a third of patients it is not possible to isolate the pathogen at all, for example, when there is no sputum or pleural effusion, and the blood culture results are negative. Then the etiology of pneumonia can be established only by serological methods after a few weeks, when specific antibodies appear.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by a partially irreversible, steadily progressive limitation of airflow caused by an abnormal inflammatory response of lung tissue to damaging environmental factors - smoking, inhalation of particles or gases.

In modern society, COPD, along with arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus, constitute the leading group of chronic diseases: they account for more than 30% of all other forms of human pathology. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies COPD as a disease with a high social burden, as it is widespread in both developed and developing countries.

A disease of the respiratory tract, characterized by pathological expansion of the air spaces of the distal bronchioles, which is accompanied by destructive morphological changes in the alveolar walls; one of the common forms of chronic nonspecific lung diseases.

There are two groups of causes leading to the development of emphysema. The first group includes factors that impair the elasticity and strength of the elements of the lung structure: pathological microcirculation, changes in the properties of surfactant, congenital deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin, gaseous substances (cadmium compounds, nitrogen oxides, etc.), as well as tobacco smoke, dust particles in the inhaled air. Factors of the second group contribute to an increase in pressure in the respiratory part of the lungs and increase the stretching of the alveoli, alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchioles. The most important among them is airway obstruction that occurs with chronic obstructive bronchitis.

Due to the fact that with emphysema, the ventilation of the lung tissue is significantly affected and the functioning of the mucociliary escalator is disrupted, the lungs become much more vulnerable to bacterial aggression. Infectious diseases of the respiratory system in patients with this pathology often become chronic, and foci of persistent infection are formed, which significantly complicates treatment.

Bronchiectasis is an acquired disease characterized by a localized chronic suppurative process (purulent endobronchitis) in irreversibly changed (dilated, deformed) and functionally defective bronchi, mainly in the lower parts of the lungs.

The disease manifests itself predominantly in childhood and adolescence; a cause-and-effect relationship with other diseases of the respiratory system has not been established. The direct etiological factor of bronchiectasis can be any pneumotropic pathogenic agent. Bronchiectasis that develops in patients with chronic respiratory diseases is considered as a complication of these diseases, is called secondary and is not included in the concept of bronchiectasis. The infectious and inflammatory process in bronchiectasis occurs mainly within the bronchial tree, and not in the pulmonary parenchyma.

It is a purulent melting of an area of ​​the lung with the subsequent formation of one or more cavities, often delimited from the surrounding lung tissue by a fibrous wall. The cause is most often pneumonia caused by staphylococcus, Klebsiella, anaerobes, as well as contact infection with pleural empyema, subphrenic abscess, aspiration of foreign bodies, infected contents of the paranasal sinuses and tonsils. Characterized by a decrease in the general and local protective functions of the body due to the entry of foreign bodies, mucus, and vomit into the lungs and bronchi - when drunkenness, after a seizure or in an unconscious state.

The prognosis for treatment of lung abscess is conditionally favorable. Most often, patients with a lung abscess recover. However, in half of the patients with acute lung abscess, thin-walled spaces are observed, which disappear over time. Much less frequently, a lung abscess can lead to hemoptysis, empyema, pyopneumothorax, and bronchopleural fistula.

An inflammatory process in the area of ​​the pleural layers (visceral and parietal), in which fibrin deposits form on the surface of the pleura (the membrane covering the lungs) and then adhesions form, or different types of effusion (inflammatory fluid) accumulate inside the pleural cavity - purulent, serous, hemorrhagic. The causes of pleurisy can be divided into infectious and aseptic or inflammatory (non-infectious).

pathological accumulation of air or other gases in the pleural cavity, leading to disruption of the ventilation function of the lungs and gas exchange during breathing. Pneumothorax leads to compression of the lungs and oxygen deficiency (hypoxia), metabolic disorders and respiratory failure.

The main causes of pneumothorax include: trauma, mechanical damage to the chest and lungs, lesions and diseases of the chest cavity - ruptures of bullae and cysts in pulmonary emphysema, abscess breakthroughs, rupture of the esophagus, tuberculosis, tumor processes with melting of the pleura.

Treatment and rehabilitation after pneumothorax last from 1-2 weeks to several months, it all depends on the cause. The prognosis for pneumothorax depends on the degree of damage and the rate of development of respiratory failure. In case of injuries and injuries it may be unfavorable.

