Lung diseases and their symptoms. Signs, classification and prevention of major lung diseases. Lungs. Lung diseases. Diagnosis and treatment What lung diseases can be

Knowledge of the basic principles of human anatomy and physiology makes it possible to understand many of the symptoms, complications and assistance measures taken during common and dangerous pulmonary diseases.

Pulmonary tuberculosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis, formerly called consumption, in past centuries was considered one of the most dangerous infectious diseases, which is reflected in many literary and musical works known throughout the world. This disease became particularly widespread among the poor, whose poor nutrition and hygienic conditions contributed to its occurrence and spread. The causative agent of tuberculosis is highly resistant mycobacteria, discovered more than 100 years ago by the founder of modern bacteriology, Robert Koch (which is why in many countries tuberculosis is also called “Koch’s disease”). Tuberculosis can affect more than just the lungs. It is undoubtedly one of the most serious diseases.
Penetrating into the lungs, bacteria first create a focus of inflammation, destroy tissue there and slowly multiply, also affecting the lymph nodes. The body resists the penetration of bacteria, as if enclosing them in capsules. The dying tissue becomes calcified. Most often, the antibodies formed under favorable conditions (good physical condition) are sufficient to cope with newly penetrating bacteria, otherwise lung lesion they become winners. From this primary source, new pathogens enter the body, taking root in other alveoli of the lung and infecting other areas. The body's protective capacity decreases. As a result of softening in lung tissue cavities (cavities) appear, sometimes damaging blood vessels and callers heavy bleeding. As the disease progresses, the patient becomes increasingly weak (consumption). Of course, tuberculosis has not yet been completely defeated, but such severe, untreatable processes are now almost rare. Every year (in the GDR - transl.) the number of patients requiring treatment for this disease does not exceed 6,000 people. This result was made possible thanks to the overall improvement social conditions, and also, undoubtedly, thanks to the consistent implementation of preventive vaccinations with a weakened tuberculosis strain, starting from a very early age (BCG vaccinations). From the first weeks of a child’s life, they contribute to the formation of protective substances in his body. Before contact infant with the causative agents of tuberculosis (and this possibility, due to the decrease in the number of carriers, is becoming less and less), his body is already in sufficient quantity has specific antibodies. And yet, in diseases that have become less common, there is a hidden danger: they have become forgotten. But tuberculosis has not yet completely disappeared. Outbreaks of this disease can occur primarily in older people as their body's defenses weaken. Signs of tuberculosis may include excessive sweating during sleep ( slight increase temperature), constant cough with sputum production, decreased performance, etc. In such cases, the results of simple x-ray examinations and sputum samples subjected to special processing in order to
Cultivation of individual bacteria quickly brings clarity to the current situation. Currently, tuberculosis treatment is carried out using very effective and reliable methods. Today, for the purpose of therapy, they almost never resort to stopping the activity of one of the halves of the lungs (pneumothorax).

Lungs' cancer
Lung cancer (more precisely, bronchial cancer) is currently one of the diseases causing the greatest concern. Along with stomach cancer and various forms of gynecological cancer, it is the most common type of cancer. The results of numerous experiments undoubtedly prove that smoking is one of the main causes of this form of cancer. According to statistics, 90% of patients with bronchial cancer are heavy smokers (the rest, as a rule, are exposed to passive tobacco smoke when smoking!). Undoubtedly, other factors also play a role in the occurrence of cancer. environment. But in comparison with smoking tobacco, they, of course, are of secondary importance - a person dying from lightning is hardly consoled by the thought that he avoided catching a cold after a thunderstorm. The incidence of lung cancer is on the rise and has a surprising correlation with smoking habits. Previously rare cases of bronchial cancer in women are becoming increasingly common. It is assumed that the main influencing factor is tar products generated when a cigarette is burned (as well as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes!). In experiments with animals, it was these products that quite regularly caused cancer. Hundreds of similar substances are already known, and the most effective of them is benzpyrene from tobacco smoke. During the entire period of smoking, an intensive smoker inhales 10 kg of tar! Its products change the cells of the bronchial walls - they become cancerous, begin to grow violently, displacing
healthy and penetrating as metastases to other areas. Growing around the bronchi, they block the internal lumen and turn off entire areas from the breathing process. Blood vessels are destroyed. Stagnation of sputum occurs, which entails very complex and varied complications.
Unfortunately, and this is truly regrettable, bronchial cancer, like cancer of other localizations, in its early stage does not cause pain. Pain does not force the patient to go to the doctor. Early detection of the disease is a prerequisite for its possible surgical treatment. However, the symptoms of the early stage of the disease are uncharacteristic: a prolonged cough, blood in the sputum, decreased performance, weight loss - all this is not specific symptoms, already mentioned in connection with tuberculosis. Therefore, X-ray examinations and regular medical monitoring are of great importance. It must be said frankly that sometimes it makes no sense to operate on a tumor detected by X-ray. That is why you should not miss scheduled x-ray examinations. Emerging cancer gives a person a chance to initial stage it develops relatively slowly. This chance must be used. The best and, in fact, the only chance to significantly reduce the risk of cancer is consistency in behavior when quitting smoking.

Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
The word “inflammation” would be more correctly used in plural, because there is a large number of varieties of this disease.
Several decades ago, when there were no antibiotics, pneumonia was considered one of the dangerous complications that often meant death. Children were especially victims of this disease, because V childhood pneumonia is especially severe, affecting one half of the lung (lobar pneumonia) or a large number of segments. As a rule, pneumonia occurs as a result of a bacterial inflammatory process that occurs in certain areas of the lung. The occurrence of bacterial inflammation is facilitated by foreign bodies that cause blockage of the bronchi (“aspiration pneumonia”), mucus stagnation, etc. In affected areas of the lung, inflammation causes fluid and cells to accumulate (soak). Air access to the pulmonary alveoli is blocked. Purulent foci may appear in the lungs, and pathogens begin to affect other individual areas of the lung tissue (bronchopneumonia of adults).
In most cases, the disease is severe in the presence of high temperature, painful sensations, attacks of suffocation, sweating, coughing attacks, the formation of copious sputum, weak cardiac activity, etc. In children, pneumonia can occur within a few hours, accompanied by life-threatening deterioration in health.


Causes of complications in lung disease: if a connection occurs between a branch of the bronchus and the pleural fissure, pneumothorax may occur as a result of the entry of air (above). If from bronchial tree Pus enters the pleural fissure and empyema develops (in the center). Air bubbles around the branches of the bronchus are called pneumoceles. They are easily susceptible to infection.

