Obstructive lung disease is a category of lung ailments that can obstruct the airflow in and out of the lungs. Asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are all examples of obstructive lung disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this type of restrictive lung disease. The focus is usually maintaining some quality of life without suffering from too many symptoms.
The symptoms of all types of obstructive lung disease are very similar. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will produce shortness of breath and a cough. Asthma also can produce shortness of breath and a cough. Chronic bronchitis can produce these same symptoms. On occasion, the cough will produce a thick mucus if there is infection present.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common types of obstructive lung diseases. An individual with COPD will have a combination of three lung problems — chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. The severity of COPD will depend upon the individual's lifestyle and how badly the lungs are damaged.
One of the leading causes of obstructive lung disease is smoking. The lungs have little elastic air sacs that expand when an individual takes a breath in. Smoking can cause these air sacs to lose their elasticity. It can also cause the breakdown of the walls in between the air sacs. The result will be shortness of breath and cough because not enough air can get into the lungs to sustain normal activity levels.
Asthma is a different type of obstructive lung disease. This condition can be inherited, or it can be the result of exposure to certain viral infections or airborne allergens during childhood. When an individual has asthma, the airways are very sensitive to irritants. In the presence of an irritant, the airways will narrow and fill with mucus, making it difficult, if not impossible, to breathe. An asthma attack is characterized by a wheezing sound, cough, and shortness of breath.
There is no cure for obstructive lung disease. The best treatment is to manage symptoms with medications. Slowing the progress of the disease is also important. Once the lungs are damaged, there is no way of repairing them.
The best way to slow the progress of obstructive lung disease is through lifestyle changes. Any individual with any form of lung disease should not smoke. Exercise can be helpful to maintain optimum lung function. It is also important to eat healthy to give the lungs the nutrients they need to function. It is a good idea to maintain a healthy weight as this can decrease the workload of your lungs.