Obstructive and

Restrictive Lung Diseases

Lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs, such
as asthma, COPD, infections
like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, lung cancer, and many
other breathing problems. Some lung diseases can lead to respiratory
failure.
Respiratory failure is a condition in which your blood doesn't have
enough oxygen or has too much carbon dioxide

Obstructive lung disease

Obstructive lung disease is a category of respiratory
disease characterized by airway obstruction.
 Many obstructive diseases of the lung result from narrowing
(obstruction) of the smaller bronchi and larger bronchioles, often
because of excessive contraction of the smooth muscle itself.
In obstructive lung disease, less air flows in and out of the alveoli and
fewer gas exchanges can happen.
* Common factors that obstruct airflow include:
- swelling and inflammation in the airways
- thick mucus in the airways
- damage to the walls of the air sacs
* some of common obstructive lung disease are:-
Asthma:- is an obstructive lung disease where the bronchial tubes
(airways) are extra sensitive (hyperresponsive).
Bronchiectasis:- is refers to the abnormal, irreversible dilatation of
the bronchi caused by destructive and inflammatory changes in the
airway walls.Its sympton is cough and fever.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:- (COPD) also known as
chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) is a group of illnesses
characterised by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The flow of
air into and out of the lungs is impaired
Bronchiolitis :- subgroup of chronic bronchitis that cause
inflammatory scarring and bronchiole obliteration.
 *Generally symptoms of obstructive lung disease include:
- wheezing(breathing loudly and difficult)
- tightness in the chest
- a chronic cough that may produce mucus
- weight loss
- loose of energy
- swelling in the legs and feel
*Symptoms and their severity will vary from person to person
depending on how much the disease has advanced.

Prevention
*There are some precautionary steps that a person can take to
preventing obstructive lung disease including:
- stop smoking
- avoiding secondhand smoke
- exercising regularly
- taking precautions around chemicals and fumes

Treatment
The aim of treatment for obstructive lung disease is to open the airways.

Restrictive Lung Diseases

Restrictive lung diseses are a category of extrapulmonary and
pleural respiratory diseases that restrict lung expansion, resulting in a
decreased lung volume, an increased work of breathing, and inadequate
ventilation or oxygenation. Pulmonary function test demonstrates a
decrease in the forced vital capacity.Conditions that cause stiffness in
the lungs or the muscles around the lungs cause restrictive lung disease.
Restrictive lung disease is characterized by reduced lung volumes and a
person cannot fully fill their lungs because the lungs are restricted.
*Restrictive lung diseases are often divided into two groups, depending
on whether their cause is intrinsic or extrinsic.

Intrinsic restrictive lung disorders cause an internal

abnormality, usually leading to the stiffening, inflammation, and scarring
of the lung tissues.some of them are :-
- Pneumoconiosis 
- tuberculosis
- sarcoidosis
- pulmonary fibrosis
- interstitial lung disease
- lung cancers
- fibrosis caused by radiation
- rheumatoid arthritis

Extrinsic restrictive lung disease is caused by complications

with tissues or structures outside of the lungs, including neurological
conditions.an extrinsic restrictive lung disease are often associated with
weakened muscles, damaged nerves, or the stiffening of the chest wall
tissues.some of them are:-
- pleural effusions, or the buildup of excessive fluid between tissue
layers surrounding the lungs
- scoliosis, or twisting of the spine
- neuromuscular disease or conditions
obesity
- starting muscle weakness
- rib damage, especially fractures
- ascites, or abdominal swelling connected with liver scarring or cancer
- diaphragm paralysis
- diaphragmatic hernia
- heart failure

Symptoms
* Most people with restrictive lung diseases have similar symptoms,
including:
- shortness of breath
- inability to get enough breath
- chronic or a long-term cough
- weight loss
- chest pain
- anxiety

Treatment
* Treatment plans depend on the cause or the type of restrictive lung
disease.
Medications commonly used to treat restrictive lung diseases include:
- azathioprine
- cyclophosphamide
- corticosteroids, usually in an inhaler form
- methotrexate
- other immunosuppressing and anti inflammatory medications
- anti-scarring medications, such as pirfenidone or nintedanib

Emphysema
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). In emphysema the air sacs in the lungs become damaged and
stretched. This results in a chronic cough and difficulty breathing, lung
tissue loses elasticity, and the air sacs and alveoli in the lungs become
larger.
The walls of the air sacs break down or are destroyed, narrowed,
collapsed, stretched, or over-inflated. 

Symptoms
The key symptoms of emphysema include:
- shortness of breath
- a chronic cough that produces mucus
- wheezing and a whistling
- tightness in the chest
*Emphysema develop over a number of years.In the later stages, a
person may have:
- frequent lung infections
- worsening symptoms, including shortness of breath, mucus
production, and wheezing
- weight loss and reduced appetite
- fatigue and a loss of energy
- anxiety and depression
- sleep problems

Treatments
* TreatmentTrusted Source cannot cure emphysema, but it can help:
- slow the progress of the condition
- manage the symptoms
- prevent complications
- boost a person’s overall health and well-being

Prevention
* Avoiding or quitting smoking is the best way to prevent emphysema
from developing or getting worse.Other strategies include:
- eating a healthful diet

- establishing and maintaining a moderate weight

- avoiding air pollution, if possible
- taking steps to prevent infection, such as receiving regular vaccinations