This infectious disease is caused by mycobacteria. The main source of infection is a patient with tuberculosis. Often the disease is secretive and has symptoms related to many diseases. This is a prolonged low-grade fever, general malaise, sweating, cough with sputum.

The main routes of infection are:

1. The airborne route is the most common. Mycobacteria rush into the air when a patient with tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or breathes. Healthy people inhale mycobacteria and carry the infection into their lungs.
2. Contact route of infection is not excluded. Mycobacterium enters the human body through damaged skin.
3. Mycobacteria enter the digestive tract when eating meat contaminated with mycobacteria.
4. The intrauterine route of infection is not excluded, but is rare.

Bad habits aggravate the course of the disease, such as smoking. The inflamed epithelium is poisoned by carcinogens. Treatment turns out to be ineffective. Patients with tuberculosis are prescribed medication, and in some cases surgery is indicated. Treating the disease at an early stage increases the chance of recovery.

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the epithelium of the lungs. The tumor is growing rapidly. Cancer cells, together with lymph, spread throughout the body through the circulatory system, creating new tumors in organs.

Symptoms signaling the disease:

• streaks of blood and purulent discharge are visible in the sputum;
• deterioration of health;
• pain that appears when coughing, breathing;
• a large number of leukocytes in the blood.

Factors leading to the disease:

1. Inhalation of carcinogens. Tobacco smoke contains a huge amount of carcinogens. These are oluidine, benzopyrene, heavy metals, naphthalamine, nitroso compounds. Once in the lungs, they corrode the delicate mucous membrane of the lung, settle on the walls of the lungs, poison the entire body, and lead to inflammatory processes. With age, the harmful effects of smoking on the body increase. When you quit smoking, the body's condition improves, but the lung does not return to its original state.
2. Influence of hereditary factors. A gene has been identified whose presence increases the risk of developing cancer.
3. Chronic lung diseases. Frequent bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis weaken the protective functions of the epithelium, and cancer may subsequently develop.

The disease is difficult to treat; the earlier treatment is taken, the higher the chance of recovery.

Diagnostics plays an important role in identifying and treating lung diseases.

Diagnostic methods:

• x-ray
• tomography
• bronchoscopy
• cytology, microbiology.

Following a schedule of preventive examinations, adopting a healthy lifestyle and quitting smoking will help maintain healthy lungs. Of course, giving up a bad habit even after 20 years of active smoking is healthier than continuing to poison your body with tobacco poisons. A person who quits smoking may have lungs very contaminated with tobacco soot, but the sooner he quit, the greater the chance of changing this picture for the better. The fact is that the human body is a self-regulating system, and lungs of a quitter can restore their functions after various injuries. The compensatory capabilities of cells make it possible to at least partially neutralize the harm from smoking - the main thing is to start taking care of your health in time

The lungs are the main organ of the respiratory system of the human body, occupying almost the entire chest cavity. Like any other, lung diseases can be acute or chronic and are caused by both external and internal factors; their symptoms are very diverse. Unfortunately, lung diseases have recently become quite frequent and widespread and represent one of the most important threats to human life and health. Lung diseases rank 6th among the causes of high mortality throughout the world, often leading to disability and early loss of ability to work. All this depends on the high costs of hospitalization and medications needed to treat them.

The essence of the problem

The main function of the lungs is gas exchange - enriching the blood with oxygen from the air inhaled by a person and releasing carbon dioxide - carbon dioxide. The process of gas exchange occurs in the alveoli of the lungs and is ensured by active movements of the chest and diaphragm. But the physiological role of the lungs in the functioning of the whole organism is not limited only to the process of gas exchange - they also participate in metabolic processes, perform secretory and excretory functions and have phagocytic properties. The lungs also participate in the process of thermoregulation of the entire body. Like all other organs, the lungs are also susceptible to the emergence and development of various diseases, which can be either inflammatory or infectious in nature - due to the entry of various types of bacteria, viruses or fungi into them.

List of the most common lung diseases:

• pneumonia;
• bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• tuberculosis;
• emphysema;
• lung cancer;
• pneumonia.

Pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma

Pneumonia is an inflammatory process that develops in the lungs as a result of the ingress of various pathological microorganisms: bacteria, viruses or fungi. Sometimes the causative agents of pneumonia are various chemicals that enter the human body. Pneumonia can develop both on all tissues of the lung, on both sides, and on any separate part of it. Symptoms of pneumonia are quite painful sensations in the chest, cough, difficulty breathing, chills, fever and an unexpected feeling of anxiety. Pneumonia is treated with penicillin antibiotics and is the most serious and dangerous lung disease, often leading to the death of the patient.

Bronchitis is an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane of the lungs, bronchioles. Most often it occurs in young children and elderly people due to infection of the upper respiratory tract, as well as as a result of allergic reactions. A symptom of bronchitis is a dry, irritating, sharp cough that gets worse at night. Bronchitis comes in two types: acute and chronic, the characteristic symptoms of which are difficulty breathing with whistling, swelling of the upper body, severe and persistent cough, accompanied by copious secretion of mucus and sputum, the skin of the face acquires a bluish tint, especially in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle. Sometimes, in parallel with chronic bronchitis, a person develops obstructive bronchitis, its symptom is extremely difficult breathing, which is hampered by a narrowing of the lumen (obstruction) of the upper respiratory tract caused by the inflammatory process and thickening of the walls of the bronchi. Chronic obstructive bronchitis is a lung disease that occurs mainly in smokers.

Bronchial asthma is also a chronic disease that manifests itself in the form of attacks of a dry, irritating cough that ends in suffocation. During such attacks, narrowing and swelling of the bronchi and the entire chest occurs, which makes breathing difficult. Bronchial asthma progresses quite quickly and leads to pathological damage to lung tissue. This process is irreversible and has characteristic symptoms: a constant debilitating cough, cyanosis of the skin due to a constant lack of oxygen and rather heavy, noisy breathing.

Tuberculosis, emphysema, cancer

Tuberculosis is a lung disease caused by mycobacterium - Koch's bacillus, transmitted by airborne droplets. Infection occurs from a carrier of the disease and at the initial stage is practically asymptomatic. This happens because antibodies produced by the human immune system envelop these mycobacteria in so-called cocoons, which can remain dormant in a person’s lungs for a fairly long period of time. Then, depending on the state of a person’s health, his lifestyle, external factors, and the number of mycobacteria that have entered the body, the disease begins to progress and manifests itself in the form of sudden weight loss, increased sweating, rather reduced performance, weakness and a constantly elevated temperature of up to 37 °C. body temperature.

Emphysema is the destruction of the walls between the alvioli of the lungs, which leads to an increase in lung volume and narrowing of the airways. Pathological tissue damage leads to impaired gas exchange and significant loss of oxygen, leading to breathing difficulties. For the lungs, the disease emphysema is quite secretive, its symptoms appear even with significant damage - a person develops shortness of breath, he rapidly loses weight, the skin turns red, it becomes difficult, almost impossible to breathe, and the chest becomes barrel-shaped.

Another disease is lung cancer. A pathological, fatal disease that is practically asymptomatic, especially at an early stage of its development. Sometimes cancer can be identified by the presence of chest pain, cough, shortness of breath and hemoptysis. Cancer diseases are characterized by the rapid growth of pathological cells (metastasis), which spread throughout all organs and systems of the body. Therefore, cancer is considered a fatal disease and practically cannot be cured, especially at the stage of metastasis.

Sometimes there are cases of pneumonia developing without a cough. This is a more dangerous disease, since when you cough, the body naturally clears itself of mucus and phlegm, which contain a fairly large number of pathogenic microorganisms that cause inflammation. A cough signals a pathological process in the lungs and allows you to start the necessary treatment on time, which reduces the risk of complications. In the absence of cough syndrome, the bronchi are not cleared of phlegm and mucus, which leads to worsening of the inflammatory process and the appearance of pus in the mucus and sputum.

What should the treatment be?

If you have any cough, even not a very strong one, you should consult a doctor, do the necessary laboratory tests and get diagnosed. After identifying the cause, the symptoms of lung disease must be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor according to the disease and the degree of its development. In addition to drug therapy, you can use fairly simple and no less effective traditional medicine:

1. Lung balm based on aloe leaves - prepared from crushed aloe leaves, which should be poured with grape wine and mixed with liquid honey. Infuse the mixture in a cool place for several weeks, then strain and consume 3 times a day daily for any lung diseases.
2. A medicinal mixture of carrot, beet, and black radish juice with the addition of alcohol and honey must be infused in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. Then drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day until the infusion ends. Then take a break while the new mixture is prepared. This composition helps well in relieving and alleviating the symptoms of all lung diseases.
3. You can prepare such a medicinal paste, which should be consumed 3 times a day with a glass of goat milk or spread on bread to make a sandwich: mix 10 yolks from fresh chicken eggs with sugar, add melted chocolate, lard and grated apple. Mix everything thoroughly and store in the refrigerator. This mixture is an excellent expectorant and also has properties to strengthen the immune system.

