You are my air monastic. Lungs don't breathe

To notice in time that the lungs are swelling, to recognize the symptoms - not only a professional physician, but also a person without special education, attentive to yourself and your loved ones.

Mechanism of edema development

Normally, lung tissue consists of many tiny air-filled bubbles called alveoli. If, in addition to air, liquid begins to accumulate in the alveoli - as a result of sweating from the circulatory and lymphatic systems - pulmonary edema occurs.

The mechanism of occurrence of this pathological condition is as follows:

As a result of stagnation in the pulmonary circulation, the outflow of blood and lymph is disrupted and intravascular pressure in the pulmonary capillaries and lymphatic vessels increases.
Blood and lymph accumulate in the vessels and begin to penetrate through their walls into the pulmonary structures of the alveoli - the so-called fluid effusion occurs.
The liquid or transudate that has penetrated into the alveoli seems to displace air from them and significantly reduce their respiratory surface. The situation gets worse as the amount of transudate in the lungs increases - the effect of “internal drowning” is observed when the lungs fill with water and cannot fully function.
Transudate is very rich in protein and therefore easily foams when in contact with air in the alveoli. The resulting foam makes breathing even more difficult.
As a result, breathing becomes almost impossible, oxygen does not enter the blood, hypoxia and death occur.

1. Cardiogenic – that is, associated with diseases of the heart and blood vessels: acute heart attack, heart defects, cardiosclerosis, severe hypertension. In this case, stagnation in the pulmonary circulation occurs due to the fact that the heart cannot cope with its functions and is not able to fully pump blood through the lungs.

Hydrostatic edema occurs due to increased intracapillary pressure in the lungs as a result pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, tumors, bronchial asthma, foreign objects entering the respiratory tract;
Membranogenic edema develops when the permeability of pulmonary capillaries increases as a result of respiratory distress syndrome(sepsis, chest injury, pneumonia), aspiration syndrome (vomit or water enters the lungs), inhalation and intoxication syndromes (poisoning with toxic substances, including endotoxins).

Symptoms: from the first signs to a dangerous form

Harbingers of pulmonary edema in an adult are the following symptoms and signs:

the appearance of shortness of breath and suffocation, which do not depend on physical activity;
coughing or chest discomfort at the slightest physical exertion or while lying down;
orthopnea – forced vertical position patient, which he admits because he cannot breathe fully while lying down.

As swelling and dysfunction increase, everything larger area lungs, the patient’s condition quickly deteriorates and first “blue” and then “gray” hypoxia may occur:

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How to find out in a timely manner, not to confuse it with other diseases

If the swelling develops gradually, then the stage of imaginary well-being can take about a day.

Sometimes the pathology occurs in an erased form, in which hypoxia is not very pronounced. This happens more often in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Alarming symptoms that require immediate medical attention are:

shortness of breath at rest;
difficulty breathing, with the patient complaining of a feeling of “bubbling” in the chest;
inability to breathe " full breasts“- when trying to do this, the patient coughs and feels pain;
increased breathing - as compensation for its insufficient depth;
a feeling of compression and discomfort behind the sternum;
dry continuous cough;
inability to lie down - in horizontal position the patient gets worse;
weakness and weakness;
blue lips and fingertips.

How to help a patient - what you can and cannot do

The algorithm of actions for providing first emergency aid for pulmonary edema consists of performing the following emergency measures:

Call ambulance. You cannot ignore complaints and wait for the condition to worsen - pulmonary edema can lead to fatal outcome almost lightning fast.
Reassure the patient: use valerian or motherwort.
Unbutton all clothing that restricts breathing.
Sit on a chair, lower your legs down. Such a patient should not be placed in a horizontal position.
Before the doctor arrives, you can apply tourniquets to the limbs that are compressing the veins. It is important not to allow the pulse to disappear on the clamped limb. The tourniquets are applied for a minute and then removed. After some time they can be applied again. Thus, the heart is unloaded - it requires less effort to pump blood to the periphery of the body.
You can give the patient 1 tablet of nitroglycerin sublingually.
If possible, use an oxygen mask.
If a large amount of foam is released during a cough, you should use antifoaming agents. At home, this can be ordinary alcohol: a towel soaked in vodka or medical alcohol is periodically applied to the patient’s nose and mouth. It is better not to use expectorants if the cough has already become wet with copious sputum.
To prevent swelling from spreading, you should warm the patient’s back: apply mustard plasters.

It is important not to ignore the first symptoms of pulmonary edema, but to take timely measures to eliminate it and professional treatment in a hospital setting.

Inability to breathe into full lungs

A person breathes, almost without noticing it. The physiological process proceeds easily and naturally. That's how it should be. But in medical practice, situations in which breathing becomes difficult are widespread. Then significant problems are created for the functioning of the body. The feeling of lack of air haunts some people, preventing them from carrying out their usual activities, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of life. And it is very important to understand why this happens.

Causes and mechanisms

Patients who cannot breathe with full lungs should definitely visit a doctor. There is no other way to find out the cause of the violations. Only a specialist is able to conduct a full diagnosis and say what was the source of the problem. After all, in fact, the conditions accompanied similar symptom, a bunch of. Most often we are talking about some kind of pathology associated with hypoxia. But the damage can be at different levels: air ventilation, gas diffusion, blood circulation and oxygen absorption by tissues.

Because breathing is vital important for the body, then identifying the causes of its disturbance should become main task doctor. In the process of differential diagnosis, it is necessary to consider the following pathology:

Respiratory (bronchial asthma, pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis, exudative pleurisy, atelectasis, pneumothorax).
Cardiovascular (coronary disease, heart failure, thromboembolism, neurocirculatory dystonia).
Neuromuscular (myasthenia gravis, neuropathy).
Metabolic (Pickwick's syndrome).
Anemia (deficient, hemolytic, hypoplastic).
Infections and intoxications (botulism, cyanide, mercury poisoning).
Chest injuries (bruises, rib fractures).

But the feeling of dissatisfaction with inhalation is also typical for other situations. For example, it appears as a result of poor training and speaks only of increased load on the respiratory and cardiac systems. Physiological difficulty breathing also appears in pregnant women during later. In this case, the symptom is associated with limited excursion of the diaphragm due to an enlarged uterus and disappears after 37 weeks, when the organ descends lower into the pelvic cavity. Therefore, the cause is determined through a full examination.

The origin of difficulty breathing is associated with various pathological conditions that occur with disturbances in the functioning of many systems. But there are also physiological reasons.

Symptoms

According to medical terminology, the feeling of shortness of breath is called shortness of breath. This may make it difficult to both inhale and exhale. Other features of the symptom are worth noting:

Expressiveness (strong, moderate or weak).
Frequency (rare or almost constant).
Dependence external factors(physical stress, emotional stress).

Shortness of breath is a manifestation of many diseases. And to put preliminary diagnosis, you need to pay attention to associated symptoms. Only a comprehensive assessment of subjective data (complaints, anamnesis) and the results of a physical examination (inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation) will make it possible to form a holistic idea of clinical picture diseases.

Respiratory pathology

Inhaled air passes through the respiratory tract, the pathology of which becomes the first obstacle on its way. Bronchial spasm, emphysema, air or exudate in pleural cavity, infiltration and collapse of alveolar tissue are the main obstacles to the passage of air and filling the lungs with it. Each disease has its own character traits, but among the general symptoms, in addition to shortness of breath, the following can be noted:

Cough (dry or wet).
Sputum production (mucous, purulent).
Pain in the chest (at the height of inspiration, when coughing).
Increased body temperature.

With bronchial asthma, difficulty in exhaling takes the form of suffocation. The patient takes a forced position: standing or sitting with the shoulder girdle fixed. His face is puffy, the neck veins are bulging, and acrocyanosis is observed. Wheezing can be clearly heard from a distance. Chest, as in obstructive bronchitis, swollen (barrel-shaped) because patients do not exhale well. It should be noted that pain arising from pleurisy is relieved when the patient lies down on the affected side. This distinguishes them from others, such as those associated with bronchopneumonia.

Respiratory pathology is accompanied by various percussion and auscultation phenomena. Asthma and emphysema are characterized by a sound with a tympanic tinge, and pneumonia and exudative pleurisy are characterized by dullness. In the lungs, dry (wheezing, buzzing) or moist (fine-, medium-bubbly) wheezing, crepitus or pleural friction noise are heard.

Cardiovascular diseases

If inhalation restriction occurs, then you need to think about heart and vascular diseases. It is known that the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are closely interconnected, and disturbances in one naturally affect the state of the other. A decrease in the contractility of the heart causes hypoxic changes in tissues, due to which the body has to increase its breathing rate. And left ventricular failure generally leads to pulmonary edema when the alveoli are filled with fluid (transudate). All this is reflected in the subjective feelings of patients.

The most common situation in which shortness of breath occurs would be coronary heart disease. At first it is observed during strong physical activity, then tolerance to it gradually decreases, and reaches the point where symptoms are observed at rest. In addition, other signs are also characteristic:

Pain behind the sternum (squeezing, pressing), radiating to the left arm.
Increased heart rate (tachycardia).
Instability of blood pressure.

Myocardial infarction, unlike angina, is accompanied by pain that is not eliminated after taking nitrates. With pulmonary embolism, cyanosis of the upper half of the body, dry cough, hemoptysis, hypotension, and arrhythmias occur. Cardiac activity during auscultation may be muffled, noises can be heard, and some tones are amplified.

Deserves special attention functional disorders in the cardiovascular system, arising from neurocirculatory (vegetative-vascular) dystonia. They do not have an organic substrate, but also cause a lot of trouble. Common symptoms include:

Feelings of anxiety and fear.
Increased heart rate and breathing.
Decrease or increase in pressure.
Headaches and cardialgia.
Increased urination.
Increased sweating.

This condition is accompanied by a feeling of insufficient inhalation, when some additional efforts have to be made for oxygenation. But it is difficult to call this true shortness of breath, because there are no obstacles to normal ventilation, blood circulation and metabolism in the tissues.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are of high relevance for practical medicine. And many of them are accompanied by shortness of breath.

Pickwick syndrome

High obesity, which is combined with decreased pulmonary ventilation, is called Pickwick's syndrome. Respiratory disorders associated with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, and as a consequence, a limitation of diaphragmatic excursions. The chest is not able to fully expand to fill the alveoli with air (restrictive type of insufficiency). In addition to shortness of breath at rest and visible obesity, the clinical picture will include:

Skin cyanosis.
Edema (peripheral and widespread).
Increased fatigue.
Arterial hypertension.
Drowsiness.
Sleep apnea.

Such patients often show signs of another syndrome – metabolic. In addition to the above, it includes impaired carbohydrate tolerance (or diabetes mellitus), increased uric acid and changes in fibrinolytic activity of the blood.

Anemia

Hypoxia, associated with insufficient oxygen capacity of the blood, occurs with anemia. These are conditions in which there is a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin. There are many types of anemia: with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals (iron, cyanocobalamin, folic acid), increased breakdown shaped elements(hemolysis), disruption of their synthesis in the bone marrow (hypo- and aplastic). But the key signs in the clinical picture will be the following:

General weakness.
Pale and dry skin.
Dizziness.
Increased heart rate.
Dyspnea.
Brittle hair and nails.

With hemolysis, jaundice occurs and the spleen enlarges (due to increased utilization of destroyed red blood cells). Aplastic anemia is often accompanied by leukemia and thrombocytopenia. And this, accordingly, leads to the risk of infectious diseases and hemorrhagic manifestations (bruises on the skin, increased bleeding).

Shortness of breath is characteristic feature anemic syndrome, which occurs due to a decrease in the oxygen capacity of the blood.

Botulism

When eating foods in which botulinum toxin has accumulated, a dangerous infection. This substance is the strongest poison of biological origin. With botulism, damage to the nervous system occurs, which disrupts the transmission of impulses to the muscles, including the respiratory muscles. And this is accompanied by hypoxic disorders of various nature (circulatory, hemic, tissue) and the following symptoms:

Frequent and shallow breathing.
Muscle weakness, paresis and flaccid paralysis.
Oculomotor disorders (drooping of the upper eyelid, double vision, defects of accommodation and convergence, dilated pupil).
Bulbar disorders (nasal voice, problems with swallowing, dry mouth).
Dyspepsia (nausea and vomiting, bloating and constipation).
Retention of urination.

Respiratory failure is becoming one of the most ominous symptoms threatening the patient's life. It occurs gradually, but can also occur spontaneously. With severe hypoxia, cerebral edema occurs with impaired consciousness.

Additional diagnostics

The person who tells the doctor, “I can’t breathe,” is the patient who needs to be examined first. And many conditions with severe impairments require urgent measures, so diagnosis can be carried out under time pressure. Based on the preliminary conclusion of the doctor, various procedures are required:

Clinical blood and urine tests.
Biochemical blood test (indicators of inflammation, gas composition, lipid spectrum, coagulogram).
Bacteriological culture of feces and vomit.
Chest X-ray.
Electrocardiogram.
Ultrasound of the heart with Doppler sonography.
Angiography.
Neuromyography.
Polysomnography.

