Lung Diseases Archives

How to Prevent Lung Cancer

April is now cancer control month in the United States, as announced by The White House in 2012. Aside from all of the different types of cancer, lung cancer is the ones that causes the most deaths in men and women, middle aged people and senior citizens. One of the ways of dealing with lung cancer during treatment might be the use of oxygen therapy.

The high death rate for people with lung cancer, is because in the early stages, it can be hard to find an detect. The lungs are a comparatively large organ and there are two of them, so a cancerous tumor can grow inside them for a while without being detected. If you happen to get a chest x-ray for other reasons, a tumor and lung cancer can be found. If you’re lucky, the cancer wouldn’t have spread because of the type of lung cancer it might be. Just like any other cancer, it can spread to other parts of the body and make treating it much more difficult, with a poor prognosis.

April 5, 2013April 6, 2021 Scott Ridl

Organ Donation and Lung Transplants – What You Need to Know

The medical technology of organ donation has saved many lives, but it’s estimated that around 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, and it can be hard to find the right match. Organ donation is complicated and can be risky. The blood type has to be matched between the recipient and the donor, and the size and age have to be compatible.

If you have severe COPD or another lung disease, receiving a lung transplant might be an option for you. This might be an option so you won’t need to depend on an oxygen concentrator for the rest of your life, or need a battery of medications to keep your lungs functioning as close to properly as possible.
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March 8, 2013April 5, 2021 Scott Ridl

Why it’s Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

Let’s say you’ve been smoking for fifty years and you’ve just been diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Your doctor has ordered you to quit smoking, but you wonder, what’s the use? Isn’t the damage already done? If I quit now, will it make any difference? The short answer to this question is a big YES. Quitting smoking is still the best thing you can do for yourself.

January 27, 2013April 5, 2021 Scott Ridl

What is Sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis (pronounced sar-coy-doe-sis) is a diseased caused by small areas of inflammation. 90% of cases are in the lungs (pulmonary sarcoidosis), but it can affect any part of the body including the skin, liver, lymph glands, spleen, eyes, nervous system, muscles, bones, heart, and kidneys.

Sarcoidosis causes the immune system to overact and damage the body’s own tissues. It creates clumps of inflamed cells that can interfere with an organ’s normal functions.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. It is not contagious and most researchers believe that it is an immune system disorder caused by a failure in the body’s natural defense system. Others believe that it may be the result of a viral respiratory infection or environmental toxins and allergens. These triggers generally do not bother most people, but can provoke the immune system to develop inflammation in people prone to sarcoidosis.

September 26, 2012July 25, 2023 Scott Ridl

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that leads to mild cold-like symptoms in healthy adults and children, but can be more serious in young babies and those in high-risk groups.

RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in infants under one year old. It is very contagious and almost all children are infected by the time they are two, but only a small percentage develop a severe illness.

September 20, 2012September 8, 2020 Scott Ridl

Pulmonary Vascular Diseases

Pulmonary vascular disease is a term for a disease affecting the blood vessels leading to or from the lungs. It refers to a category of disorders. Below is some basic information about the major types of pulmonary vascular disease.

Pulmonary embolism is when the blood flow through the lung’s artery is suddenly blocked by a blood clot that traveled from the leg, pelvis, or other deep vein. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting, and a rapid heart rate. A pulmonary embolism can damage the heart or cause death. It can be prevented by drugs that break up blood clots, proper exercise and physical activity, compression socks, and pneumatic compression.

Chronic thromboembolic disease is a condition where old blood clots remain in the lung’s arteries instead of being absorbed by the body. It can cause the person’s blood pressure to get dangerously high, causing stress on the heart and other complications including pulmonary arterial hypertension. It often progresses gradually, causing small blood vessels in the lungs to become diseased until a large part of the pulmonary arterial system is affected.

September 14, 2012September 1, 2020 Scott Ridl

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis? Pulmonary Fibrosis Overview, Symptoms and Treatment

Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that affects about 200,000 Americans according to the American Thoracic Society. In pulmonary fibrosis, the tissues inside the lungs—the airways and alveoli, or air sacs—become scarred and stiff. This stiffness means the airways cannot contract and expand as easily when taking in air, and cellular damage within the alveoli (air sacs) does not allow oxygen to pass as easily to the bloodstream, also impairing carbon dioxide from passed through as easily to be exhaled. This impairs the body’s ability to take in oxygen.

September 10, 2012July 24, 2023 Kerri M

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs. Sometimes it is in only one lung and in other cases it affects both lungs. The infection can be any type of microbial infection – bacterial, viral, fungal, or even mycoplasma. There are over 30 causes for pneumonia. Because of this, it is not always treated the same way.

Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, so viral pneumonia cannot be treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, a full third of all pneumonia cases in the U.S. are due to viruses that attack the respiratory system. And in children under five years old, this is the most common cause. Of viral pneumonia cases in adults, it is typically the flu virus that causes it, although severe acute respiratory syndrome, rhinovirus (the common cold), respiratory syncytial virus, the herpes simplex virus, and others can cause viral pneumonia. In addition, viruses can lead to secondary bacterial pneumonia by weakening the immune system.
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August 28, 2012April 5, 2021 Scott Ridl

What is Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia?

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a birth defect affecting the cilia, a very tiny yet very prolific part of the respiratory system. Looking similar to hair, the cilia move together to clear mucus out of the respiratory system. As long as the cilia work properly, this process prevents the buildup of mucus. But with PCD the cilia do not function as they should. The resulting buildup of mucus in the respiratory tract can cause inflammation and regular infections.

August 27, 2012April 5, 2021 Scott Ridl

What is Primary Pulmonary Hypertension?

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHP) is a condition involving increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries due to an unknown cause. (It is identified as “primary” because the cause is unknown, unlike Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension where a cause has been identified involving an underlying condition of the heart or lungs.) The pulmonary arteries bring blood from the heart to the lungs to gather oxygen to deliver to the rest of the body.

August 26, 2012April 5, 2021 Scott Ridl

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