ElderThink

Respiratory (Lung) Diseases

Lung Diseases

Ella Traver - Sept. 20, 2017

Lung diseases are messy and noisy. About 17% of us who are over age 65 have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) There is no known cure for COPD, it is progressive, and it is the third leading cause of death for our age group. The more severe cases have difficulty breathing, they wheeze and cough, and cough up mucus (and sometimes blood) from deep in the chest.

It's important to see a doctor when any of these symptoms show up because these same symptoms could be an infection that is treatable with antibiotics. You might be able to get well.

Types of Lung Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is progressive and so affects us later in life. The long-term effects result in enlargement of the right side of the heart and eventual death.

Chronic Bronchitis involves inflammation of the air passages which causes the airways to leak fluids, resulting in a wet, painful cough. When this condition is re-occurring, it is considered to be "chronic," different from a one-time infection.

Pulmonary Fibrosis scars the lungs, causing passageways to thicken and harden. This causes shortness of breath even during and after rest. It is a progressive disease.

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease where some form of mineral dust settles in the lungs, causing irreversible scarring and hardening of the lungs.

Emphysema gradually destroys the air sacs in the lungs, making it progressively more difficult to breath.

Interstitial Lung Disease has a variety of causes. People with this progressive disease have difficulty breathing and moving from place to place.

Bronchiectasis causes the airways to slowly lose their ability to clear out mucus. A mucus blockage builds up which allows bacteria to grow. Over time the airways lose their abiltity to move air in and out.

Tests for Lung Disease

Spirometry (spy-rom-etry) is a painless test of your lungs. You blow into a mouthpiece and tubing attached to a machine. The machine measures the amount of air you blow out and how fast you can blow it. Another test is a blood gas test that measures the level of oxygen in your blood. An x-ray of your chest and a CT-scan might also be recommended.

A bronchoscopy looks at the the inside of your airways. A narrow tube with a camera is inserted through your nose and mouth into your lungs. During this procedure, the doctor may take a bit of tissue for a biopsy. Other forms of biopsy include CT-guided where at needle is inserted through your skin using a CT-scan as a guide, and a video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) where a surgeon makes a small incision in your chest to remove tissue samples from your lungs.

Treatments and Therapies

Inhalers with bronchodilator medicine to help open airways and make breathing easier. An inhaler allows the medicine to go straight to your lungs. Bronchodilators are sometimes combined with steroids to reduce inflammation.

If you have low levels of oxygen in your blood, oxygen therapy can help you breathe better. Oxygen is delivered through a tube with nose prongs or with a mask.

Surgeries may be an option depending on the type and progression of the lung disease, the possible presence of other diseases, and the general health of the patient.

Stem Cell Therapy is a promising type of treatment for lung diseases. We don't know much about the effectiveness of this type of treatment. Progression of these diseases is over years and Stem Cell Therapy is too new to be able to learn much about the effectiveness. The COPD Foundation offers more information. here