Naturally, a child’s lung is smaller in size and, accordingly, has smaller reserves, so the protective reaction in children proceeds differently than in adults. If you suspect pneumonia, you should immediately call a doctor (“trembling of the wings of the nose” in an infant occurs as a result of more intense respiratory activity due to the failure of parts of the lung tissue). Other diseases can occur similarly to the symptoms of pneumonia: tuberculosis is also a specific form of the inflammatory process. Like almost all infectious diseases, anthrax, etc., has a damaging effect on the lungs. Inflammation of the lungs can be treated with antibiotics. If necessary, the decrease in gas exchange area can be compensated by breathing oxygen. In older people, pneumonia in most cases is less severe. In this age group, suspicion of pneumonia may arise precisely during a prolonged recovery from other diseases and difficulty breathing in the absence of elevated temperature.
Using even a stethoscope, a doctor can determine the presence of pneumonia. An x-ray helps make the correct diagnosis. Very often, pneumonia occurs as a result of unreasonable behavior. The occurrence of such a dangerous complication in an existing infection is precisely facilitated by additional hypothermia and excessive stress. Pneumonia can also cause toxic dust and harmful gases to enter the body through the respiratory tract. If you suspect that such substances have entered the body, you must immediately resort to medical control, because the reaction can sometimes occur only after a few hours (for example, volatile phosphorus compounds, nitrous gas, irritating toxic substances).

Pleural effusion, pleurisy
The mechanisms of occurrence and consequences of these diseases have already been mentioned on page 176. “Wet” pleurisy is most often a consequence of tuberculosis, but it can also be caused by irritation of the pleura as a result of cancer or pneumonia. Increased fluid accumulation can also occur for other reasons: uremia, liver disease leading to a decrease in the formation of blood protein, injury, and many others. etc. Therefore, the so-called inflammation of the pleura (“pleurisy”) is not a disease that occurs for only one reason. It should be emphasized once again that “wet” pleurisy during breathing may not be accompanied by pain, as is often imagined. More typical with such effusion is shortness of breath, which occurs due to accumulation in each half chest several liters of liquid. The formation of effusion can also occur with heart defects that impede blood flow towards the heart. In this case inflammatory process is not the cause of the effusion. The fluid contains a small amount of protein (transudate) and is similar in composition to plasma. The discharge caused by the inflammatory process (exudate) contains a significantly larger amount of protein substances that can settle in the form of clots. The consequence of pleurisy can be the fusion of both layers of the pleura, complicating the mobility of the lung, and sometimes due to friction, causing pain (dry pleurisy, pleural adhesions). Pleurisy- a common form of complications resulting from pneumonia and other pulmonary diseases.


Bronchial asthma
Bronchial asthma (unlike cardiac asthma, which is accompanied by the same severe attacks of suffocation with a sharp decrease in the performance of the left heart) is an extremely severe and burdensome disease. A patient suffering from asthma is strongly subjectively affected by the fear of death from suffocation during an attack, the frequent repetition of asthmatic phenomena and the insufficient duration of the effect of therapy. The causes of asthma are varied. Often they are allergens found in the environment (household dust, animal hair, medications, pollen), which, with the appropriate predisposition, contribute to the occurrence of asthmatic attacks. So-called internal allergens (bacteria and their metabolic products in areas of inflammation) can also cause asthma. This may include climatic factors, mental stress, disruption of hormonal regulation, or the presence of an as yet unexplained tendency to such allergic reactions. The body reacts to the allergen with spasms of the muscles of the small bronchioles, resulting in swelling of the bronchial mucosa and the release of rather sticky mucus. Already appearing known symptoms: suffocation, difficulty in exhaling (due to narrowing of the bronchioles), accompanied by whistling sounds, cough with the release of clear mucus. During severe asthma attacks, the patient tends to adopt a sitting position that allows the accessory respiratory muscles of the trunk to make breathing somewhat easier. In later stages of the disease, the swelling of the lungs that occurs during an attack can become chronic and turn into emphysema, further complicating the breathing process.
Treatment of bronchial asthma should only be carried out by a doctor. General recommendations it is impossible to get by here, because establishing the causes of the disease requires a large professional experience. If the cause is known (for example, animal fur), then recurrence of attacks is prevented by eliminating the factor that causes the predisposition (eliminating the animal).

Pulmonary edema
It's spicy serious disease for the most part is a consequence of weakness of the left side of the heart (as in cardiac asthma). It occurs as a result of the fact that the blood pumped into the lungs by the right half of the heart cannot flow out of them unimpeded. In this case, the pulmonary capillaries act like filters through which blood plasma leaks into the alveoli of the lungs. Due to the accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, breathing becomes very difficult, because... liquid significantly complicates gas exchange. There is a kind of “internal drowning” that occurs. This serious illness can also occur with uremia, protein and water balance body, penetration of toxic substances through the respiratory tract, etc. The most obvious symptoms of this disease, along with shortness of breath, are fear of suffocation and gurgling sounds with each breathing movement. Foamy sputum when coughing attracts attention. If you become ill, you must immediately seek medical help.

Bronchitis
Bronchitis is the most common disease. Due to the fact that in most cases it occurs harmlessly and without any special complaints, it is often considered not even a disease, but is considered a symptom and cause of prolonged cough (“smoker’s catarrh”). Acute bronchitis, caused by bacteria, viruses, and chemical or physical environmental irritants, is well known as a bad cold or acute respiratory illness. Its symptoms are cough, sputum, chest pain, and fever. It can cause the flu or go away in about two weeks. Chronic bronchitis, on the contrary, does not go away even after acute stage. According to the World Health Organization classification, it is classified as an independent inflammatory disease of the bronchi, accompanied by cough, sputum production, and difficulty breathing. It lasts at least 3 months a year throughout at least two years. The occurrence of chronic bronchitis is promoted by smoking, frequent infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, exposure to dust, constant exposure to drafts, increased sensitivity of the bronchial mucosa and other factors. The main symptoms are a prolonged cough with sputum production. Chronic bronchitis can cause complications (inflammation and emphysema, asthma, etc.). Even if acute bronchitis in adults occurs without pain, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of complications and a constant decrease in the body’s protective capacity that occurs due to the impact of the remaining infection. Even with typical symptoms of bronchitis, one cannot ignore the possibility of another disease (for example, a tumor, pneumonia). Bronchitis is of particular importance in childhood, which requires long-term medical supervision (dispensary).

