Lungs enable our bodies to absorb oxygen from the air we breathe and eliminate excess carbon dioxide. This process is critical to effective breathing.
Pulmonary (lung) diseases include a number of conditions that interfere with the ability to breathe. