There are many factors that can cause pulmonary or lung disease. There are many types of lung disease including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and tuberculosis; people with lung disease often have a difficult time breathing. If all lung diseases are combined, it's one of the leading causes of death among Americans, according to MedlinePlus.
Air Pollution
Air pollution can cause lung disease. According to a 2006 study by Francesca Dominici, Ph.D. and colleagues published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," short-term exposure to fine particulate matter boosts the risk for hospital admission for respiratory diseases. A 2000 article by N. Kunzli and colleagues published in "Lancet" states that, in Austria, France and Switzerland, air pollution--especially pollution from motor vehicles--accounts for more than 25,000 new cases of adult chronic bronchitis each year as well as 290,000 episodes of bronchitis in children, more that 500,000 asthma attacks and 16 million days of restricted activities. According to the American Lung Association, during days in which air quality is particularly low, a person should decrease strenuous outdoor activity or exercise in the early morning, limit driving, conserve energy and avoid idling his vehicle.
Smoking
Smoking can cause lung disease. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes is the No. 1 cause of lung disease among Americans. If a person lives or works with a smoker, it's important for her to avoid secondhand smoke as much as possible. According to the USDHHS, smoking is the cause of about 90 percent of all cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD in the United States. COPD is a general term describing two related and progressive diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD restricts airflow out of the lungs and makes it hard for a person to breathe. The USDHHS also notes that smoking causes 87 percent of all lung cancer in Americans, and that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among American women. The most effective way to avoid lung disease is to avoid or quit smoking.
Respiratory Infection
Respiratory infections can cause lung disease. According to MedlinePlus, respiratory infection can lead to lung diseases such as pneumonia, histoplasmosis and tuberculosis, among others. Pneumonia is particularly problematic for those individuals older than age 65 or for those with a depressed immune system. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that histoplasmosis is a lung disease caused by a fungal infection of the lungs; it can be fatal if left untreated. According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is an infectious--and often deadly--lung disease that's caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Lung Diseases
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Fine Particulate Air Pollution; Francesca Dominici, Ph.D. et al.; March 2006
- "Lancet"; Air Pollution: A European Assessment; N. Kunzli et al.; September 2000
- American Lung Association: Summer Heat Brings Air Pollution
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Lung Disease
