This document summarizes various lung diseases and respiratory conditions. It is divided into sections covering diseases affecting the airways, alveoli, blood vessels, pleura, chest wall, and respiratory procedures. Key conditions mentioned include asthma, COPD, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, pneumothorax, and respiratory therapy/intubation. The document provides brief descriptions of symptoms and causes for each disease.

1. Ashlee Nicole L. Pacifico IX- VALENCE June 27, 2016
LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE AIRWAYS
Asthma
If you frequently experience shortness of breath or you hear a whistling or wheezy sound in
your chest when you breathe, you may have asthma—a chronic condition that causes
inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, the passageways that allow air to enter
and leave the lungs. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the
airways in the lungs. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. "Progressive" means the disease
gets worse over time.
COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus (a slimy substance),
wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or
used to smoke. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical
fumes, or dust—also may contribute to COPD.
Chronic Bronchitis
is one type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The inflamed bronchial tubes
produce a lot of mucus. This leads to coughing and difficulty breathing. Cigarette smoking is
the most common cause. Breathing in air pollution, fumes, or dust over a long period of time
may also cause it. This is a long-term condition that keeps coming back or never goes away
completely. If you smoke, it is important to quit. Treatment can help with your symptoms. It
often includes medicines to open your airways and help clear away mucus. You may also
need oxygen therapy. Pulmonary rehabilitation may help you manage better in daily life.
Emphysema
This gradually damages the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, making you progressively more
short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known collectively as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema. In
emphysema, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and eventually rupture — creating one
larger air space instead of many small ones. This reduces the surface area of the lungs
and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your bloodstream.
Acute bronchitis
Also known as a chest cold is short-term inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-
sized airways) of the lungs. The most common symptom is a cough. Other symptoms

2. include coughing up mucus, wheezing, and shortness of breath, fever, and chest
discomfort. The infection may last from a few to ten days. The cough may persist for several
weeks afterwards with the total duration of symptoms usually around three weeks. Some
have symptoms for up to six weeks.
Cystic fibrosis
It is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system.
Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. These
secreted fluids are normally thin and slippery. But in people with cystic fibrosis, a defective
gene causes the secretions to become thick and sticky. Instead of acting as a lubricant, the
secretions plug up tubes, ducts and passageways, especially in the lungs and pancreas.
LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE ALVEOLI
Pneumonia
It is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs known
as alveoli. Typical signs and symptoms include a varying severity and combination of
productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing, depending on the
underlying cause. Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and
less commonly by other microorganisms, certain medications and conditions such as
autoimmune diseases.
Tuberculosis
is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).
Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most
infections do not have symptoms, known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent
infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kills about half of those
infected. The classic symptoms of active TB are a chronic cough with blood-containing
sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The historical term "consumption" came about
due to the weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Lung Cancer
also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell
growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung by the
process of metastasis into nearby tissue or other parts of the body. Most cancers that start
in the lung, known as primary lung cancers, are carcinomas. The two main types are small-
cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The most
common symptoms are coughing (including coughing up blood), weight loss, shortness of
breath, and chest pains.

3. Acute Respiratory
Acute respiratory infection is an infection that may interfere with normal breathing. It usually
begins as a viral infection in the nose, trachea (windpipe), or lungs. If the infection isn’t
treated, it can spread to the entire respiratory system. Acute respiratory infections are
infectious. This means they can spread from one person to another. The disease is quite
widespread. It’s particularly dangerous for children, older adults, and people with immune
system disorders.
LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE INTERSTITIUM
Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial (in-tur-STISH-ul) lung disease describes a large group of disorders characterized
by progressive scarring of the lung tissue between and supporting the air sacs. The scarring
associated with interstitial lung disease may cause progressive lung stiffness, eventually
affecting your ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream.
 Sarcoidosis, also called sarcoid, is a disease involving abnormal collections of
inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomas. The disease usually
begins in the lungs, skin, or lymph nodes. Less commonly affected are the eyes,
liver, heart, and brain. Any organ, however, can be affected. The signs and
symptoms depend on the organ involved. Often there are no or only mild symptoms.
When it affects the lungs there may be wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, or
chest pain. Some may have Lofgren's syndrome in which there is fever, large lymph
nodes, arthritis, and a rash known as erythema nodosum..
 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and ultimately fatal disease
characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. The term pulmonary fibrosis
means scarring of lung tissue and is the cause of worsening dyspnea (shortness of
breath). Fibrosis is usually associated with a poor prognosis.
Pneumonia & Pulmonary Edema
Your lungs contain numerous small, elastic air sacs called alveoli. With each breath, these
air sacs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Normally, the exchange of gases takes
place without problems. But in certain circumstances, the alveoli fill with fluid instead of air,
preventing oxygen from being absorbed into your bloodstream. A number of things can
cause fluid to accumulate in your lungs, but most have to do with your heart (cardiogenic
pulmonary edema). Understanding the relationship between your heart and lungs can help
explain why.

4. LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE BLOOD VESSELS
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
It is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has traveled from elsewhere in
the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms may include shortness of breath,
chest pain particularly upon breathing in, and coughing up blood. Symptoms of a blood clot
in the leg may also be present such as a red, warm, swollen, and painful leg. Signs include
low blood oxygen levels, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and sometimes a mild fever.
Severe cases can lead to passing out, abnormally low blood pressure, and sudden death.
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH or PHTN)
It is an increase of blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary
capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath,
dizziness, fainting, leg swelling and other symptoms. Pulmonary hypertension can be a
severe disease with a markedly decreased exercise tolerance. It was first identified by Ernst
von Romberg in 1891. According to the most recent classification, it can be one of six
different types.
LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE PLEURA
Pleural Effusion
An excess fluid that accumulates in the pleural cavity, the fluid-filled space that surrounds
the lungs. This excess can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs. Various
kinds of pleural effusion, depending on the nature of the fluid and what caused its entry into
the pleural space, are hydrothorax (serous fluid), hemothorax (blood), urinothorax (urine),
chylothorax (chyle), or pyothorax (pus). A pneumothorax is the accumulation of air in the
pleural space, and is commonly called a "collapsed lung."
Pneumothorax
It is an abnormal collection of air or gas in the pleural space that causes an uncoupling of
the lung from the chest wall. Like pleural effusion (liquid buildup in that space),
pneumothorax may interfere with normal breathing. It is often called collapsed lung,
although that term may also refer to atelectasis. One or both lungs may be affected.
Mesothelioma
Is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the
internal organs (known as the mesothelium). The most common area affected is the lining
of the lungs and chest wall. Less commonly the lining of the abdomen and rarely the sac
surrounding the heart, or the sac surrounding the testis may be affected. Signs and
symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, a

5. swollen abdomen, chest wall pain, and cough, feeling tired, and weight loss. These
symptoms typically come on slowly
LUNG DISEASES AFFECTING THE CHEST WALL
Obesity
It is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may
have a negative effect on health. People are generally considered obese when their body
mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square of
the person's height, is over 30 kg/m2, with the range 25–30 kg/m2 defined as overweight.
Some East Asian countries use lower values. Obesity increases the likelihood of various
diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types
of cancer, and osteoarthritis.
Neuromuscular Disorder
is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that impair the
functioning of the muscles, either directly, being pathologies of the voluntary muscle, or
indirectly, being pathologies of nerves or neuromuscular junctions.[1][2]
Neuromuscular diseases are those that affect the muscles and/or their direct nervous
system control, problems with central nervous control can cause either spasticity or some
degree of paralysis (from both lower and upper motor neuron disorders), depending on the
location and the nature of the problem.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM PROCEDURES
A pulmonologist, or pulmonary disease specialist, is a physician who possesses specialized
knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and
diseases.
A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare practitioner who has graduated from a
university and passed a national board certifying examination. Respiratory therapists work
most often in intensive care and operating rooms, but are also commonly found in
outpatient clinics and home-health environments.
Pulmonary angiography (or pulmonary arteriography) is a cardio logical medical procedure.
Pulmonary blood vessels are x-rayed to detect arteriovenous malformations. Direct
angiography is the injection of radio contrast into the circulation with subsequent

6. fluoroscopy (direct X-ray visualization) of the lungs. A more common form of direct
angiography is the catheterization of the right atrium of the heart and injection of radio
contrast into the right heart.
Laryngoscopy (larynx + scopy) is a medical procedure that is used to obtain a view of the
vocal folds and the glottis. Laryngoscopy may be performed to facilitate tracheal intubation
during general anesthesia or cardiopulmonary resuscitation or for procedures on the larynx
or other parts of the upper tracheobronchial tree.
Endotracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a
flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a
conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequently performed in critically
injured, ill, or anesthetized patients to facilitate ventilation of the lungs, including mechanical
ventilation, and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction.