When blood clot blocks one or more arteries in your lungs the condition is known as pulmonary embolism. It can cause a decrease in the oxygen levels in your blood, damage to your lungs due to sudden restrictions in the flow of blood along with adverse effects on other parts of your body. Life threatening blockage can cause death if left untreated and you should immediately contact your health care provider to get proper diagnosis. Pulmonary embolism requires various lab tests and generally requires short time to resolve.

Symptoms:
The symptoms of pulmonary embolism mainly depend upon many factors pertaining to your previous medical history. Pulmonary embolism varies with the size of your lungs, the size of the clots formed in your blood, and any other underlying history of the heart or lungs. That said, pulmonary embolism has symptoms which are not similar to any two persons and will vary accordingly.

The common symptoms however may include the following and you are advised to opt for a health checkup if these are persistent in your body:
1. Cough along with bloody sputum is a common symptom.
2. Shortness of breath, which will become worse as the days passes by. They will appear suddenly and cause huge discomfort in breathing.
3. Chest pain which may give you the feeling of a heart attack. The pain will intensify when you sit to eat or cough. Deep breath will cause problems too and will not go away easily with exertion.
4. Some other symptoms include fever, excess sweat, irregular heartbeat and dizziness.

Pulmonary embolism can be diagnosed by the following methods:
1. Electrocardiography (also known popularly as ECG) to measure your heart's electrical activity and functioning.
2. CT plumonary angiography is gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism.
3. Chest x ray, which is a common and non invasive test to check your heart and lungs as well as the problems with any bones surrounding them.
4. ECHO can detect secondary changes in heart due to pulmonary embolism.

Treatment of pulmonary embolism can be done with medicines if it is detected at an early stage or also if the clot is small. However, if the size of your clot is problematic and blocks the blood flow to your lungs or heart then surgery may be necessary. Open surgery and clot removal surgery are common in the treatment of pulmonary embolism and will require good regular follow up check ups. Regular leg exercises will also reduce the chances of any underlying disease and you should hence consult your doctor.

What Is Pulmonary Embolism?

If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or rapid breathing, shortness of breath and low blood pressure, you might have been affected with acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS. This is a fatal lung condition in which the supply of oxygen to the lungs and into the blood gets prevented. The symptoms of this syndrome develop within two days of the illness. Here are 10 important facts about ARDS you should know about:
Because of the low level of oxygen in the blood, the organs of the body may not function properly. The kidneys and brain require constant oxygen-rich blood supply and there are chances of organ failure due to ARDS.
Commonly, people who get ARDS are already in hospital for some other health problem. People who are not hospitalised may get ARDS because of conditions such as pneumonia.
In ARDS, the tiny blood vessels of the lungs leak more fluid than usual into the air sacs of the lungs. This happens because of infections, injuries or some other condition. The lungs cannot get filled up with air and sufficient oxygen is prevented from getting pumped into the bloodstream.
Several factors also lead to ARDS. These include sepsis, severe bleeding due to any injury on the head or chest, breathing in harmful smoke, or inhaling vomited content of the stomach from the mouth.
People who are prone to ARDS have some condition that may injure their lungs directly or indirectly.
The initial symptoms of ARDS include a feeling of not getting sufficient air in the lungs, low oxygen levels in the blood and rapid breathing. The diagnosis of ARDS depends on your medical history and the results from several tests and physical examinations.
The treatment of ARDS is undertaken by oxygen therapy, medicines and fluids. A patient with ARDS is likely to develop some other health condition while in the hospital, such as lung scarring, blood clots, infections and pneumothorax.
Many people recover from ARDS completely while others keep on facing certain health problems, such as shortness of breath, muscle weakness, depression and fatigue. Problems related to memory and clear thinking are also indicated.
By improving your quality of life, you can recover from ARDS. You need the support and encouragement of your family and friends. You must avoid smoking and keep away from any kind of lung irritant.
The treatment for ARDS has showed progress in the recent years. Hence, more people are recovering from this condition. New treatment procedures are being researched on.


10 Facts About Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Lungs are part of the respiratory system, and their main job is to bring fresh air into the body and remove waste gases from the body.

What do the Lungs do?

Lungs have a basic function of maintaining the process of gaseous exchange. The blood vessels in the lungs carry oxygen (O2) in the air we breathe to the cells and exchange it for the waste gas carbon dioxide (CO2). This exchange is needed for all our body cells to live.
Lungs help to bring air we inhale to the proper body temperature and moisturizes it to the right humidity level.
By coughing, sneezing, filtering or swallowing them, lungs protect our body from infections, pollutants and other harmful substances.
Lungs also support our sense of smell.

Now that we know the major role of our lungs play in keeping us healthy, it is important that we know the ways to keep them in best of health to lead a problem-free life.

Do not smoke: Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. Every time one smokes (cigarette, cigar, beedi) toxins like nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar cause damage to the lungs. Over time these toxins irritate and inflame tissues leading to narrow airways which make it difficult to breathe. Smoking is also related to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pulmonary fibrosis and asthma. It is also advised to avoid passive smoking as it may damage the lungs as well.
Exercise more: Exercising will make the heart beat faster and lungs work harder, making them more efficient. During aerobic exercise, our breathing increases from 15 times a minute to about 40 - 60 times a minute, thus stepping up the exchange of O2 and CO2
Avoid exposure to pollutants: air pollutants can damage the lungs and accelerate aging. Reduce your exposure by avoiding:
Exercising near heavy traffic, as one tends to inhale the exhaust.
Pollutants at work by taking appropriate precautions.
Keeping indoor spaces well ventilated, clean (free from molds, dust, pet dander) and appropriately humid 30-50% relative humidity also helps.
Deep breething: Breathing deeply helps the lung to reach its full capacity.
Wash your hands regularly: Washing hands properly can help prevent a majority of infectious respiratory diseases like cold and flu.
Importance of diet in maintaining lungs health:
Eat right and keep yourself hydrated is essential for keeping your lungs healthy. Mentioned below are a few foods that are great for the lungs:

Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale. A review by Lam TK in 2009 stated that cruciferous vegetable intake may reduce lung cancer incidence.
Bright orange and red vegetables-like carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, are rich in carotenoids, known to reduce the risk of developing cancer in the lungs.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects on human lung cells.
Spices like turmeric, ginger and garlic contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which are good for lung health.
Water keeps the blood flowing to and from the lungs. It also keeps mucous flowing and the lungs hydrated.

How You Can Keep Your Lungs Healthy?

Do you know about a condition called cystic fibrosis that makes your baby s skin taste very salty after birth? The condition changes over time, in which the body makes sweat and mucus, and also affects the digestive system and lung functioning. The condition generally occurs because of a flawed gene. This is a severe and life-threatening disease that affects different people in different ways.

Causes
The gene, called CTFR is present in all humans. It makes a protein that controls the amount of water and salt, which get moved in and out of your cells. In the case of cystic fibroids, the CTFR gene is broken. This happens when a person inherits two bad copies of this specific gene. One bad CFTR gene may cause your cells to make the wrong or imbalanced amount of water and salt. Because of this, your body becomes unable to get the supply of sufficient nutrients and oxygen that are lost through sweating.

Symptoms
There are several symptoms associated with cystic fibroids that include the following:

It is likely for you to cough up thin mucus, along with shortness of breath, and wheezing.
The development of polyps in your nose is indicated.
Sinus infections, pneumonia, or bronchitis may occur.
Your stool may be oily, bulky, and with a foul odor.
Liver diseases and gallstones may develop later in life because of cystic fibroids.
Treatment
There is no certain treatment for cystic fibroids. However, there are various treatment procedures that are used for providing relief to the symptoms of the condition. This allows an affected patient to breathe easily, feel better, and experience lesser stomach infections. You can opt for airway clearance technique that helps you with your breathing. The procedure involves the clearance of mucus from your lungs. This procedure is carried out in several ways and special devices may be used during the proceedings.

Certain inhaled drugs like steroids, salt solutions, and antibiotics are used for thinning your mucus layers, and for clearing lung infections.
If your pancreas do not work properly, you may be prescribed enzyme pills for the digestion of fats and protein, and for the absorption of more nutrients from the food you consume.
You may also be prescribed vitamin A, D, and E supplements for getting these nutrients, which are not being absorbed by your intestine.
You must consult a doctor on experiencing any symptom of cystic fibrosis in your baby. This will allow the condition to be diagnosed at an early stage, thereby preventing further worsening.

Cystic Fibrosis - 5 Strange Signs You Must Know About!

Pulmonary diseases are some of the most commonly experienced health conditions all over the world. Millions of people suffer due to various causes including genetics, smoking, pollutants and infection. Now lungs are one of the most important and complex organs of the body. They are the apparatus through which oxygen enters and carbon dioxide gets expelled. 

Lungs expand and contract on a constant basis to ensure that we can breathe properly. Let us find out more about lung or pulmonary diseases.