Related specialists help determine the cause of difficulty breathing: pulmonologist, cardiologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, infectious disease specialist, traumatologist and toxicologist. Any conditions with similar symptoms are subject to careful differential diagnosis. And only after receiving convincing information is a conclusion made about a particular disease. And based on the results, treatment measures are planned for each patient.

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How long can a person live without one lung after a complication of pneumonia, a doctor is needed to answer. Thank you

New anatomical relationships are finally formed 1-3 months after removal of a lobe or segment and 6-10 months after removal of the entire lung.

The process of functional restructuring - adaptation to work in new conditions of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory system, digestion - continues for a year or two after the operation.

A significant stimulus for the development of compensatory capabilities is special therapeutic exercises.

After discharge home 8 for two to three months, it is advisable to regularly repeat the set of exercises that the patient performed in the hospital before discharge 3-5 times a day. This is especially important for training not only the lungs, but also the centers of the cerebral cortex that regulate the activity of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Please note that if you do not do exercises from the first days after discharge, then intensive exercises started late will not have the desired effect and will be less effective.

What physical activity is feasible for the patient after discharge from the hospital? It depends on age general condition and type surgical intervention. If a segment of the lung is removed, a person can do housework and walk up the stairs almost from the very first days. After a deep inhalation, while exhaling slowly, you need to climb two steps, stop, stand, take a deep breath and begin the fractional ascent again. Choose a pace so that you can get to the 5th floor, for example, in 20 or even 30 minutes.

You can train in walking for an hour to an hour and a half at first, with 5-10 minute breaks for rest. If walking gets tiring, it will relieve fatigue well breathing exercises in a sitting position. (With)

Pulmonary edema as a cause of death. Symptoms, causes, treatment, consequences

A pathological condition in which in the lumen of the alveoli and lung tissue fluid accumulates, called pulmonary edema. Untimely medical care in terms of resuscitation procedures or late diagnosis is the cause of death from pulmonary edema in every second patient.

Predisposing factors for pulmonary edema

The provoking factor can be emotional, physical stress, as well as hypothermia. Due to the increased load on the left ventricle, the heart cannot cope and congestion forms in the lungs. Excess capillary blood leads to the release of fluid into the alveoli and lung tissue. As a result, gas exchange in the lungs is disrupted, oxygen in the blood becomes insufficient, and the myocardium is weakened. Expanding peripheral vessels, the flow of venous blood to the heart muscle increases, and the lungs fill with a larger volume of blood. In this condition, the patient urgently needs urgent Care, since without treatment death occurs. If the cause of swelling is a heart attack, then death occurs in just a few minutes. If the reason lies in renal failure in the chronic stage, the patient experiences suffering for several days, while the pathology progresses and the person dies. The cause of death is stated to be pulmonary edema.

Atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis is a chronic stage of coronary heart disease. Arises this pathology due to insufficient blood supply to the myocardium, leading to prolonged cell hypoxia. As the disease progresses, the symptoms of heart failure increase and lead to the death of the patient. The cause of death was cerebral and pulmonary edema. A predisposing factor in the development of cerebral edema is impaired cerebral circulation. Pulmonary edema developing from uncontrolled use narcotic drugs leads to brain hypoxia.

Features of pulmonary edema in children

Unlike adults, the development of pulmonary edema in children does not depend on the time of day. The main cause of pulmonary edema is an allergic reaction or inhalation of various toxic substances. The child becomes very frightened, as it becomes difficult for him to breathe due to lack of air. Shortness of breath appears - this is one of the very first signs. Foamy sputum is produced Pink colour, wheezing, shortness of breath, skin take on a bluish tint. The pathology occurs in all children age groups and even in newborns.

Types of pulmonary edema

Cardiogenic edema is caused by poor circulation. Cardiac asthma is the first sign, manifested in increased breathing, shortness of breath at rest, suffocation and a feeling of lack of air. The attacks occur at night. The patient immediately wakes up and tries to choose a position in which it is easier to breathe. Usually the patient sits down and rests his hands on the edge of the bed. This position is called orthopnea and it is typical for every patient with the symptoms described above. The skin turns pale, the lips turn blue - this is how hypoxia manifests itself.

As the clinical picture of pulmonary edema increases, breathing becomes noisy, and sometimes a large amount of foamy sputum, colored pinkish, is released. Blood begins to penetrate into the alveoli. Symptoms go away with timely treatment on average after three days. Death from this type of edema is the most common.

Non-cardiogenic has several forms. The cause of edema can be damage to the alveolocapillary membrane by toxins, chemicals, and allergens. Treatment is longer, on average about fourteen days. In terms of frequency of occurrence, cardiogenic edema is quite common. The most common cause of death from pulmonary edema due to heart disease is a heart attack.

Forms of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Toxic. When hit gaseous substances or toxic vapors enter the respiratory tract, this type of edema develops. Clinical picture: shortness of breath, cough. As a result of exposure to irritants on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, lacrimation occurs. The course of toxic pulmonary edema is complex; sometimes, already in the first minutes after inhalation of toxic substances, cardiac or respiratory arrest may occur due to inhibition of the functions of the medulla oblongata.
Cancerous. Formed when lung tumors malignant in nature. With this pathology, the function of lymph nodes, which subsequently leads to the accumulation of fluid in the alveoli.
Allergic. Swelling that occurs due to sensitivity to certain types allergens, for example, to a wasp or bee sting. If the irritant is not removed in a timely manner, there is a risk of developing anaphylactic shock, and sometimes fatal.
Aspiration. With this swelling, the contents of the stomach enter the bronchi. The airways become clogged and swelling occurs.
Shock. This type of pulmonary edema is a consequence of severe shock. When shock occurs, the pumping function of the left ventricle decreases, resulting in congestion in the pulmonary circulation. As a result, intravascular hydrostatic pressure increases and fluid from the vessels penetrates into the lung tissue.
High-rise. A rather rare type of pulmonary edema, the occurrence of which is possible when climbing a mountain height above four kilometers. At such a height it grows oxygen starvation due to increased pressure in the vessels and increased capillary permeability, which ultimately inevitably leads to edema.
Neurogenic. A rather rare type of edema. In this pathological condition, the innervation of the vessels of the respiratory system is disrupted and venous spasm occurs. Such changes lead to an increase in the hydrostatic blood pressure inside the capillaries. The liquid part of the blood enters the intercellular space of the lungs and further into the alveoli, forming edema.
Traumatic. It occurs most often with pneumothorax, i.e., in conditions where the integrity of the pleura is disrupted. The capillaries located near the alveoli are damaged during pneumothorax. Thus, the liquid part of the blood and red blood cells penetrate the alveoli, causing pulmonary edema.

Classification of the disease

Depending on the cause, the following types of pulmonary edema in a patient can be distinguished:

Membranous. Occurs as a result toxic effects on the capillary and alveolar walls, which are subsequently destroyed.
Hydrostatic. Formed when intravascular hydrostatic pressure increases. The cause is cardiovascular failure.

