Every time a breath is taken, the lungs extract oxygen from the air and deliver it to the blood stream. There are many types of diseases that affect the lungs, some of them fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that cancer, including lung cancer, is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. The American Lung Association (ACS) reports that lung cancer is the most common fatal cancer. The CDC also reports that other respiratory diseases are the fourth leading cause of death.
Lung Cancer
There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, making up approximately 80 percent of all lung cancers. NSCLC is subdivided into three subtypes based on the type of lung cell that becomes cancerous: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma. The other type of lung cancer, SCLC, is named for the characteristic small cells that make up this type of cancer. CancerCare reports that SCLC is often fast multiplying and spreads rapidly throughout the body. Because of its tendency to spread quickly, it is often hard to medically treat SCLC.
Asthma
Asthma, according to MedlinPlus, is characterized by inflammation of the airways that causes swelling, an overproduction of mucus and constriction of the muscles surrounding the airways. These three processes together cause the symptoms associated with asthma. These symptoms include difficulty breathing, a tight feeling in the chest, wheezing and coughing.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a term that encompasses two types of disease--emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In COPD, the air sacs of the lung are no longer springy and elastic, so they can no longer expand and collapse to move air through the lungs normally. MedlinPlus reports that cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious and highly infectious lung disease. The Mayo Clinic reports that signs and symptoms of TB include unintentional weight loss, fatigue, sweating, chills, fever and chest pain. Persistent, intense coughing is a major symptom of TB. Coughing lasts three weeks or longer, and the infected person may cough up blood.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs that can be mild or serious. It can result from a variety of causes, including infection with bacteria or viruses, and chemical or physical injury to the lungs. The symptoms of pneumonia may vary, depending on the underlying cause. The Mayo Clinic reports that symptoms of pneumonia may include fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, chest pain, headache, muscle pain and fatigue.
