Lung disease
Lung disease is any problem in the lungs that prevents the lungs from working properly. There are three main types of lung disease:
- Airway diseases -- These diseases affect the tubes (airways) that carry oxygen and other gases into and out of the lungs. They usually cause a narrowing or blockage of the airways. Airway diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiolitis, and bronchiectasis (which also is the main disorder for persons with cystic fibrosis). People with airway diseases often say they feel as if they're "trying to breathe out through a straw."
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease. Having COPD makes it hard to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:Chroni...
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Bronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....
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Bronchiectasis is a disease in which the large airways in the lungs are damaged. This causes the airways to become permanently wider. Bronchiectasis...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Lung tissue diseases -- These diseases affect the structure of the lung tissue. Scarring or inflammation of the tissue makes the lungs unable to expand fully (restrictive lung disease). This makes it hard for the lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. People with this type of lung disorder often say they feel as if they are "wearing a too-tight sweater or vest." As a result, they can't breathe deeply. Pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis are examples of lung tissue disease.
Pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Lung circulation diseases -- These diseases affect the blood vessels in the lungs. They are caused by clotting, scarring, or inflammation of the blood vessels. They affect the ability of the lungs to take up oxygen and release carbon dioxide. These diseases may also affect heart function. An example of a lung circulation disease is pulmonary hypertension. People with these conditions often feel very short of breath when they exert themselves.
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs. It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal....
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Many lung diseases involve a combination of these three types.
The most common lung diseases include:
- Asthma
- Collapse of part or all of the lung (pneumothorax or atelectasis)
Pneumothorax
A collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then fills the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall. This buil...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAtelectasis
Atelectasis is the collapse of part or, much less commonly, all of a lung.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Swelling and inflammation in the main passages (bronchial tubes) that carry air to the lungs (bronchitis)
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the bronchi, the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, w...
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- Lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe...
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...
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Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs. This buildup of fluid leads to shortness of breath.
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Pulmonary embolus
A pulmonary embolus is a blockage of an artery in the lungs. The most common cause of the blockage is a blood clot.
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References
Clifton IJ, Ellames DAB. Respiratory medicine. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.
Kraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 77.
Pulmonary mass - side view chest X-ray - illustration
This individual has a mass in the upper part of the lung. Although the cause of the mass can be suspected, based on this person's history, there are many diseases that can produce lung lesions.
Pulmonary mass - side view chest X-ray
illustration
Lung mass, right lung - CT scan - illustration
This is a CT scan of the upper chest showing a mass in the right lung (seen on the left side of the picture).
Lung mass, right lung - CT scan
illustration
Lung mass, right upper lung - chest X-ray - illustration
This picture is a chest X-ray of a person with a lung mass. This is a front view, where the lungs are the two dark areas and the heart and other structures are visible in the middle of the chest. The X-ray shows a mass in the right upper lung, indicated with the arrow (seen on the left side of the picture).
Lung mass, right upper lung - chest X-ray
illustration
Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration
This CT scan shows a cross section of the lungs of a person with lung cancer. The two dark areas in the middle of the screen are the lungs. The light areas in the right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.
Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan
illustration
Secondhand smoke and lung cancer - illustration
Secondhand smoke has been classified as a known cause of lung cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).
Secondhand smoke and lung cancer
illustration
Yellow nail syndrome - illustration
Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by yellow nails that lack a cuticle, grow slowly, and are loose or detached (onycholysis). Yellow nail syndrome is most commonly associated with lung disorders, and with lymphedema.
Yellow nail syndrome
illustration
Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
Pulmonary mass - side view chest X-ray - illustration
This individual has a mass in the upper part of the lung. Although the cause of the mass can be suspected, based on this person's history, there are many diseases that can produce lung lesions.
Pulmonary mass - side view chest X-ray
illustration
Lung mass, right lung - CT scan - illustration
This is a CT scan of the upper chest showing a mass in the right lung (seen on the left side of the picture).
Lung mass, right lung - CT scan
illustration
Lung mass, right upper lung - chest X-ray - illustration
This picture is a chest X-ray of a person with a lung mass. This is a front view, where the lungs are the two dark areas and the heart and other structures are visible in the middle of the chest. The X-ray shows a mass in the right upper lung, indicated with the arrow (seen on the left side of the picture).
Lung mass, right upper lung - chest X-ray
illustration
Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration
This CT scan shows a cross section of the lungs of a person with lung cancer. The two dark areas in the middle of the screen are the lungs. The light areas in the right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.
Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan
illustration
Secondhand smoke and lung cancer - illustration
Secondhand smoke has been classified as a known cause of lung cancer in humans (Group A carcinogen).
Secondhand smoke and lung cancer
illustration
Yellow nail syndrome - illustration
Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by yellow nails that lack a cuticle, grow slowly, and are loose or detached (onycholysis). Yellow nail syndrome is most commonly associated with lung disorders, and with lymphedema.
Yellow nail syndrome
illustration
Respiratory system - illustration
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.
Respiratory system
illustration
Review Date: 7/31/2022
Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron Jr. Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.