Forms of complications of pulmonary edema:

Interstitial. Excellent treatment. However, untimely medical care provokes its transition to the alveolar stage.
Alveolar. The most dangerous. Its consequences are the death of the patient.

Classification by severity of symptoms:

First or pre-edema. It is characterized by a disorder of the rhythm and frequency of breathing, and the presence of slight shortness of breath.
Second. Shortness of breath intensifies, wheezing appears.
Third. Symptoms increase: wheezing and shortness of breath are heard at a distance from the patient.
Fourth. All the characteristic features of pulmonary edema are present.

Interstitial pulmonary edema: symptoms

Signs of the disease appear mainly at night. Emotional or physical stress can trigger the development of symptoms of pulmonary edema. The initial sign is coughing. Unfortunately, no attention is paid to it. In the morning hours, symptoms increase. The skin turns pale, shortness of breath occurs even at rest. A person cannot breathe deeply, oxygen starvation occurs, accompanied by headaches and dizziness. The skin becomes moist and sweaty, a large amount of saliva is produced, nasolabial triangle turns blue - these are important signs of interstitial pulmonary edema.

Symptoms of alveolar pulmonary edema

The following signs of alveolar edema can be described as sudden, unless it is a complication of interstitial pulmonary edema. The patient has:

shortness of breath increases and suffocation may develop;
breathing up to 40 times per minute;
severe cough, possibly sputum with blood and foam;
anxiety and fear grip the patient;
the dermis turns pale;
the tongue turns white;
cyanosis;
pressure decreases;
there is heavy sweating;
the face swells.

The progression of the pathological condition leads to the fact that oral cavity foam begins to appear, wheezing becomes bubbling and loud, and confusion occurs. The person falls into a coma and death occurs due to asphyxia and oxygen starvation.

Pulmonary edema in newborns

The causes of pulmonary edema in newborns are:

Entry of amniotic fluid into the bronchi and alveoli.
Death of cellular tissue of a certain area of the placenta or placental infarction. With this pathology, the blood supply to the fetus is disrupted and the likelihood of hypoxia is high.
Heart defects. With narrowing of the arterial valve and insufficiency mitral valve pressure in the pulmonary circulation increases. These ailments provoke blood to enter the lungs and then into the alveoli.
Brain injury during childbirth or prenatal, as a result of which the blood supply to the entire body is disrupted. As a result, oxygen starvation and, as a result, pulmonary edema.

Emergency care for pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema is a serious and severe pathological condition that requires urgent care. medical care. Basic rules for providing first aid:

The patient is given a special position: the legs are lowered, and the patient’s hands rest on the edge of the bed. This pose helps reduce pressure in the chest and improve gas exchange. Shortness of breath is reduced by reducing congestion in the pulmonary circulation.
Thirty minutes maximum on upper thigh lower limbs apply venous tourniquets. As a result, the flow of venous blood to the heart will decrease and, as a result, the clinical picture will be less pronounced.
Windows are opened in the room so that the patient has access to fresh air. Being in a stuffy environment aggravates the pathological condition.
If pulmonary edema became a consequence of a heart attack, then drugs from the nitrate group are used, for example, nitroglycerin.
The patient's respiration and pulse are monitored.
To neutralize foaming good effect inhalation of vapors of 30% ethyl alcohol.

Regardless of what caused pulmonary edema, treatment after its relief is carried out in intensive care medical institution, where a set of actions and manipulations are carried out aimed at facilitating the patient’s well-being.

Complications of pulmonary edema

Serious pathological conditions that are possible after pulmonary edema:

Asystole. This is a condition in which cardiac activity stops completely. It is provoked by the following pathologies: pulmonary embolism or heart attack, leading to pulmonary edema and subsequently to asystole.
Respiratory depression. It mainly occurs with toxic pulmonary edema, which occurs due to poisoning with barbiturates, narcotic painkillers and other drugs. Medicines affect respiratory center, oppressing him.
Fulminant form of pulmonary edema. One of the most serious consequences of pulmonary edema. Develops due to decompensation of diseases of the kidneys, liver and cardiovascular system. With this form, the clinic is developing rapidly, and the chances of saving the patient are almost zero.
Airway obstruction. Foam is formed from the fluid that has accumulated in the alveoli. A large amount of it clogs the airways, disrupting the gas exchange process.
Cardiogenic shock. The consequences of pulmonary edema in the elderly are manifested by failure of the left ventricle of the heart. The condition is characterized by a significant decrease in blood supply to organs and tissues, which leads to a threat to the patient’s life. At the same time, blood pressure decreases, the skin turns blue, the amount of urine excreted per day decreases, and consciousness becomes confused. In 80–90% of cases, cardiogenic shock leads to death due to the fact that the functions of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems are disrupted in a short period of time.
Unstable hemodynamics. The condition is manifested by pressure changes: it either decreases or increases. As a result, therapy is difficult.

Pulmonary edema: consequences

Pulmonary edema actively provokes lesions internal organs human body. The following pathologies may develop:

Prevention

Preventive measures are aimed at eliminating the cause of death from pulmonary edema and come down to regular drug therapy heart failure and following a diet aimed at reducing salt and fluid intake. Light physical activity is also recommended. Dispensary observation at the patient’s place of residence is required. Pulmonary edema is dangerous pathology which requires prompt medical care. The success of the therapeutic measures depend on the severity of the edema, its form, as well as the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient, for example, heart disease, hypertension, cardiac, renal and liver failure in the chronic stage.

How to prevent death?

To do this, it is necessary to recognize swelling in a timely manner. Another difficulty in diagnosis lies in the fact that pathological processes develop when the patient sleeps. Symptoms that indicate the onset of pulmonary edema as a cause of death:

dyspnea;
fingertips and lips acquire a blue tint;
rapid breathing;
cough of increasing strength;
attacks of suffocation;
appearance pain behind the sternum;
weak and rapid pulse.

The doctor listens for whistling, dry rales. The pressure can either drop sharply or rise sharply. The first is more dangerous.

Unfortunately, death from pulmonary edema can occur even after all necessary medical interventions and manipulations have been performed. It is important to remember that emergency care provided to a patient is a mandatory stage of therapy, which increases the chances of survival and makes it possible to exclude pulmonary edema as a cause of death.

Let's talk about what to do if it becomes difficult to breathe at home.

In medicine, the state of lack of air is called “dysapnea” (shortness of breath). Shortness of breath must be distinguished from suffocation - acute attack lack of air (extreme dysapnea).

Of course, without special knowledge in medicine, it is impossible to independently establish the reason why there is not enough air when breathing, because the number of diseases, including certain physiological conditions that are normal, causing difficulty breathing is large.

