World Lung Day

September 25, 2024, marks World Lung Day.

People breathe to live. Therefore, lung health is the most important condition for a full and happy human life.

Factors that negatively affect lung health include smoking, weakened immune systems, environmental pollution, a high number of cars, factories, household chemicals, and other factors. These factors can lead to lung diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchitis, COPD, and lung cancer.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can affect people of all ages. Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and cause coughing and shortness of breath. Asthma cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed.

For some people, asthma is a minor annoyance. For others, it can be a serious problem that interferes with daily activities and can lead to a life-threatening attack.

Asthma symptoms vary from person to person. You may have infrequent asthma attacks, symptoms only at certain times, such as during exercise, or symptoms all the time.

Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing
  • Whistling or squeaky sound when breathing out
  • Cough or shortness of breath that gets worse with a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, often called Koch's bacillus. The disease develops only in response to the multiplication of these microbes in the human body and most often affects the lungs. The infection spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or spit.

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable!

People at increased risk of developing tuberculosis include those who:

  • suffer from diabetes (high blood sugar levels);
  • have a weakened immune system (e.g., individuals with HIV infection or AIDS);
  • suffer from malnutrition;
  • use tobacco.

Common symptoms of tuberculosis:

  • prolonged cough (sometimes with blood),
    • chest pain,
    • weakness,
    • increased fatigue,
    • weight loss,
    • fever,
    • night sweats.

    PNEUMONIA is an inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It can occur as an independent disease, but often becomes a complication of other illnesses (influenza, coronavirus, AIDS and other immunodeficiencies, lung tumors, bronchiectasis, etc.). The inflammation affects the lower respiratory tract, causing cough, sputum, and, with extensive spread, shortness of breath. Pneumonia is almost always accompanied by an elevated body temperature (up to 39-40°C) or, less commonly, a temperature below normal (especially in the elderly), increased fatigue, lethargy, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

    If you do not consult a specialist when the first signs of the disease appear, the symptoms will worsen, and pneumonia will progress, affecting an increasing volume of the lungs. Therefore, do not postpone making an appointment with a doctor.

    Bronchitis is an inflammatory process affecting the trachea and bronchi. Depending on the causes of development, the nature of the course, and possible complications, there are 2 forms of bronchitis: acute and chronic. It is believed that in most cases, the cause of bronchitis development is infection: viruses, bacteria, atypical microorganisms. However, this is true only for acute inflammation. For chronic bronchitis, infection is the cause of inflammation in only 10-12% of cases; in most cases, these are prolonged mixed (viral-bacterial) infections with a severe course. The main cause of chronic inflammatory process development is long-term exposure of the bronchial mucosa to inorganic irritants: tobacco smoke, dust, unfavorable climatic conditions.

    Symptoms of Bronchitis: Acute bronchitis is characterized by a sudden increase in body temperature to 37.5-39oC, accompanied by symptoms of organism intoxication (general weakness, sweating, chills, headache). Cough develops later. Depending on the causative agent, the nature of the cough may change. Chronic bronchitis presents a clinical picture that depends on the stage of the process. In the early stages, most patients do not consider themselves ill, attributing the occasional cough to working in hazardous conditions or smoking tobacco. They typically experience a periodic cough with the expectoration of a small amount of clear (mucous) or yellowish (mucopurulent) sputum, predominantly in the morning hours. Sometimes, coughing occurs upon inhalation of cold air or tobacco smoke. As the disease progresses, more bronchi are affected (from larger to smaller ones), leading to the onset and subsequent increase of shortness of breath (respiratory failure). Initially, patients notice shortness of breath during usual exertion. However, in the later stages of the process, shortness of breath becomes constant and does not subside even at complete rest. During exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, an increase in body temperature is observed, accompanied by symptoms of intoxication, increased cough intensity, and changes in sputum characteristics.

    COPD

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by impaired patency of bronchioles, alveolar dilation, and impaired gas exchange. The pathology typically develops in men over 40 years of age and is primarily associated with long-term smoking. The changes occurring in the lungs are irreversible, which is why it is crucial to identify the first signs of the pathology in a timely manner and halt the process.

    Causes: The main cause of COPD is prolonged negative exposure to the respiratory system. Primarily, this is smoking, both active and passive. Other potential factors that increase the risk of developing the disease include:

    • prolonged inhalation of dust and fine particles, including those of organic origin;
    • regular contact with corrosive chemical vapors;
    • residing in a region with unfavorable environmental conditions (air pollution, smog);
    • prematurity;
    • frequent infections of the lower respiratory tract;
  • certain congenital defects.

The more risk factors there are, the earlier a person may develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the more severe its symptoms will be.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of COPD are cough with sputum and shortness of breath associated with insufficient oxygen supply to the blood. In the early stages of the disease, episodes occur very rarely, mostly in the morning. Shortness of breath only appears with significant physical exertion. As a rule, the patient pays no attention to these signs. Respiratory diseases exacerbate the symptoms, but after recovery, the patient's condition stabilizes.

As the pathology progresses, coughing fits become daily, and the amount of sputum increases. During exacerbations, it can become purulent. Shortness of breath and a feeling of air hunger occur even with slight exertion or at rest. In advanced cases, the patient loses the ability to lead an active life due to respiratory failure.

Lung cancer is one of the most common oncological pathologies. It is characterized by malignant transformation of the cells of the bronchial mucosa or alveoli.

Symptoms

Most patients mistake the first signs of lung cancer for a common cold, as there are no specific manifestations in the initial stage of tumor growth. As the pathological neoplasm increases, the patient develops:

  • a feeling of general malaise, decreased work capacity;
  • elevated body temperature;
  • a wet cough with sputum expectoration;
  • difficulty, noisy breathing;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • frequent respiratory tract infections.

The symptoms of lung cancer in men and women are practically the same. Over time, these manifestations intensify, and are joined by:

  • chest pain, which worsens during coughing and deep breaths;
  • shortness of breath with minor exertion or at rest;
  • streaks of blood or brown clots in the expectorated sputum;
  • headaches, bone pain;
  • dizziness, periodic loss of consciousness;
  • unexplained sharp weight loss, loss of appetite.

If cough, elevated temperature, and increased sputum production continue for more than two to three weeks, it is imperative to consult an oncologist for examination.

Therefore, for lung health, it is necessary to: eat properly, do not smoke, engage in breathing exercises, physical education, and sports, harden the body, undergo a fluorographic examination annually, protect the lungs from chemicals, paints, and household chemicals, clear your home of dust collectors, ventilate rooms regularly, and get out into nature, into the forest, more often.

Lead a healthy lifestyle and be healthy!

State Institution "Rossonsky RCGE", 2024