Bronchiectasis
Saccular expansions of the small branches of the bronchi may be a consequence of chronic bronchitis or congenital disorders. A very large amount of secretions accumulates in such dilated bronchi, which leads to difficulty in regular air circulation. With bronchiectasis, especially in the morning, an extremely large amount of sputum is produced. A not entirely pleasant, but quite accurate description of this phenomenon is given in medical literature- “discharge of sputum with a full mouth.” The causes of changes in the body during this disease can contribute to the occurrence of pneumonia, bleeding from the lungs, blood poisoning, inflammation of the brain and other complications.

Emphysema
These changes in lung tissue have already been mentioned several times. Excessive swelling of the lungs, accompanied by an increase in air volume in pulmonary alveoli, a person unfamiliar with the process of gas exchange may be led to believe that such an abnormality of breathing turns into a special advantage, because if there is a lot of air in the lungs, then, they say, there is a lot of it for gas exchange. This idea is incorrect. Excessive “bloating” of the lungs and wrinkling of the walls of the alveoli causes a sharp reduction in the exchange area. The air in the lungs does not receive sufficient circulation and with each breathing movement a large volume of unrenewed air remains in them. Together with what is inhaled, it increases the volume of the mixture, which has low content oxygen, which causes a gradual increase in the feeling of suffocation, characteristic primarily of so-called obstructive emphysema, because the internal lumen of the bronchioles narrows like a valve. When the lungs are swollen, the load on the heart also increases, because the resulting air cushion causes a narrowing of the pulmonary vessels. To overcome resistance in in this case the heart needs to increase its workload.
Emphysema and bronchitis often accompany each other. This complication can be prevented by doing gymnastics, breathing exercises and consistent treatment of inflammatory processes in the lungs. Of course, a one-time walk in the forest, even with “deep ventilation breathing,” will not give significant positive results, however, periodic intensification respiratory process(sport!) helps ventilation of all parts of the lungs. Prevention of emphysema is also more effective than treatment.

"Flu infection"
The mention of this disease in the chapter “Lung Diseases” is due to necessity. Usually " colds“It affects not the lungs, but the upper respiratory tract. Catarrh of the respiratory tract begins - and this is a favorite topic of examination of doctors - in the nose, not the mouth. After all, breathing is usually done through the nose, and only when nasal breathing is difficult do they switch to mouth breathing. Viruses, bacteria and other harmful environmental factors primarily affect the nasal mucosa. In the nasal cavity, the inhaled air is “preheated” and moistened, so when breathing through the mouth, due to the absence of such factors, the risk of damage to the deeper respiratory tract increases. Apparently, every reader acute infectious disease The respiratory tract is very familiar with the manifestations of a complex of symptoms of influenza infection, which, unfortunately, is often simply called the flu. This is a runny nose, hoarseness, cough, sore throat, possible increase temperature, pain.
Hypothermia contributes to the occurrence of this infection. However, it is not correct to consider cold as the cause of the disease, just as the name “cold” is not entirely correct. By reflex, hypothermia (including, for example, the legs) causes a narrowing of blood vessels, which helps reduce the reflection of heat. In the mucous membrane, the blood vessels narrow, through which less blood passes. The body’s protective ability against microbes, “waiting” on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract for the moment to penetrate inside the body, decreases. The body's vigilance seems to be lulled to sleep. This is how a “cold” begins. It is also typical that clear, frosty days are less conducive to such infectious diseases than cold but wet weather, which promotes the reproduction and survival of microbes (on expeditions to the Pole, participants almost did not suffer from infectious diseases). In the initial period, all acute infections are very harmless, although at times general health the patient deteriorates significantly. In case of illness infectious disease You should not pretend to be a hero and, neglecting your fever and runny nose, infect your colleagues, instead of isolating yourself from others for several days during the acute infectious phase of the disease. Pathogens are transmitted through droplets of sputum (coughing, sneezing). Shaking hands also resembles an involuntary “vaccination”, because As a result of such involuntary contact, pathogenic microbes can be transmitted.
These infectious diseases are not identical to viral influenza, although acute phase it proceeds, accompanied by similar symptoms. However, the flu is by no means a harmless disease. Each epidemic is accompanied by deaths, the causes of which are complications from the cardiovascular system, or complications in the form of pneumonia.
Hardening the body, gymnastics, staying in the fresh air, rich in vitamins food, sufficient sleep, appropriate clothing - these are preventive measures against “colds” and true flu. They seem to train the mucous membrane and blood vessels, creating the prerequisites for successfully resisting pathogenic microbes. From viral flu are carried out preventive vaccinations. But they are not effective against all its types and therefore they should be repeated (1-2 times a year). There are no vaccinations against “colds,” since they can be caused by hundreds of different pathogens. You should not complain about the ineffectiveness of the influenza vaccine if the result is an infectious disease (although not the flu!). In “flu” weather, the protective effect is often attributed to alcohol (grog), but this is not true, although alcohol helps to dilate blood vessels. By causing the illusion of warming and excessively dilating blood vessels, it contributes to additional hypothermia of the body. It is precisely in the morning after a heavy alcoholic libation that a disease can occur. A “clogged” nose with a runny nose is a consequence of swelling of the mucous membrane, which interferes with nasal breathing, which can result in complaints (headaches). Reducing swelling is achieved by using spray and drops for a runny nose. Sometimes this is an urgent need, but one should be careful not to use them too often, because - as already mentioned - a decrease in the blood supply to the mucous membrane allows pathogens to enter the body and can even cause destruction of the mucous membrane itself. The side effects of medications also become clear if their causative processes are known. The use of a spray for a runny nose to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane cannot replace the treatment of the causes of acute respiratory disease, but can only eliminate one of its symptoms. The same applies to so-called "flu pills" - painkillers that do not cure the flu, but only help to bear some of its burdensome symptoms.

Lung diseases have become common. What are the most common of them, their features and symptoms?

Pneumonia (lung inflammation)

As a result of bacterial, fungal or viral infection an inflammatory process occurs in the lungs. Pneumonia can also be caused by chemical substances entered the body with inhaled air. This disease can affect both all lung tissues and a separate part of the organ.

Symptoms: difficulty breathing, cough, chills, fever. Characteristic Features are chest pain and excessive fatigue, and often an unexpected feeling of anxiety.


Swelling and inflammation of the pleura, which is the outer membrane covering the lungs. The causative agent of the disease can be an infection or injury that causes damage to the chest. Pleurisy can be a symptom of tumor development. The disease manifests itself as pain when moving the chest and when breathing deeply.

Bronchitis


Bronchitis comes in two types: and. Acute bronchitis occurs when the bronchial mucosa becomes inflamed. This disease is common among older adults and young children. Occurs when the upper respiratory tract is infected due to allergic reactions, when inhaling air containing chemical impurities. The main symptom of acute bronchitis is a dry, sharp cough that gets worse at night.

When bronchitis enters the chronic stage, a constant cough appears, accompanied by copious mucus secretion, breathing becomes difficult, swelling of the body is observed, and the skin color may acquire a blue tint.


A chronic disease that manifests itself in the form of periodic attacks, which can present as slight cough, and serious attacks of suffocation. During asthma attacks, the bronchi and chest become narrowed, making breathing difficult. The mucous membrane swells greatly, the cilia of the epithelium cannot cope with their functions, which negatively affects the functioning of the lungs.

Over time, bronchial asthma progresses and leads to serious damage lung tissues. The main symptoms are coughing, heavy and noisy breathing, frequent sneezing; due to lack of oxygen, the skin may become bluish.

Asphyxia

Asphyxia can be called oxygen deprivation, which occurs due to physical influences affecting breathing. The main causes: neck injuries, strangulation, retraction of the tongue as a result of injury, pathology in the larynx, injury to the abdomen or chest, dysfunction of the respiratory muscles.

In case of asphyxia, immediate resuscitation measures: restoration of airway patency, artificial ventilation lungs, indirect cardiac massage. After eliminating the symptoms, the causes of the disease are determined and treatment is prescribed.


The causative agents of this lung disease are mycobacteria. Tuberculosis is transmitted by airborne droplets, that is, it is spread by carriers of the disease. How the initial stage of tuberculosis will proceed depends on the initial state of health of the patient and on the number of bacteria that have entered the body.

When infected, the immune system reacts by producing antibodies, and the protective system of the lungs envelops the affected mycobacteria in peculiar cocoons, in which they can either die or “fall asleep” for a while, only to later appear with renewed vigor.

Usually, at the initial stage of tuberculosis, a person feels completely healthy and no symptoms appear. Over time, the body begins to react with increased temperature, weight loss, sweating, and decreased performance.


This is an occupational lung disease. The disease is common among construction workers, metal workers, miners and other workers who regularly inhale dust containing free silica.

On early stages It is quite difficult to detect silicosis on your own, as it develops over many years. Only with a thorough examination can one see that there has been an increase in the airiness of the lung tissue. For late stages Characteristic: lack of air, chest pain, shortness of breath even in a calm state, cough with sputum production, high fever.


With emphysema, the walls between the alveoli are destroyed, causing them to enlarge. The volume of the lungs increases, the structure becomes flabby, respiratory passages narrow. Tissue damage leads to a decrease in gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to dangerous levels. This lung disease is characterized by difficulty breathing.

Symptoms begin to appear when there is significant damage to the lungs. Shortness of breath appears, the person rapidly loses weight, redness of the skin is observed, the chest becomes barrel-shaped, and serious effort is required to exhale.


Practically fatal disease. Those people who started treatment before the acute onset of symptoms have a great chance of recovery. Unfortunately, lung cancer is very difficult to recognize. There are no symptoms that unconditionally indicate this particular disease. Conventional symptoms are considered to be hemoptysis, chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough. For timely diagnosis, doctors advise not to neglect regular examinations in clinics.

As you can see, the variety of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose yourself at home, so if you have any suspicions of lung disease, you should consult a doctor and under no circumstances prescribe treatment yourself.

Diseases of the lungs and bronchi are common. In recent years, there has been a steady trend towards an increase in the percentage of patients suffering from diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.

Symptomatically, such pathologies are expressed in two ways: either in the form of an acute severe process, or in the form of sluggish progressive forms. Neglect, improper treatment and the principle “it will go away on its own” lead to tragic consequences.

It is impossible to determine the cause of the disease at home. Only a qualified pulmonologist can diagnose the pathological process.

A distinctive feature of many pulmonary diseases is complex diagnostics. The causes of a particular pathology may be subjective. But there are a number of common factors that provoke the occurrence and development of the inflammatory process:

  • unfavorable environmental situation in the region; presence of hazardous industries;
  • aggravation of others chronic diseases;
  • pathology of cardio-vascular system;
  • disturbance of electrolyte balance in the body, increased sugar levels;
  • nerve diseases;
  • presence of bad habits.

Each pathological process in the lungs has specific signs that appear as it develops. In the initial stages, the manifestations of all pulmonary diseases are very similar.

  1. Presence of cough. Cough is the first sign possible illness lungs. The pathological process provokes inflammation, irritation of receptors and reflex contraction of the muscles of the respiratory tract.
    Coughing is the body’s natural attempt to get rid of accumulated mucus. Already by the timbre of the cough one can judge whether the patient has any pathology: croup, laryngotracheobronchitis, bronchiectasis.

During coughing attacks, the patient experiences:

  • discomfort;
  • pain and burning in the sternum;
  • lack of air;
  • pressing sensation in the chest.
  1. Sputum production. As a consequence of the pathological process, sputum saturated with pathogenic microbes is considered. With inflammation, the amount of discharge increases significantly. The patient's disease is determined by the color of the sputum, its smell and consistency. An unpleasant odor indicates putrefactive processes in the lungs; white, foamy discharge is a sign of pulmonary edema.
  2. Presencebloodin sputum orsaliva. Often serves as a sign of a dangerous disease. Damage may also be the cause small vessel, And malignant neoplasms, and lung abscess. In any case, the presence of blood in sputum or saliva requires immediate referral to specialists.
  3. Labored breathing. A symptom of almost all diseases of the bronchi and lungs. In addition to lung problems, it can be caused by dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.
  4. Painful sensations in the sternum. Chest pain - characteristic feature pleural lesions. Most common when various forms pleurisy, oncological diseases, foci of metastases in pleural tissues. Chronic pulmonary pathologies are considered as one of the prerequisites for pleurisy.

With infectious lesions of the lungs, symptoms appear suddenly and vividly. Fever appears almost immediately, there is a sharp increase in temperature, chills and profuse sweating.