Why there is not enough air: reasons

There can be many reasons for lack of air, some of them are severe diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, others are natural borderline physiological conditions.

List of possible diseases with symptoms of shortness of breath:

Bronchial asthma.
Oncological neoplasms of the bronchi and lungs.
Bronchiectasis.
IHD (Coronary heart disease).
Congenital and acquired heart defects.
Hypertonic disease.
Emphysema.
Endocarditis.
Ventricular failure (as a rule, we are talking about lesions of the left ventricle).
Infectious lesions of the bronchi and lungs (pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.).
Pulmonary edema.
Airway block.
Rheumatism.
Angina pectoris (“angina pectoris”).
Physical inactivity and, as a consequence, obesity.
Psychosomatic reasons.

Here are the most common reasons. We can also talk about thermal damage to the lungs and bronchi (burn), mechanical and chemical damage, but this is rare in everyday conditions.

Asthma bronchial

A dangerous disease that affects bronchial tree. As a rule, the cause of the disease lies in an acute immune response to an endo- or exogenous stimulus ( allergic asthma) or infectious agent (infectious asthma). It appears in fits and starts. The intensity and nature of the attacks depend on the severity of the disease and can range from minor shortness of breath (for example, from fast walking) to rapidly developing suffocation. Regardless, the mechanism is quite simple. The ciliated epithelium lining the inner surface of the bronchi swells; as a result of the edema, stenosis (narrowing) of the bronchial lumen occurs and, as a result, increasing suffocation.

Bronchial asthma is an insidious disease, the mortality rate of the pathology is high, at the first manifestations, when it seems as if there is not enough air, you should immediately consult a specialist and undergo a full examination.

Oncological neoplasms of the bronchi and lungs

According to statistics, lung tumors are almost in the first place in terms of development frequency. Those at risk are, first of all, heavy smokers (including passive smokers, which means all of us, because from cigarette smoke impossible to hide), as well as persons with severe heredity. It is quite easy to suspect oncology if there are a number of specific signs:

Choking (shortness of breath) occurs repeatedly, periodically.
There is weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.
There is hemoptysis.

Only a doctor can distinguish oncology from tuberculosis in the first stages. In addition, in the first stages only a slight lack of air may be observed.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a pathological degenerative formation in the structure of the bronchi. The bronchi and bronchioles (which end the bronchial tree) expand and take the form of sac-like formations filled with fluid or pus.

The exact causes of the disease are unknown; previous lung diseases play a certain role. They are extremely common in smokers (along with emphysema).

As ectasis develops, functional fabrics are replaced by scar tissue and the affected area is “switched off” from the breathing process. The result is constant, incessant shortness of breath, the cause of which is a decrease in the quality of breathing. The patient has difficulty breathing and does not have enough air.

Heart diseases

They cause a decrease in the functionality of the organ, a decrease in blood flow to the lungs. As a result, a vicious circle is formed: the heart does not receive enough oxygen, since it cannot provide the lungs with the optimal amount of blood for enrichment. Blood not enriched in sufficiently oxygen returns to the heart, but is not able to supply the heart muscle the right amount nutrients.

The heart, as a response, begins to increase arterial pressure, and beats more often. There is a false feeling of lack of air. Thus, the autonomic nervous system tries to increase the intensity of the lungs in order to somehow compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood and avoid tissue ischemia. Almost all serious diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system occur according to this pattern: angina pectoris, coronary heart disease, heart defects, hypertension (without adequate therapy), etc.

Emphysema

Its symptoms are similar to bronchiectasis. In the same way, bubbles form in the structure of the bronchi, but they are not filled with fluid or pus. Pathological extensions are empty, and over time they rupture, forming cavities. As a result, the vital capacity of the lungs decreases and painful shortness of breath occurs.

A person has difficulty breathing and does not have enough air even with the slightest physical exertion, and sometimes even in a calm state. Emphysema is also considered a disease of smokers, although it can also occur in committed smokers. healthy image life.

Psychosomatic reasons

Bronchospasm can occur during emotional shocks and stress. Scientists have noticed that such manifestations are typical for people with a special type of character accentuation (dysthymas, hysterics).

Obesity

No matter how trite it sounds, shortness of breath is almost always typical for obese people. As an analogy, just imagine a man carrying a bag of potatoes. At the end of work, he gets tired, breathes heavily and “sweats” from intense work. physical stress. Obese people carry their “bag of potatoes” around all the time.

Thus, answering the question of why there is not enough air, there may be various reasons. But almost always they are associated with harm to health and a threat to life.

Short of air: symptoms of shortness of breath

There can be no symptoms of lack of air, since shortness of breath and suffocation are themselves symptoms. The difference is that for different diseases they are included in different symptomatic complexes. Conventionally, all complexes can be divided into infectious, cardiac, and directly pulmonary.

With infections, in addition to the feeling as if there is not enough air, symptoms of general intoxication of the body are observed:

Headache.
Hyperthermia (from 37.2 to 40 or more, depending on the type of agent and the severity of the lesion).
Pain in bones and joints.
Weakness and high fatigue combined with drowsiness.

In addition, there may be chest pain that gets worse with breathing. Wheezing and whistling on entry or exhalation.

Heart disease is almost always characterized by a number of accompanying symptoms:

Burning behind the sternum.
Arrhythmia.
Tachycardia (palpitations).
Increased sweating.

All this can be observed even in a calm state.

Typically pulmonary pathologies and pathological processes are much more difficult to recognize by symptoms, since special knowledge is required. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. However, you can still suspect that you have certain diseases.

Thus, with oncological lesions, symptoms appear in increasing order and include:

Shortness of breath, increasing over time. Appears periodically, then constantly.
Weight loss ( a sharp decline weight in the absence of a diet).
Hemoptysis (caused by damage to the capillaries of the bronchi).
Pain behind the sternum when breathing (both on inhalation and exhalation).

Oncology is the most difficult to recognize. Without special instrumental methods this is completely impossible.

Malignant tumors are easily confused with tuberculosis and even bronchiectasis.

However, bronchiectasis is characterized by expectoration brown color sputum (usually in the morning). The structure of the sputum contains streaks of multilayered pus (necrosis bronchial structures in affected areas leads to mass death cells) with blood impurities. This is a very ominous symptom.

With emphysema, the main symptom is an increasing feeling of lack of air. Answering the question why there is not enough air in this case, it should be said about the formation of air cavities in the bronchi themselves.

Bronchial asthma is recognized relatively easily. It proceeds in fits and starts. The attack is accompanied by pronounced suffocation (or shortness of breath). If it does not stop immediately, whistling, wheezing when breathing and expectoration of colorless (transparent) sputum are added. As a rule, the trigger for an attack is contact with an allergen (or a previous infectious disease, if we are talking about an infectious form). The most common etiology of asthma is allergic.