But still, in order to correctly determine the diagnosis, take medications and traditional recipes, you should consult a doctor.

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)

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, 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.

Prolonged constant cough, breathing with a sound similar to a whistle, acute pain during inspiration - 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 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 effusions fall 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.

Even well-trained people cannot live long without air. Death from the complete lack of a fresh portion of oxygen is the fate of any person who finds himself in a similar situation.

The sole supplier of such invaluable gas to the body is the respiratory system and its very center - a pair of lungs. These “oxygen monopolists”, consisting of many special bubbles - alveoli, in addition to their main function (the role of a “communication channel” between sources of valuable gas in the environment and the human circulatory system) also perform a number of others. Thus, they serve as one of the most capacious reservoirs of blood in the body - about ten percent of all such reserves in the human body are stored here. In addition, the lungs are one of the most important organs that work to build the immune defense and barrier of the body's resistance. They also create the air flow needed to produce the voice.

Knowing all this, one can only imagine how complicated the work of various organs and systems of the body is when lung diseases occur, the symptoms of which are not always immediately detected (and the diseases, meanwhile, manage to do their dirty work). What makes me shudder most is the realization that a number of diseases of this kind are fatal - and people not involved in medicine are not even aware of the existence of many of them.

About ten years ago, the entire planet was shocked by the news of the emergence of a new, hitherto unknown disease - SARS, which soon became known as the “purple death”, or atypical pneumonia. A huge focus of this severe acute respiratory syndrome arose in the Asian region - mainly in China, soon “spreading” to Vietnam and Hong Kong. In just a few months of the first half of 2003, the rapidly spreading SARS affected almost 8.5 thousand people. More than eight hundred of them died, that is, about ten percent.

Among the deadly lung diseases, of course, is tuberculosis. This terrible disease is considered one of the most common in the world, and is transmitted through air masses (when a patient coughs or sneezes), so it is extremely difficult to avoid infection. However, the worst thing is that the human body is not able to develop immunity against the causative agents of this disease - Koch bacilli. Therefore, those who have had it at least once run the risk of encountering this scourge again in the future.

Tuberculosis does not recognize any boundaries, especially social ones. It is capable of striking both a degraded marginalized person and a completely prosperous and financially secure person. Back in the last century, doctors learned to timely diagnose and successfully treat this disease, but the possibility of disability and death in the event of a long refusal of medical care and/or incomplete therapy still hangs over humanity.

Among the most terrible diseases of the lungs is lung cancer. This, by the way, is the most common form of cancer among the male population of the planet - especially in developed countries. More than half of such cases end in a gravestone.

Passionate tobacco lovers expose themselves to a particularly high risk of contracting this dangerous disease: about ninety percent of those who contract lung cancer are smokers. However, there are other “carcinogenic” factors - for example, ionizing (radioactive) radiation and some viral infections. However, non-smokers have a ten times less risk of developing lung cancer - even despite the presence of the above-mentioned causes, which are in no way associated with tobacco smoke.

Another danger hangs over smokers like a sword of Damocles, which many of them are not even aware of. Its name is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which, according to some forecasts, by the end of this decade may firmly enter the top three among the “killer” diseases of humanity.

With this disease, the inflammatory process, which began in one or both lungs at once, becomes permanent, and its course becomes irreversible. Unfortunately, with all the advances in medicine, complete recovery from COPD is impossible, although adequate therapy can influence the course of the disease, somewhat slowing it down and improving the quality of life of the person suffering from it.

The list of dangerous diseases of the respiratory organs is not limited to all this. It is impossible not to mention another very common disease in the world - pneumonia. In fact, this term unites a whole group of diseases, most of which in the “pre-antibiotic” era were considered virtually a death sentence for those who, unfortunately, became infected with them.

With pneumonia (another name for the disease), the inflammatory process affects the alveoli. They fill with fluid and become unable to perform their function of transmitting oxygen to the blood. However, with adequate and timely antibiotic therapy, the prognosis for recovery from the disease is quite favorable.

