What Can Cause Lung Damage? by mpatino | Aug 8, 2017 | Disease Education, Lung Disease, Medical
Lung Graphic Lung damage can be caused by various substances and conditions. Some of the most common causes of lung damage include the following:
Smoking — The toxic substances in cigarette smoke can cause lung damage by triggering inflammation and destroying the elasticity and structure of the lungs’ air passages and air sacs. Additionally, cigarette smoke eliminates the lungs’ cilia (the structures responsible for clearing mucus), and the resulting mucus buildup can give rise to infection. Household elements — Various materials found in some homes, including asbestos, bird protein, mold and radon, can lead to lung damage. Pollution — Consistently inhaling air pollutants can cause lung inflammation, which may eventually result in lung damage. Medical conditions — Certain medical conditions may cause lung damage, including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, lupus, mixed-connective tissue disease, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, pulmonary vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Additionally, people who have close relatives who were diagnosed with emphysema have an elevated risk of developing emphysema themselves given their similar genetic characteristics. Medical treatments — Treatments for certain medical conditions can cause lung damage. For instance, chemotherapy (particularly cyclophosphamide and methotrexate) and radiation therapy (especially that for lung or breast cancer) may lead to lung damage. Certain antibiotics (including nitrofurantoin and sulfasalazine), anticonvulsants, antiarrhythmics and heart medications (including amiodarone and propranolol) can also lead to lung damage. In some cases, the cause of lung damage is unknown. In fact, there is an entire set of lung diseases (encompassing approximately 100 different pulmonary disorders) that exists for which there is sometimes no apparent cause. This grouping is categorically referred to as idiopathic lung disease. Some lung conditions that can be classified as idiopathic include pulmonary fibrosis, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and sarcoidosis.
The Lung Health Institute offers treatment for various forms of lung disease using cellular therapy. Although lung diseases are incurable and the damage they cause is irreversible, our innovative lung disease treatment methods can potentially slow the progression of the disease and improve our patients’ quality of life. If you have been diagnosed with lung disease, please call the Lung Health Institute today at 866-553-1561. Our caring team looks forward to explaining how we may be able to help you breathe easier.
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