Lungs have a complex structure with billions of minuscule parts that allow the exchange of gases. To begin with, the first part (at the beginning of the lungs) is called the trachea, the windpipe. Through this pipe, the oxygenated air enters the body and the deoxygenated blood leaves it. The trachea branches into smaller tubes called bronchi which in turn branches into more minute tubes throughout the lungs.
At the end of these tubes are little bag-like structures in which the exchange happens. These bag-like structures are called Alveoli. The alveoli are covered by an extremely thin lining which separates the blood from the airway, called the Interstitium.
Depending on the part of the lung that is harmed or affected by a disease, there can be a number of different lung diseases that can affect a person. The lungs hospitals in Delhi have some of the best lungs doctors in Delhi that advise avoiding smoking and other petty habits that can cause infection in the lung.
Diseases or problems caused in the airway (trachea, bronchi etc)-
· Asthma
In Asthma, the airways inflame that can occasionally cause wheezing and shortness of breath.
· Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is a lung condition where a person experiences difficulty in exhaling causing shortness of breath. This can also give rise to chronic bronchitis which is also a form of COPD characterized by a cough.
· Emphysema
Emphysema is a disease which causes the air to get trapped inside the lungs causing difficulty in exhaling. Thus, giving rise to COPD. This is caused due to extreme lung damage in the connections between alveoli.
· Acute Bronchitis
Acute Bronchitis is characterized by a sudden infection in the airways caused by a virus.
· Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition which causes poor or incomplete clearance of mucus from the bronchi. The accumulation of mucus causes repeated lung infections which further results in the weakening of the organ.
Lung diseases originating in the Alveoli
· Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria.
· Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is the result of an acute case of pneumonia that has spread beyond the limit.
· Pulmonary Edema
In this disease, the fluid (blood) leaks out of the small blood vessels into the air sacs.
· Lung Cancer
Lung cancer can develop in any part of the lung but it is most common in the main region i.e. in and around the alveoli.
· Acute respiratory distress disease (ARDD)
This is a very serious condition where the person has to be put on life support until the patient recovers. In Acute Respiratory Distress Disease, the lungs get severely injured due to an illness.
· Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is a bunch of conditions caused due to the inhalation of a substance that injures the lungs.
Lung diseases that affect the Interstitium
· Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial Lung Disease is a collection of a number of conditions that affect the interstitium. Some of the conditions that are a part of the Interstitial Lung Disease are Sarcoidosis, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and autoimmune diseases.
· Pneumonia and Pulmonary Edema can also affect the Interstitial site.
Lung diseases that affect the Blood Vessels
· Pulmonary embolism
This is a condition where a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lung getting clogged into one of the vessels causing shortness of breath.
· Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is the conditions caused due to high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. This can result in shortness of breath and chest pain.
Some of the best Pulmonology hospitals in Delhi have specialized doctors and a team of technicians that are well experienced and trained to treat different lung disease. The lungs specialists in Delhi look into every case carefully and determine the best course of treatment.