Classification

A characteristic feature of pulmonary diseases is their effect not only on various parts of the lungs, but also on other organs.

According to the lesions, bronchopulmonary pathologies are classified by the following criteria:

  • lung diseases affecting the respiratory tract;
  • diseases affecting the alveoli;
  • pathological lesions of the pleura;
  • hereditary lung pathologies;
  • diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
  • purulent processes in the lungs;
  • congenital and acquired lung defects.

Lung diseases affecting the airways

  1. COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In COPD, the bronchi and lungs are simultaneously affected. The main indicators are a constant cough, sputum production, shortness of breath. Currently, there are no therapeutic methods that completely cure the pathology. Risk groups include smokers and patients associated with hazardous production. At the third stage, the patient’s life expectancy is about 8 years, at the last stage - less than a year.
  2. Emphysema. The pathology is considered a type of COPD. The disease is characterized by impaired ventilation, blood circulation and destruction of lung tissue. The release of carbon dioxide is characterized by significant and sometimes critical indicators. It occurs both as an independent disease and as a complication of tuberculosis, obstructive bronchitis, and silicosis. As a consequence of the pathology, pulmonary and right ventricular heart failure and myocardial dystrophy develop. The main symptoms for all types of emphysema are changes in skin color, sudden weight loss, and shortness of breath.
  3. Asphyxia- oxygen starvation. Characterized by a lack of oxygen and an excess amount of carbon dioxide. There are two groups of asphyxias. Nonviolent is seen as serious consequence bronchopulmonary and other diseases. Violent - occurs with mechanical, toxic, barometric lesions of the bronchi and lungs. At complete suffocation irreversible changes and death occur in less than five minutes.
  4. Acute bronchitis. When the disease occurs, the patency of the bronchi is impaired. Acute bronchitis is characterized by symptoms of both acute respiratory disease and intoxication. It can have either the form of a primary pathology or be the result of complications of other processes. Two common causes are damage to the bronchi by infection or viruses. Less common is acute bronchitis of an allergic nature.

Symptomatically expressed by a continuous cough, sputum production, profuse sweating. Self-medication, improper use of medications, and untimely contact with specialists threaten the disease becoming chronic.

A typical manifestation of chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs with any slight decrease in immune activity.

Alveolar pathologies

Alveoli are air sacs, the smallest part of the lung. They have the appearance of bubbles, the walls of which are also their partitions.

Lung pathologies are also classified by damage to the alveoli.

  1. Pneumonia. An infectious disease caused by viruses or bacteria. When the disease is neglected, if it is not timely to contact a specialist, it turns into pneumonia.

A characteristic feature is the rapid, sometimes reactive development of pathology. At the first signs, immediate consultation with a doctor is required. Clinically expressed as follows:

  • heavy, “crispy” breathing;
  • sharp and strong increase temperatures, sometimes to critical levels;
  • separation of sputum in the form of mucous lumps;
  • shortness of breath and chills;
  • at heavy currents disease, a change in skin color is observed.
  1. Tuberculosis. Causes severe processes in the lungs and, if immediate assistance is not provided, leads to the death of the patient. The causative agent of the pathology is Koch's bacillus. The danger of the disease is during a long incubation period - from three weeks to a year. To exclude infection, an annual examination is indicated. The initial stages of the disease are characterized by:
  • persistent cough;
  • low but not decreasing temperature;
  • the appearance of blood streaks in saliva and sputum.

Important. In children, the clinical picture is more pronounced, the disease is more severe, develops much faster and leads to the most dire consequences. Parents, first of all, should pay attention to the following signs:

  • the child has been coughing for more than 20 days;
  • loss of appetite;
  • decreased attention, fatigue and apathy;
  • signs of intoxication.
  1. Pulmonary edema. It is not an independent disease and is considered a serious complication of other diseases. There are several types of pulmonary edema. The most common reasons occurrence - either the ingress of fluid into the pulmonary space, or the destruction of the outer walls of the alveoli by toxins produced by the human body itself.

Pulmonary edema is a dangerous disease that requires quick and accurate diagnosis and immediate implementation of therapeutic measures.

  1. Lungs' cancer. Aggressive, rapidly developing oncological process. The last, terminal stage leads to the death of the patient.

Cure is possible at the very beginning of the disease, but few people will pay attention to a constant cough - the main and main symptom of the early stage of lung cancer. To detect the disease at the earliest stages, a computed tomography scan is necessary.

The main symptoms of the pathology are:

  • cough;
  • blood streaks and whole blood clots in the sputum;
  • dyspnea;
  • constantly elevated temperature;
  • sudden and significant weight loss.

Additional Information. The longest life expectancy is observed in patients with peripheral lung cancer. There are officially registered cases where patients lived for 8 years or more. The peculiarity of pathology is its slow development in the complete absence of pain. Only in the terminal stage of the disease, with total metastasis, did patients develop pain.

  1. Silicosis. Occupational Illness miners, miners, grinders. Grains of dust, tiny fragments of glass and stone settle in the light years. Silicosis is insidious - signs of the disease may not appear at all or be mild for many years.

The disease is always accompanied by a decrease in lung mobility and disruption of the respiratory process.

Tuberculosis, emphysema, and pneumothorax are considered severe complications. In the final stages, a person suffers from constant shortness of breath, cough, and fever.

  1. Acute respiratory syndrome - SARS. Other names are SARS and purple death. The causative agent is coronavirus. It multiplies quickly and in the process of development destroys the pulmonary alveoli.

The disease develops over 2-10 days and is accompanied by renal failure. After discharge, patients noted the growth of connective tissue in the lungs. Recent studies indicate the ability of the virus to block all parts of the body's immune response.

Pathological lesions of the pleura and chest

The pleura is a thin sac that surrounds the lungs and inner part chest. Like any other organ, it can be affected by disease.

With inflammation, mechanical or physical damage to the pleura, the following occurs:

  1. Pleurisy. Inflammation of the pleura can be considered both as an independent pathology and as a consequence of other diseases. About 70% of pleurisy is caused by the invasion of bacteria: Legionella, Staphylococcus aureus and others. In case of penetration of infection, physical and mechanical damage the visceral and parietal layers of the pleura become inflamed.

Characteristic manifestations of the disease are stabbing or dull pain in the sternum, severe sweating, severe forms pleurisy - hemoptysis.

  1. Pneumothorax. Occurs as a result of penetration and accumulation of air in pleural cavity. There are three types of pneumothorax: iatrogenic (arising as a result of medical procedures); traumatic (as a result of internal damage or injury), spontaneous (due to heredity, lung defect or other disease).

Pneumothorax can lead to lung collapse and requires immediate medical attention.

Chest diseases are associated with pathological processes in the blood vessels:

  1. Pulmonary hypertension. The first signs of the disease are associated with disturbances and changes in pressure in the main vessels of the lungs.

Important. The forecast is disappointing. 20 people out of a hundred die. The timing of the development of the disease is difficult to predict; it depends on many factors, and, above all, on the stability of blood pressure and the condition of the lungs. The most alarming sign is frequent fainting. In any case, patient survival even when using all possible ways treatment does not exceed the five-year threshold.

  1. Pulmonary embolism. One of the main reasons is vein thrombosis. The blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks oxygen flow to the heart. A disease that threatens sudden, unpredictable hemorrhage and death of the patient.

Permanent chest pain can be a manifestation of the following diseases:

  1. Hyperventilation when overweight . Excess body weight puts pressure on the chest. As a result, breathing becomes irregular and shortness of breath occurs.
  2. Nervous stress. A classic example is myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease called muscle flaccidity. Considered as a pathological disorder of nerve fibers in the lungs.

Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system as a hereditary factor

Hereditary factors play an important role in the occurrence of pathologies bronchopulmonary system. In diseases transmitted from parents to children, gene mutations provoke the development pathological processes regardless of external influences. The main hereditary diseases are:

  1. Bronchial asthma. The nature of occurrence is the effect of allergens on the body. It is characterized by shallow shallow breathing, shortness of breath, and spastic phenomena.
  2. Primary dyskinesia. Congenital pathology of the bronchi of a hereditary nature. The cause of the disease is purulent bronchitis. Treatment is individual.
  3. Fibrosis. Connective tissue grows and replaces alveolar tissue with it. As a result - shortness of breath, weakness, apathy in the early stages. In the later stages of the disease, the skin changes color, a bluish tint appears, and a syndrome is observed drumsticks– change in the shape of the fingers.

The aggressive form of chronic fibrosis shortens the patient's life to one year.

  1. Hemosiderosis. The reason is an excess of hemosiderin pigment, a massive release of red blood cells into the body tissues and their breakdown. Indicative symptoms are hemoptysis and shortness of breath at rest.

Important. Acute respiratory infection– the root cause of pathological processes in the bronchopulmonary system. The first symptoms of the disease do not cause anxiety or fear in patients; they are treated at home traditional means. The disease enters a chronic phase or acute inflammation in both lungs.

Bronchopulmonary diseases are the result of viruses entering the body. Damage occurs to the mucous membranes and the entire respiratory system. Self-medication leads to serious consequences, including death.

The primary manifestations of diseases of the bronchi and lungs are practically no different from the symptoms of a common cold. Infectious diseases lungs are bacterial in nature. The development of inflammatory processes occurs rapidly – ​​sometimes taking several hours.

Diseases caused by bacteria include:

  • pneumonia;
  • bronchitis;
  • asthma;
  • tuberculosis;
  • respiratory allergies;
  • pleurisy;
  • respiratory failure.

The development of infection is reactive. To prevent life-threatening consequences, a full range of preventive and therapeutic measures is carried out.

Many bronchial and pulmonary pathologies are accompanied by sharp and severe pain and cause interruptions in breathing. Here, a treatment regimen specific to each patient is used.

Suppurative lung diseases

All suppurative lung diseases are classified as serious pathologies. The set of symptoms includes necrosis, putrefactive or purulent decay of lung tissue. Pulmonary purulent infection can be total and affect the entire organ, or be focal in nature and affect individual segments of the lung.

All purulent pathologies of the lungs lead to complications. There are three main types of pathologies:

  1. Lung abscess. A pathogenic process in which lung tissue melts and is destroyed. As a result, purulent cavities are formed, surrounded by dead lung parenchyma. Pathogens – Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic bacteria, aerobic microorganisms. With a lung abscess, fever, pain in the inflamed segment, sputum with pus, and expectoration of blood are observed.

Treatment includes lymphatic drainage and antibacterial therapy.

If there is no improvement within two months, the disease becomes chronic. The most severe complication of a lung abscess is gangrene.

  1. Lung gangrene. Total tissue decay, putrefactive pathogenic processes in the lungs. As a mandatory accompanying symptom - sputum separation with unpleasant smell. Lightning form The disease causes the death of the patient on the first day.

Symptoms of the disease include an increase in temperature to critical levels, heavy sweating, sleep disturbances, and a persistent cough. On severe stages patients experienced a change in consciousness.

It is impossible to save a patient at home. And with all the successes of thoracic medicine, the mortality rate of patients with lung gangrene is 40-80%.

  1. Purulent pleurisy. It is an acute purulent inflammation of the parietal and pulmonary membranes, and the process affects all surrounding tissues. There are infectious and non-infectious forms of pleurisy. The development of the disease is often reactive in nature; immediately initiated therapeutic measures can save the patient. The main symptoms of the pathology are:
  • shortness of breath and weakness;
  • pain on the side of the affected organ;
  • chills;
  • cough.

Congenital lung defects

A distinction should be made between congenital pathologies and congenital lung anomalies.

Abnormalities of the lungs do not manifest themselves clinically; the modified organ functions normally.

Developmental defects are a complete anatomical disorder of the structure of an organ. Such disorders occur during the formation of the bronchopulmonary system in the embryo. The main lung defects include:

  1. Aplasia– a serious malformation in which either the entire organ or part of it is missing.
  2. Agenesis– a rare pathology, observed complete absence lung and main bronchus.
  3. Hypoplasia– underdevelopment of the lungs, bronchi, lung tissue, blood vessels. The organs are in their infancy. If hypoplasia affects one or more segments, it does not manifest itself in any way and is discovered by chance. If everything is undeveloped, hypoplasia manifests itself in signs of respiratory failure.
  4. Tracheobronchomegaly, Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. It occurs when the elastic and muscular structures of the bronchi and lungs are underdeveloped, as a result of which a gigantic expansion of these organs is observed.
  5. Tracheobronchomalacia– a consequence of defects cartilage tissue trachea and bronchi. When you inhale, the lumen of the airways narrows, and when you exhale, it widens greatly. The consequence of the pathology is constant apnea.
  6. Stenosis– reduction of the lumen of the larynx and trachea. Happening serious violation respiratory function and swallowing process. The defect significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life.
  7. Accessory lung lobe. In addition to the main pair of lungs, there are accessory lungs. They practically don’t show themselves at all, clinical symptoms occurs only during inflammation.
  8. Severstation. A section of lung tissue is separated from the main organ, which has its own blood flow, but does not take part in the process of gas exchange.
  9. Azygos vein. The right side of the lung is divided by the azygos vein.

Congenital defects are easily noticed on ultrasound, and modern courses of therapy make it possible to stop their further development.

Diagnostic methods and preventive measures

The more accurately the diagnosis is made, the faster the patient’s path to recovery. At the first examination, the pulmonologist must take into account everything external manifestations diseases, patient complaints.

Based on the initial examination and conversation with the patient, a list is compiled necessary examinations, For example:

  • X-ray;
  • fluorography;
  • blood analysis,
  • tomography;
  • bronchography;
  • testing for infections.

Based on the data obtained, an individual treatment regimen is determined, procedures and antibacterial therapy are prescribed.

But none, the most modern methods of treatment, none, the most effective drugs will not bring any benefit if you do not follow all the instructions and recommendations of a specialist.

Preventive measures will significantly reduce the risk of pulmonary pathologies. The rules are simple, everyone can follow them:

  • avoiding smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol;
  • physical education and light physical activity;
  • hardening;
  • relaxation on the sea coast (and if this is not possible, walks in a pine forest);
  • annual visits to a pulmonologist.

The symptoms of pulmonary diseases described above are easy to remember. Every person should know them. Know and seek medical help at the first warning signs.

The respiratory system, in particular the lungs, plays a huge role in ensuring the normal functioning of our body. The most important process occurs in them - gas exchange, as a result of which the blood is saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide is released into the environment. Therefore, a violation of this function inevitably affects the entire body as a whole.

Such phenomena are due to the fact that at the molecular level, most of the processes of our life are associated with oxidation, which cannot be carried out without the participation of the oxygen we all know. If a person can live without food for weeks, without water for days, then without air only a few minutes. The cerebral cortex, under standard environmental conditions, dies within 5-7 minutes after stopping breathing and circulation.

As a result of hypoxia ( oxygen starvation) the body's reserves of high-energy bonds (in particular ATP) are depleted, which leads to energy deficiency. Along with this, metabolic products accumulate, resulting in the formation of acidosis (blood acidification). This is a fairly serious condition that can ultimately lead to death. This is where all the symptoms come from. Therefore, sometimes there is no need to be so negligent about respiratory disorders.

Signs of lung disease are very diverse and largely depend on the pathogen, severity and extent of damage. According to modern classification, all lung diseases are divided into two large classes: inflammatory and non-inflammatory.

The first includes various types of pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.), and the second, most often, occupational pathology (anthracosis, silicosis, asbestosis, etc. In this section we will consider only those that relate to inflammatory processes.

In order to more clearly perceive the picture and orientate ourselves a little in the diversity of everything stated below, let’s remember a little anatomy of the respiratory system. It consists of the nasopharynx, trachea and bronchi, which in turn are divided dichotomously, first into two large ones, and then into smaller ones, which ultimately end in sac-like protrusions called alveoli. It is in them that the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs between the lungs and the blood, and it is in them that all the diseases that we will talk about in this article arise.

The first and main signs of lung disease

1. Shortness of breath- This is a feeling of lack of air. It occurs in both respiratory and cardiovascular pathologies. The occurrence of shortness of breath of respiratory origin is characterized by a violation of the frequency, depth and rhythm of breathing. I distinguish the following types:

  • Inspiratory shortness of breath – when the inhalation process is difficult. It occurs due to a narrowing of the lumen of the larynx, trachea, bronchi (foreign bodies, edema, tumor).
  • Expiratory shortness of breath - when the process of exhalation is difficult. It occurs in diseases such as bronchial asthma, emphysema, obstructive bronchitis.
  • Mixed shortness of breath - when both inhalation and exhalation are difficult. Occurs during the development of certain lung diseases, such as lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc., when the supply of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide is disrupted.
  • Choking is an intense attack of shortness of breath that occurs suddenly. Most often accompanies bronchial asthma, embolism or thrombosis (blockage) pulmonary artery, pulmonary edema, acute edema vocal cords.

2. Cough- a complex reflex-protective act that occurs as a result of entry into the respiratory tract foreign objects or accumulation of secretions there (sputum, mucus, blood), caused by the development of various inflammatory processes.

  • Cough may occur reflexively, as in the case of dry pleurisy.
  • Dry cough is observed with laryngitis, tracheitis, pneumosclerosis, bronchial asthma, when the lumen of the bronchus contains viscous sputum, the release of which is difficult;
  • A wet cough occurs during an exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, when the bronchi contain wet secretions, as well as during inflammation, tuberculosis, abscess (in cases of breakthrough) and bronchiectasis. Sputum happens:
    • Mucous, with acute catarrhal bronchitis, bronchial asthma;
    • Purulent, during purulent bronchitis, rupture of a lung abscess;
    • Rusty sputum is characteristic of lobar pneumonia;
    • In the form of “raspberry jelly” in cases of lung cancer;
    • Black, fetid with gangrene of the lung;

Mouth full of phlegm, especially in morning time characteristic of abscess breakthrough, bronchiectasis.

  • A constant cough is characteristic of chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs (chronic laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, foreign bodies entering the respiratory tract).
  • Periodic cough occurs in people sensitive to cold, smokers and patients with bronchiectasis.
  • Periodic paroxysmal cough observed with whooping cough.
  • A barking cough is characteristic of laryngitis;
  • A silent, hoarse cough occurs when the vocal cords are damaged due to tuberculosis, syphilis, or when the rotary nerve is compressed;
  • Quiet coughing occurs in the first stage of lobar pneumonia, dry pleurisy and in the initial stage of tuberculosis;
  • Night cough is observed with tuberculosis, lymphogranulomatosis, malignant tumors. At the same time, the lymph nodes of the mediastinum enlarge and irritate the bifurcation (separation) zone of the trachea, especially at night, when the tone of the vagus nerve increases;

3. Hemoptysis occurs with tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, abscess, gangrene and lung cancer. Fresh blood in the sputum is characteristic of tuberculosis. In the presence of pulmonary hemorrhage, the blood has a foamy consistency, an alkaline reaction, and is accompanied by a dry cough.