However, if a person often experiences pneumonia and bronchitis, he runs the risk of getting another serious lung disease - emphysema. This very insidious disease, the “victims” of which are the alveoli and their partitions, grows slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient, and he often consults a doctor only when things take a serious turn.0 rating, 2 voice)

Breathing is one of the most important and most basic processes that determines
Are we even alive, writes KhmerLoad. With every breath your lungs
saturate the body with oxygen, and with each exhalation they remove excess
carbon dioxide.

There are no nerve endings in the lungs, so, unlike other organs, they cannot hurt, warning us of impending problems.

Therefore, we notice that something is wrong with them only when they begin to act up, making it difficult for us to breathe. This is why chronic lung diseases and the development of serious ailments such as bronchitis, tuberculosis, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis are so common.

They are caused by smoking, viral infections, toxic fumes, dust and smoke. Air pollution and prolonged exposure to closed office spaces also contribute.

So pay attention to these 8 symptoms that warn you of impending lung problems—or that they need immediate treatment!

1. Shortness of breath:

If you experience shortness of breath even during normal daily activities, this is the first sign that something is wrong with your lungs. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing occurs when your lungs have to work harder than usual. It may also occur due to a blockage in the airway.

When you experience shortness of breath, don't ignore it or blame it on your age. You should consult a doctor immediately.

2. Persistent cough:

Coughing helps protect the airways from irritants from the atmosphere and helps clear mucus from the airways. However, a chronic cough is an indicator that your lungs are not functioning properly. In fact, one of the first signs of unhealthy lungs is usually a persistent cough that doesn't improve even after you take medication.

If you cough for quite a long time and for no apparent reason, consult a doctor. If the problem is mucus buildup, drinking more water will help thin it out and make it easier to remove from your body.

3. Mucus accumulation:

Coughing usually goes hand in hand with mucus production. Mucus helps bind and remove germs, dirt, pollen and bacteria in your lungs. However, this is not a good sign unless the increase in mucus is associated with a cold or other common illness.

You may also notice a change in the color, odor, or thickness of the mucus. If it turns yellow, green, or contains blood, this is a clear sign of problems with your lungs.

Blood in mucus may be a sign of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or lung cancer.

4. Wheezing and whistling:

A wheezing sound from your lungs is a sign that your airways are narrowing. Because of this narrowing, air does not move through as quickly as it should, resulting in wheezing.

Constant wheezing can be a sign of asthma, emphysema, or even lung cancer. Therefore, if you experience wheezing, it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

5. Swelling in the lower body:

Oddly enough, swelling and pain in the legs may indicate some problem in the lungs.

When your lungs don't function properly, your circulatory system doesn't receive enough oxygen to keep fluids healthy and circulating throughout your body. This can lead to swelling and swollen ankles and feet.

Additionally, due to poorly functioning lungs, your heart cannot pump enough blood to your kidneys and liver. These organs will then not be able to properly flush out toxins and remove excess fluids from your body. This also leads to swelling.

6. Morning headaches:

If you regularly start waking up with headaches or dizziness, you need to see a doctor.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can cause a dull, throbbing headache upon waking. This happens because you don't breathe deeply enough during sleep, accumulating carbon dioxide in your body. This buildup causes blood vessels in the brain to dilate, resulting in a throbbing headache.

7. Chronic fatigue:

When your lungs don't work well, you get tired much faster than before. If your lungs don't oxygenate your body enough, your other systems will also suffer and this can negatively impact your energy levels.

8. Sleep problems:

If you find it difficult to sleep lying down due to difficulty breathing, or if sleeping in a chair is more comfortable, then it probably has something to do with your lungs. You need to sleep lying down, this way you force your lungs to work harder. This affects the quality of your sleep and your mental and physical health.

If you regularly wake up at night with shortness of breath or coughing, be sure to consult your doctor.

Here are some more essential tips to keep your lungs healthy:

• Stop smoking. Pollutants and smoke affect your lung health and increase your risk of lung disease and cancer.
• Avoid secondhand smoke. It is also very toxic and harmful to your lungs.
• Avoid exposure to heavily polluted and industrial areas. If necessary, wear a mask to prevent inhalation of irritants.
• Add indoor plants to improve the air quality in your home.
• Do exercises daily to increase your lung capacity.
• Eat well and remember to detoxify your body and load it with antioxidants.