It is even easier to recognize shortness of breath of psychosomatic origin. It is provoked by situations associated with increased emotional and mental stress. Women are more predisposed to such an “illness”.

Not enough air: diagnostics

It is necessary to diagnose not the symptom, but the disease that provokes it.

Diagnostic measures include:

Initial medical history collection during a face-to-face appointment and examination of the patient.
Laboratory tests (general blood count, biochemical blood test).
Instrumental studies ( CT scan, radiography).

Since there are many diseases that are accompanied by difficulty breathing and lack of air, the treating specialists can be different: pulmonologist, cardiologist, neurologist, infectious disease specialist and therapist.

First of all, it makes sense to go to an appointment with a pulmonologist, since he specializes in pathologies of the respiratory system.

During the initial examination, the doctor determines the nature of the symptoms, their intensity, and duration. When collecting anamnesis close attention focuses on the following aspects:

Heredity. What diseases did the relatives have? They also have a tendency to be passed on by inheritance. oncological diseases, and cardiovascular pathologies, and diseases associated with allergies.
Nature of work, past or present contact with harmful chemicals or other aggressive substances.

At the appointment, the doctor “listens” the lungs and determines the breathing pattern. This will help the specialist to determine “by eye” the probable source of the problem and draw up a diagnostic strategy.

Laboratory tests, primarily blood tests, are designed to identify:

Inflammatory process (characteristic of infectious diseases and even some heart diseases).
Eosinophilia (indicates allergies and, presumably, the presence of asthma).
Tumor markers (indicators of the oncological process).
High concentration of basophils ( mast cells are also markers of allergies).

Instrumental methods are very diverse. They include:

Bronchoscopy. Endoscopic examination of the bronchi. It is extremely informative and allows you to identify most diseases of the lungs and bronchi. However, in case of bronchial asthma and heart disease, it is contraindicated and uninformative, and therefore the doctor prescribes this examination only after excluding asthma and cardiovascular pathologies.
Cardiography, Echo CG - are designed to identify heart pathologies.
CT scan. MRI is intended, to a greater extent, to assess the condition of bones and the musculoskeletal system in general. When it comes to soft tissues- CT is much more informative.
Biopsy. If there is a suspicion of oncological origin of the lack of air.
Allergy tests, stress tests - are aimed at identifying sensitivity to a particular allergenic substance.

If according to the survey results organic reasons not detected, it makes sense to contact a neurologist, since lack of air, as was said, may be associated with psychosomatic factors.

Lack of air: treatment, what to do?

It is clear that it is not the lack of air that needs to be treated, but the disease itself. It is impossible to decide on treatment on your own, and self-medication is very dangerous. If a person has difficulty breathing and does not have enough air, he or she should consult a doctor to prescribe treatment.

Each disease requires its own approach.

Therefore, it makes sense to talk only about ways to relieve such an unpleasant condition as shortness of breath and suffocation.

If shortness of breath (suffocation) is associated with heart disease, you must stop any physical activity. If the condition lasts more than 10 minutes, even without activity, it is necessary to take a drug that reduces heart rate. Even better - call an ambulance.

Shortness of breath associated with emphysema, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, as a rule, is not relieved by practically anything. The main recommendation is to stop physical activity.

Attacks of bronchial asthma are stopped with non-hormonal bronchodilators: Salbutamol, Berotek, Berodual, etc. Ongoing therapy involves taking corticosteroid drugs in the form of inhalers. Specific names and dosage should be selected by a specialist.

Shortness of breath: prevention

Prevention measures include several general recommendations:

If possible, choose an ecologically clean area as your place of residence.
Refuse bad habits, first of all, from smoking. If there was at least one person in the family who was diagnosed with malignant tumor lungs - quitting smoking is vital. To exclude cardiovascular diseases, abstinence from alcohol is important.
Optimize your diet. Avoid fatty, excessive salt consumption.
Support high level physical activity.

Thus, breathing disorders can be a consequence of the development of a variety of pathologies. In general, this is a very formidable symptom that requires an immediate response. You should not put off visiting a doctor, nor should you self-medicate. Only a specialist can choose competent treatment. On the part of the patient, a large amount of prudence and consciousness is required, since most diseases can be avoided by adhering to the right lifestyle.

Video on the topic

Not enough air: Hyperventilation syndrome, Neurocirculatory dystonia, Neurotic sighs

On the video channel of Stepanova Veronica Yurievna.

Breathe heavily

Difficulty breathing occurs when there is difficulty inhaling, exhaling, or shortness of breath. Such problems can arise both in a healthy person and due to various diseases. Breathing may be difficult due to sedentary lifestyle life, obesity, poor heredity, alcohol and nicotine addiction, frequent inflammations mild, psychosomatic disorders.

Normal breathing is inhalations and exhalations per minute - when such breathing is not enough to provide oxygen to tissues and organs, the need to breathe heavily arises.

It's hard to breathe: reasons

Most often it becomes difficult to breathe due to:

Strong physical activity - muscles need more oxygen, the respiratory organs are forced to work harder to supply the blood with the necessary oxygen;
Various stress and nervous conditions - spasm of the respiratory tract makes it difficult for oxygen to enter the body;
Chronic fatigue – anemia, insufficient blood oxygen saturation;
Bronchial asthma - bronchospasm, swelling of the mucous membrane under the influence of various allergens;
Vascular spasms of the brain - severe headache, breathing problems;
Lung diseases – the lungs are one of the main respiratory organs, a malfunction in their functioning leads to difficulty breathing;
Heart failure – disruption of the cardiovascular system results in a lack of oxygen in the blood.

In cases where it is difficult to breathe even at rest, it is necessary urgent diagnostics to determine the cause of heavy breathing. It is recommended to carry out the following studies:

Heart electrocardiogram (ECG);
X-ray of the chest area;
Pulmonological examination of lung function.

When it is difficult to breathe due to a state of fear that is not associated with a specific disease, consultation with a psychiatrist is necessary.

It's hard to breathe: lungs

If there is enough oxygen in the air, it should flow freely into the lungs through the respiratory tract. Moreover, if it is difficult to breathe, the lungs cannot cope with the task of saturating the blood with oxygen. This can happen in cases of damage to a large amount of lung tissue:

Affected by diseases - emphysema or other diseases;
Infections – pneumonia, tuberculosis, cryptococcosis;
Surgical removal or destruction of a large blood clot, benign or malignant tumor.

In such a situation, the remaining amount of lung tissue is not enough to supply blood vessels oxygen entering the body during inhalation. If a large portion of the lungs is affected, it is difficult to breathe, rapid breathing, with effort.