4. Pain in the lung area.

  • Pain that appears after a deep breath or cough is characteristic of dry pleurisy (when fibrin is deposited on the pleura and friction between the leaves occurs). In this case, the patient tries to hold back the cough and lie down on the sore side;
  • Minor pain may appear after pleurisy as a result of the formation of adhesions (sticking together of sheets);
  • Severe pain in the chest is characteristic of malignant tumors of the pleura, or the growth of a lung tumor into the pleura;
  • When the phrenic nerve is involved in the inflammatory process, pain can radiate to the arm, neck, abdomen, simulating various diseases;
  • Acute, intense, sudden pain in a limited area of ​​the chest is characteristic of pneumothorax at the site of a pleural breakthrough. In parallel with this, shortness of breath, cyanosis and decreased blood pressure as a result of compression atelectasis;
  • Pain with intercostal neuralgia, myiasis, herpes zoster intensifies when bending to the affected side;

5. Increased body temperature accompanies inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, as well as tuberculosis;

6. Weakness, malaise, loss of appetite, lethargy and decreased ability to work– these are all symptoms of intoxication;

7. Change in skin color.

  • Pale skin is observed in patients with exudative pleurisy;
  • Hyperemia (redness) on the affected side in combination with cyanosis (cyanosis) is characteristic of lobar pneumonia;

8. Herpetic rashes;

9. Position of the patient:

  • The position on the sore side is typical for diseases such as dry pleurisy, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, etc.
  • Orthoptic - a semi-sitting position is occupied by people with bronchial asthma, pulmonary edema, etc.;

10. Symptom of “drumsticks” and “watch glasses”(due to chronic hypoxia, growths occur bone tissue in the area of ​​the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes) is characteristic of chronic lung diseases;

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

  1. An unmotivated increase in temperature to 37.2-37.5, especially in the evening;
  2. Night cold sweat;
  3. Intoxication syndrome: weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite;
  4. Loss of body weight;
  5. Cough. It can be dry or wet, it can be insignificant and bother the patient only in the morning or constant and frequent;
  6. Hemoptysis occurs during rupture of blood vessels;
  7. Shortness of breath, as a rule, occurs when the process is localized in both lungs;
  8. Sparkle of eyes;
  9. Blush on the cheeks;
  10. Enlarged lymph nodes of the neck, armpits, groin, etc.

Lobar pneumonia or pleuropneumonia:

  • Intoxication syndrome:
    • weakness,
    • fatigue,
    • loss of appetite,
    • headache,
    • muscle pain;
  • Syndrome of general inflammatory changes:
    • Feeling hot
    • Chills,
    • Temperature increase,
  • Syndrome of inflammatory changes in the lungs:
    • Cough;
    • Sputum;
    • Chest pain that gets worse when breathing or coughing;

Pneumonia is characterized by an acute onset. Body temperature suddenly rises to 39-40 degrees, which is accompanied by severe chills and severe chest pain. The pain intensifies during breathing and coughing. At first the cough is dry and painful, and after 1-2 days it appears rusty sputum. Then the sputum becomes mucopurulent, and after recovery the cough goes away. Symptoms of intoxication are expressed. At the same time, herpetic rashes appear on the lips and wings of the nose.

The fever is constant and lasts on average 7-12 days. The temperature decreases to normal within a few hours (crisis) or gradually (lysis). With a crisis decrease, a decrease in blood pressure and a frequent, weak “thread-like” pulse are possible.

Bronchopneumonia:

If bronchopneumonia develops against the background of bronchitis, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, etc., the onset of the disease cannot be determined.

However, often, especially in young people, the disease begins acutely and is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • Chills;
  • Increasing temperature to 38-39 ° C;
  • Weakness;
  • Headache;
  • Cough (dry or with mucopurulent sputum);
  • chest pain;
  • increased breathing (up to 25-30 per minute).

Symptoms of lung disease sarcoidosis

Signs of pulmonary sarcoidosis may be accompanied by symptoms such as:

  • Malaise;
  • Anxiety;
  • Fatigue;
  • General weakness;
  • Weight loss;
  • Loss of appetite;
  • Fever;
  • Sleep disorders;
  • Night sweats.

With intrathoracic lymphoglandular form In half of the patients the course of pulmonary sarcoidosis is asymptomatic, in the other half there are observed clinical manifestations in the form of such symptoms as:

  • weakness,
  • pain in the chest and joints,
  • cough,
  • increase in body temperature,
  • appearance of erythema nodosum.

Flow mediastinal-pulmonary form sarcoidosis is accompanied

  • cough,
  • shortness of breath,
  • pain in the chest.
  • skin lesions,
  • eye,
  • peripheral lymph nodes,
  • parotid salivary glands (Herford syndrome),
  • bones (Morozov-Jungling symptom).

For pulmonary form sarcoidosis is characterized by the presence of:

  • shortness of breath,
  • cough with sputum,
  • chest pain,
  • arthralgia.

Symptoms of fungal lung disease

The most common culprits of fungal diseases are actinomycetes.

Symptoms of pulmonary actinomycosis at the initial stage of the disease, the clinical picture resembles bronchopneumonia. In patients:

  • body temperature rises,
  • there is profuse sweating,
  • prostration,
  • wet cough, sometimes with blood in the sputum

At the second stage of actinomycosis of the lungs, the fungus infects pleura, causing dry pleurisy, which eventually turns into an exudative form. The fungal micelles penetrate the muscle tissue of the chest and lead to the formation of dense infiltrates. These formations are quite painful; they are characterized by the so-called fire soreness.

The third stage of actinomycosis is accompanied by the formation of fistulas, the process of granulation and the release of pus.

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)

COPD is a mixture of two various diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Narrowing of the airways makes breathing difficult. The first symptoms of the disease: rapid fatigue after light work, even moderate exercise makes breathing difficult. The chest feels cold, the expectoration turns yellow or greenish color, weight comes off uncontrollably. Bending over to put on your shoes reveals a lack of air to breathe. The causes of chronic disease are smoking and protein deficiency.

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. At acute bronchitis It is important to drink expectorants. They remove mucus from the lungs and reduce inflammation.

The first sign of chronic bronchitis is persistent 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 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 the disease is salty taste 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, sharp pain in the chest.

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 increases the risk of other types of cancer: gastrointestinal tract, kidney, cancer, bladder and gall bladder, throat cancer. 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 difficult 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 disease may cause symptoms 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 open form closed. 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, healthy way life.

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