Obstructive Lung Diseases

by Lavaughn Scott
(Jamaica, NY)

What are Obstructive Lung Diseases?

Obstructive Lung Diseases are diseases of the Lungs where the bronchial tubes become narrowed, making it hard to move air in, and especially out of the Lungs.

Obstructive Lung Diseases include Bronchitis, Emphysema, and Asthma.

What Contributes to Obstructive Lung Disease?

Many factors contribute to the development of obstructive lung diseases. Cigarette smoke, air pollution, and various workplace dust, fumes, vapors, and gases, have all been associated with obstructive lung diseases.

Because many factors can contribute to obstructive lung diseases, they cannot be classified as occupational disorders.

Although COPD and Asthma account for most obstructive lung diseases, a broad spectrum of other disorders, (including Bronchiectasis, upper airway lesions, bronchiolar diseases and some interstitial lung diseases) are associated with airflow obstruction.

What are the Symptoms?

A person with obstructive lung disease can take a full deep breath, but cannot exhale it completely (risking the retention of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream and further inflammation of the airways).

Bronchitis is a form of obstructive lung disease where there is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes that go from the end of the trachea to the right and left tubes of the lungs.

Emphysema is an obstructive lung disease where the alveoli (air sacs) at the end of the small bronchioles are enlarged or over-inflated, and are eventually destroyed.

Asthma is an obstructive lung disease where the bronchial tubes(airways) become extra sensitive (hyper-responsive).

Signs and symptoms of obstructive lung diseases are shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, breathing difficulty, inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and airway obstruction.

What is the Treatment?

Treatment is usually bronchodilator medication, corticosteriods, anti-biotics and sometimes oxygen.

If you would like to learn more about obstructive lung diseases or any other lung diseases, then visit the American Lung Association website at http://www.lungusa.org


Posted by, Lavaughn Scott

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