These are 5 diseases that attack the lungs

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The lungs are an organ that plays an important role in running the respiratory system (breathing). When air reaches the lungs, there will be an exchange of oxygen from outside the body and carbon dioxide from the blood. If the lungs are affected or have a disease, the process will be disrupted.

In general, shortness of breath, prolonged coughing, and wheezing are some signs of lung disease. However, there are many types of lung disease. Symptoms and severity can vary from person to person. So, what are the types of diseases that attack the lungs? Listen after this.

Different Types of Lung Diseases

The following are some types of diseases that can affect the lungs:

Pneumonia

Pneumonia or pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed and swell. This disease is called pneumonia because in this condition, the lungs can become filled with fluid or pus. The cause of inflammation due to pneumonia is a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Transmission can occur through air contaminated with germs from a person who sneezes or coughs.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a lung disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These bacteria not only attack the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lymph nodes, central nervous system, and kidneys. Transmission of the bacteria that causes TB is through sputum or fluids splashing from the person's respiratory tract, for example when coughing or sneezing.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammatory disease that occurs in the bronchi, which is the branching of the airways leading to the lungs. One of the most common causes of this disease is a viral infection, which is transmitted from the sufferer through the sputum that the person secretes. If the sputum droplets are inhaled or swallowed by another person, the virus will infect that person's bronchial tubes.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung inflammation that triggers a disturbance in airflow, either to or from the lungs. In general, there are two types of disorders that occur in COPD, namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

In chronic bronchitis, inflammation occurs in the bronchial walls, whereas in emphysema, inflammation or damage occurs in the alveoli (small sacs in the lungs). The main factor that can cause COPD is exposure to cigarette smoke in the long term, both actively and passively. Meanwhile, other risk factors are exposure to dust, fuel fumes and chemical fumes.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by shortness of breath due to inflammation and narrowing of the airways. People with asthma generally have a more sensitive respiratory tract. That is why when exposed to allergens or triggers, the respiratory tract becomes inflamed, swollen, and narrows. As a result, the air flow becomes obstructed. 

In addition to shortness of breath, there will be an increase in the production of phlegm which makes it even more difficult for the sufferer to breathe. There are several things that can trigger an asthma attack, namely exposure to dust, cigarette smoke, animal dander, cold air, viruses, and chemicals.

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