Asthma: This is one of the most common and potentially fatal conditions that affect children and adults. It grips the airways formed by the bronchi which branch off into smaller tubes from the main trachea that holds them. This condition causes inflammation, and even spasms, which can lead to wheezing and breathlessness. The main triggers of asthma attacks include allergies, infections and pollutants that may escape into the airways.
COPD: This is also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. It is an umbrella term used for various lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties due to an obstruction of the airways. Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions that falls under COPD, and is usually characterised by persistent, hacking coughs.
Cystic Fibrosis: This is another condition that affects the airways by causing poor passage of mucus from the bronchial tubes. This condition is a genetic one where the mucus that gathers eventually becomes a lung infection.
Pneumonia: This is a condition that causes an infection in the alveoli, which are the tiny tubes that the airways branch into. These are air sacs that can catch myriad infections like pneumonia.
Tuberculosis: This is also a kind of pneumonia, which is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. This condition usually attacks the air sacs of the lungs and can be a potentially fatal disease if it is not treated on time. The patient will require immediate hospitalisation.
Pulmonary Edema: This condition is caused by fluid leaks from the tiny blood vessels into the surrounding air sacs within the lungs. It can also be caused due to heart failure as well as back pressure which falls on the lungs. Direct injury to the lungs can also lead to this condition.
Lung Cancer: This is a fatal disease which can be found in any part of the lungs. It has many forms and the type as well as the location usually determines the kind of treatment option that will be followed.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: When the lungs suffer a sudden injury which is usually caused by a bout of serious illness, it is called ARDS. Treatment involves the use of life support ventilation.

All About Pulmonary Diseases

The Interstitium is a network of tissues in the lungs. It supports the functioning of microscopic air sacs in the lungs, known as Alveoli. Tiny blood vessels travelling through the interstitium help in exchange of gases between blood and air. In ILD or Interstitial lung disease, this important function of the lungs is disturbed. This can lead to ILD, including Sarcoidosis.

In general, the symptoms of ILD include shortness of breath, dry and non-productive cough and unexplained weight loss.

Causes Of Interstitial Lung Disease

It is estimated that regular exposure to irritants through inhalation, at work or otherwise, can precipitate ILD. Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi are known to cause Interstitial Pneumonias. The following irritants can cause ILD:

  Silica dust
  Asbestos
  Coal dust and other dusts, such as those inhaled during working in mines
  Talc
  Bird proteins (such as Chicken or Pigeon food)
  Grain dust inhaled from farming

Drugs such as Amiodarone, Nitrofurantoin, Bleomycin etc. may also cause Interstitial Lung Disease. However, a fair chunk of the causes of Interstitial Lung Disease are unknown.



About Sarcoidosis

In Sarcoidosis, there is growth of tiny inflammatory cells in different organs of the body, such as the Lymph nodes, Skin, Eyes and the Lungs. Lungs are the most common organs which Sarcoidosis affects.

Symptoms of ILD and Sarcoidosis

  Symptoms may include Fever, Fatigue, Shortness of breath, Weight loss, Persistent cough, Swollen lymph nodes, Chest pain, Wheezing etc.
  There may be reddish-purple bumps on shins or ankles, sores on nose, ears and cheeks, growth of nodules under the skin, etc.
  The patient may have Blurred vision, Eye pain, Severe redness and Sensitivity to light.
  A patient may also suffer from Chest pain, Shortness of breath, Fainting, fatigue, Irregular heartbeats, Palpitations, Swelling due to Accumulation of Fluid, etc.

Treatment of ILD and Sarcoidosis

  Antibiotics for Interstitial Pneumonia condition
  Corticosteroids or Immunosuppressants for skewed immune response
  Oxygen inhalation for low oxygen level in body due to ILD
  Antioxidants to reduce the rate of decline in lung function.

Sarcoidosis

  Though there is no cure for this disease, a patient may be treated through medicine if the disease starts affecting the functioning of other organs.
  The patient may be given Corticosteroids to Suppress Inflammation.
  If the condition is worse, the patient may also be given Immunosuppressants and other medicines to overcome specific organic problems.

ILD and Sarcoidosis are common diseases nowadays due to increasing pollution all around. In case of any of the symptoms of ILD and Sarcoidosis show up in a patient, it is highly recommended to get advice from an experienced Pulmonologist. The treatment is mostly antibiotic-based, and curbs the infection out of the body. The sooner the treatment can start, the better it is.

ILD And Sarcoidosis - Causes, Symptom And Treatment Of Them!

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