It's hard to breathe: heart

When in environment there is enough oxygen and the lungs are fine, but the heart is not working properly, it will be difficult to breathe due to impaired blood supply and insufficient saturation of the body with oxygen.

With the following disorders in the cardiovascular system and heart function, it is difficult to breathe due to:

Heart diseases – acute heart attack, coronary disease, heart failure, etc. As a result of diseases, the heart muscle is weakened and cannot push sufficient quantity oxygenated blood by circulatory system to organs and tissues;
Anemia. Lack of red blood cells - red blood cells that bind and transport oxygen through the cardiovascular system, or in the case of red blood cell pathology, in which the process of binding and releasing oxygen is disrupted.

Due to serious damage to the blood supply and heart, it becomes difficult to breathe due to the acceleration of the heart rate.

Difficulty breathing: cough

When it’s hard to breathe, coughing is a concomitant manifestation of all the above reasons. Rapid hard breath irritates the mucous membrane and receptors of the larynx, the muscles of the respiratory tract contract, provoking forced exhalation through the mouth.

In a situation where it is difficult to breathe, the cough seeks to clear the respiratory tract of obstacles so that the airways are clear.

Why is it difficult to breathe in other cases? The reason may be a condition in which the body needs more oxygen than usual. Heat, progressive oncological diseases, disorders of the thyroid gland, diabetes mellitus, intercostal neuralgia, etc. Any disease that accelerates metabolism and is accompanied by a strong increase in temperature requires more rapid breathing to increase the amount of oxygen supplied to tissues and organs. Increased load on respiratory system– the main reason why it’s hard to breathe.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Found an error in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Contact a therapist and get examined.

You need to undergo an examination, you should definitely do a blood test, and it is advisable not to delay.

I smoked a pack of cigarettes a day from the age of 13. Now I’m 26, 3 days since I quit smoking, I take breaths with great difficulty, snot flows like a river, no matter how much you blow your nose, it immediately appears, and I also feel heaviness in the lower part of my lungs. I’m afraid to go to the hospital ((when I’m distracted by something good, I don’t notice how calmly I’m breathing, but when I pay attention to it - that’s it, every breath weighs a ton. Maybe it’s because I suddenly quit? Usually as soon as my breathing is heavy it becomes, I smoke a cigarette, and for an hour I don’t pay attention to my breathing at all.

It’s unlikely that this is a matter of quitting smoking, more like an allergic inflammation. In any case, you shouldn’t guess, but you need to see a doctor in person and get examined.

Hello, Anrey Markelov.

The entire article under which you left a comment is the answer to your question. But the exact answer, as you understand, can only be given by an examination.

Did anything help you? Please answer, I have been suffering with the same problem for a year now. Only bronchodilators help - Atrovent, Berodual. Asthmatic medications do not help at all (Symbicort, even prednisolone was prescribed). There are no allergies, FV and ECG indicators are the same as yours. I no longer have the strength to go to doctors and take everything.. Please answer

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Inability to breathe into full lungs

Causes and mechanisms

Patients who cannot breathe with full lungs should definitely visit a doctor. There is no other way to find out the cause of the violations. Only a specialist is able to conduct a full diagnosis and say what was the source of the problem. Indeed, in fact, there are many conditions accompanied by such a symptom. Most often we are talking about some kind of pathology associated with hypoxia. But the damage can be at different levels: air ventilation, gas diffusion, blood circulation and oxygen absorption by tissues.

Since breathing is vital for the body, identifying the causes of its disturbance should be the main task of the doctor. In the process of differential diagnosis, it is necessary to consider the following pathology:

Respiratory (bronchial asthma, pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis, exudative pleurisy, atelectasis, pneumothorax).
Cardiovascular (coronary disease, heart failure, thromboembolism, neurocirculatory dystonia).
Neuromuscular (myasthenia gravis, neuropathy).
Metabolic (Pickwick's syndrome).
Anemia (deficient, hemolytic, hypoplastic).
Infections and intoxications (botulism, cyanide, mercury poisoning).
Chest injuries (bruises, rib fractures).

But the feeling of dissatisfaction with inhalation is also typical for other situations. For example, it appears as a result of poor training and only indicates an increased load on the respiratory and cardiac systems. Physiological difficulty breathing also occurs in late-term pregnant women. In this case, the symptom is associated with limited excursion of the diaphragm due to an enlarged uterus and disappears after 37 weeks, when the organ descends lower into the pelvic cavity. Therefore, the cause is determined through a full examination.

The origin of difficulty breathing is associated with various pathological conditions that occur with disturbances in the functioning of many systems. But there are also physiological reasons.

Symptoms

Expressiveness (strong, moderate or weak).
Frequency (rare or almost constant).
Dependence on external factors (physical stress, emotional stress).

Shortness of breath is a manifestation of many diseases. And in order to make a preliminary diagnosis, it is necessary to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. Only a comprehensive assessment of subjective data (complaints, anamnesis) and the results of a physical examination (examination, palpation, percussion, auscultation) will make it possible to form a holistic picture of the clinical picture of the disease.

Respiratory pathology

Inhaled air passes through the respiratory tract, the pathology of which becomes the first obstacle on its way. Bronchial spasm, emphysema, air or exudate in the pleural cavity, infiltration and collapse of alveolar tissue are the main obstacles to the passage of air and filling the lungs with it. Each disease has its own characteristic features, but among the common symptoms, in addition to shortness of breath, the following can be noted:

Cough (dry or wet).
Sputum production (mucous, purulent).
Pain in the chest (at the height of inspiration, when coughing).
Increased body temperature.

With bronchial asthma, difficulty in exhaling takes the form of suffocation. The patient takes a forced position: standing or sitting with the shoulder girdle fixed. His face is puffy, the neck veins are bulging, and acrocyanosis is observed. Wheezing can be clearly heard from a distance. The chest, as in obstructive bronchitis, is distended (barrel-shaped) because patients have difficulty exhaling air. It should be noted that pain arising from pleurisy is relieved when the patient lies down on the affected side. This distinguishes them from others, such as those associated with bronchopneumonia.

Cardiovascular diseases

Pain behind the sternum (squeezing, pressing), radiating to the left arm.
Increased heart rate (tachycardia).
Instability of blood pressure.

Functional disorders in the cardiovascular system that occur with neurocirculatory (vegetative-vascular) dystonia deserve special attention. They do not have an organic substrate, but also cause a lot of trouble. Common symptoms include:

Feelings of anxiety and fear.
Increased heart rate and breathing.
Decrease or increase in pressure.
Headaches and cardialgia.
Increased urination.
Increased sweating.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system are of high relevance for practical medicine. And many of them are accompanied by shortness of breath.

