Lung diseases and its replications

Lung disease has become a common problem world wide. Smoking, air pollution and increasing population has been the cause for many lung disease. Anybody can have a disease due to these three reasons because they are inter-related to each other. For example, a non-smoker becomes a second hand smoker if the person with whom he/she is living is a smoker, he is also polluting the air and the people around. Yes, you may be a non-smoker and have no bad habits but can still be at risk. Check out whether you have any signs of lung disease from the checklist below.

COUGH: A persistent cough dry or productive that lasts for more than 12 weeks is the first sign of a lung disease. An irritating cough is an indicator of lung cancer. A tumor or a foreign body causes irritation to the lung wall and stimulates cough. A productive cough with expectoration is usually a symptom of lower respiratory tract infection.

DYSPNEA: Difficulty in breathing is called dyspnea. Dyspnea occurs when there is air hunger, that is where the oxygen content is low in blood. Dyspnea is a major sign of most lung diseases like bronchitis, COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, lung cancer, SARS and emphysema.

CYANOSIS: Cyanosis is also caused by decreased oxygen content blood which presents as a bluish discoloration of skin and mucus membrane. It is seen in atelectasis and respiratory distress syndrome.

WHEEZING: A wheeze is another common indicator of a lung disease. A high pitched whistling sound caused when the air tries to pass through a narrow or blocked pathway is called wheezing. The air passage is blocked either with mucus or any foreign body causes a wheeze. Wheezing is commonly found in lung diseases like asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis and lung cancer.

PLEURITIC PAIN: Any infection in the lung causes a sharp pain called as pleuritic pain. The pain is felt at every breath especially while exhaling. This symptom is more common in pneumonia, pleural effusion and pleurisy.

HEMOPTISIS: Coughing out blood in sputum is called hemLung disease has become a common problem world wide. Smoking, air pollution and increasing population has been the cause for many lung disease. Anybody can have a disease due to these three reasons because they are inter-related to each other. For example, a non-smoker becomes a second hand smoker if the person with whom he/she is living is a smoker, he is also polluting the air and the people around. Yes, you may be a non-smoker and have no bad habits but can still be at risk. Check out whether you have any signs of lung disease from the checklist below.

FEVER WITH CHILLS: When there is any infection the first presenting symptom is fever and chills. Any lung infection will also present with those symptom. Pneumonia, tuberculosis, emphysema are characterized with such symptoms.

EDEMA: Conditions like pulmonary edema present with swelling of the arms, legs and ankles. This is usually associated with heart disease.

CLUBBING OF NAILS: Clubbing of nails is another classical sign of lung disease. Emphysema, COPD, certain lung cancers and empyema are featured by these symptoms.

FATIGUE: This is an important sign of lung disease. They are associated with shortness of breath. Severe exhaustion occurs when the lung capacity decreases and the heart tries to pump blood more effectively to meet the body's demands. It's seen in lung diseases like emphysema, COPD and pulmonary edema.

ANOREXIA AND WEIGHT LOSS: These are not the major symptoms but an associated symptom of lung disease. Increasing shortness of breath and tiredness inhibits normal food intake thereby causing weight loss. Also productive cough brings out the protein content of the body and leads to muscle wasting. They are seen in tuberculosis and COPD.

These are the major signs of lung disease. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't delay to make an appointment with your doctor. A stitch in time saves nine, so get yourself treated when it is treatable. This occurs from the airway and lungs when it is traumatised or when a tumor ruptured or a sore bleeds after an infection. Tuberculosis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, bronchial carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, respiratory tract hemangioma, and metastatic cancer to the lungs usually present with this symptom.

These are the major signs of lung disease. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't delay to make an appointment with your doctor. A stitch in time saves nine, so get yourself treated when it is treatable.