Problems in the lungs causing breathlessness explained

Breathlessness can be a direct manifestation of causes in the lungs

Breathlessness is a common symptom in many different disorders related to the lungs, airways, circulation and other bodily systems. Some of these causes are benign while some are very serious. Similarly, the breathlessness caused by different disorders can also vary in intensity. 

However, the intensity of the breathlessness does not necessarily indicate the seriousness of the underlying problem. In any event, it is important for anyone suffering from breathlessness to understand what causes his or her breathlessness. 

This blog will explain the problems in the lungs, which can lead to breathlessness or shortness of breath in most people.

Asthma

Probably the commonest cause for frequent shortness of breath needing treatment, asthma can affect different people at various levels. In asthma, the underlying problem is the narrowing and swelling of the airways and the production of extra mucus within the lungs. Together, these manifestations lead to difficulty in breathing, which is most often described as a ‘wheeze’.

Pulmonary embolism

Although rare, pulmonary embolism is a condition, which manifest after a blood vessel supplying the lungs or its airways become blocked by a blood clot. Such blood clots can form elsewhere in the body and travel to the lungs via the circulation. Depending on the degree of blockage and the area of the lungs the vessel is supplying, the manifestation of shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing could vary from mild to severe. Thus, pulmonary embolism also has the potential to cause even sudden deaths.

Bronchitis

Mainly restricted to smaller airways, bronchitis is an inflammatory condition in which the covering membranes of the air passages produce excessive secretions due to various reasons. This can precipitate as a cough, with or without phlegm and a difficulty in breathing at various degrees.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition in which the lung tissues are inflammed and the tiny air sacs become filled with fluid due to various causes. The causes can be viral, bacterial and sometimes inflammatory which will require medical attention and sometimes intensive treatment. Depending on the area of the lung and the size of its spread, the pneumonia could compromise the lungs capacity considerably and could lead to secondary complications and even death.

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension refers to the elevated pressure gradient within the pulmonary vessels, which carries oxygen depleted blood from the heart into the lungs and vice versa. When the pressure build-up within the pulmonary arteries, it can exert pressure back on the heart as well as on the lungs. The lungs can get filled-up with fluids and will therefore lose its effective capacity to oxygenate the incoming oxygen depleted blood. As a result, the lungs will have to work vigorously and will cause breathlessness, which may progress gradually to serious levels over time.

In some instances, conditions such as COPD is the result of several of these abnormal lung conditions although its combination could bring more serious complications than each one alone.