Pickwick syndrome

High obesity, which is combined with decreased pulmonary ventilation, is called Pickwick's syndrome. Respiratory disorders are associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure, and as a consequence, limitation of diaphragmatic excursions. The chest is not able to fully expand to fill the alveoli with air (restrictive type of insufficiency). In addition to shortness of breath at rest and visible obesity, the clinical picture will include:

Skin cyanosis.
Edema (peripheral and widespread).
Increased fatigue.
Arterial hypertension.
Drowsiness.
Sleep apnea.

Anemia

Hypoxia, associated with insufficient oxygen capacity of the blood, occurs with anemia. These are conditions in which there is a decrease in the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin. There are many types of anemia: with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals (iron, cyanocobalamin, folic acid), increased breakdown of formed elements (hemolysis), disruption of their synthesis in the bone marrow (hypo- and aplastic). But the key signs in the clinical picture will be the following:

General weakness.
Pale and dry skin.
Dizziness.
Increased heart rate.
Dyspnea.
Brittle hair and nails.

Shortness of breath is a characteristic sign of anemic syndrome, which occurs due to a decrease in the oxygen capacity of the blood.

Botulism

When eating foods in which botulinum toxin has accumulated, a dangerous infectious disease occurs. This substance is the strongest poison of biological origin. With botulism, damage to the nervous system occurs, which disrupts the transmission of impulses to the muscles, including the respiratory muscles. And this is accompanied by hypoxic disorders of various nature (circulatory, hemic, tissue) and the following symptoms:

Frequent and shallow breathing.
Muscle weakness, paresis and flaccid paralysis.
Oculomotor disorders (drooping of the upper eyelid, double vision, defects of accommodation and convergence, dilated pupil).
Bulbar disorders (nasal voice, problems with swallowing, dry mouth).
Dyspepsia (nausea and vomiting, bloating and constipation).
Retention of urination.

Respiratory failure becomes one of the most serious symptoms that threaten the patient’s life. It occurs gradually, but can also occur spontaneously. With severe hypoxia, cerebral edema occurs with impaired consciousness.

Additional diagnostics

Clinical blood and urine tests.
Biochemical blood test (indicators of inflammation, gas composition, lipid spectrum, coagulogram).
Bacteriological culture of feces and vomit.
Chest X-ray.
Electrocardiogram.
Ultrasound of the heart with Doppler sonography.
Angiography.
Neuromyography.
Polysomnography.

If the lungs are not in order, the person is definitely unwell. Yes, often respiratory diseases are first reflected in the breathing process itself, but the symptoms of lung disease are not always obvious. Your body can send you signals for help in different ways. Learning to recognize these signs will help you heal your lungs and breathe more comfortably.

What is the main cause of lung problems? First of all, it is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (). In Ukraine, 1% of the population suffers from this disease, which can be fatal. These are the statistics for 2013.

Globally, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death and will soon be third on the so-called death blacklist, says Lauren Goodman, MD, assistant professor of pulmonology and critical care medicine at medical center named after Wexner at Ohio State University (USA).

Typical diseases included in general concept chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, the following:

emphysema;
Chronical bronchitis ;
asthma;
cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis).

Pulmonary emphysema is a pathological condition that is characterized by excessive air retention in the lungs due to the expansion of the alveoli, which leads to their destruction. Cystic fibrosis is hereditary disease, in which a protein mutation occurs, resulting in disturbances in the functioning of the exocrine glands. These glands secrete mucus and sweat. Mucus produced by the exocrine glands is necessary to moisturize and protect individual organs from drying out and infection. harmful bacteria, which is a mechanical barrier.

With cystic fibrosis, the mucus becomes thick and sticky, it accumulates in the bronchial ducts and pancreas and clogs them. This leads to the proliferation of bacteria, as the cleaning function disappears. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects the following organs:

lungs;
intestines;
paranasal sinuses.

Interstitial lung diseases affect the tissue between the alveolar sacs in the lungs. This is also a serious respiratory disease.

If you notice at least one of the symptoms described below, do not try to ignore them. These signs and changes in well-being indicate that it is time to see a doctor.

1. You always lack energy

Have you climbed the steps to the third floor and felt like you had run a marathon? Do you find that you are completely unable to do normal things at home on your day off if you can’t sleep during the day? Your cells need oxygen to produce energy that will keep your entire body going throughout the day. When your cells don't have enough oxygen, you start to do everything slowly. In addition, if you have low energy levels, then a kind of vicious circle is formed: due to fatigue and weakness, you are unable to exercise normally. And at the same time, due to a lack of physical activity, it is difficult to replenish the supply vitality. Remember what is possible.

2. Breathing problems, and the cause is in the lungs

You may think that as the years pass and a person ages, the type of breathing changes and it often becomes difficult, but this is not so. If you can clearly say that the days when you breathed easily and deeply are long gone, then perhaps it’s time for the doctor to listen to your lungs.

Dyspnea is a disturbance in the frequency and rhythm of breathing, which is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. Shortness of breath can be associated with various pathological conditions that lead to difficulty in inhaling or exhaling. When there is insufficient oxygen supply to organs and tissues, the body tries to compensate for this lack by increasing activation respiratory muscles, which leads to an increase in the frequency and rhythm of breathing.

According to Goodman, sometimes a person feels it because it is difficult to release air from the respiratory system, and too much air accumulates in the chest. Even if it is not difficult to exhale completely, the patient experiences difficulty breathing due to weakened lungs. As a result, the lungs cannot cope with their main job: they cannot deliver enough oxygen to the blood.

3. You feel confused.

Did you know that the brain uses only 15%-20% of the oxygen that enters the body? For the brain to function properly, a person needs O2 to think adequately. Oxygen levels drop rapidly when the lungs are unable to properly deliver oxygen to the blood, and confusion is common as a result. Low level oxygen levels are too high carbon dioxide have a serious Negative influence the ability to think quickly. According to Goodman, “sometimes it makes a person sleepy.”

4. You are losing weight

Progressive lung disease leads to a large number problems in the human body, and because of this, a person may not even notice how many kilograms he has lost. And it's not always the fat you got rid of. According to Goodman, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the body often experiences inflammatory process, and as a result, the muscles lose mass. In such cases, it can even be difficult for a person to eat a lot in one meal if he has difficulty breathing - because the body gives a signal that the stomach is full.

5. Cough for longer than three weeks

If a cough does not go away and is present all the time in a person’s life, this is a serious cause for concern; especially if:

coughing up blood;
heat.

Smoking against the background of such menacing symptoms is another reason for concern, because such signs listed above often mean the beginning of chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Call your doctor if your cough lasts more than three weeks, especially if it makes it difficult to breathe.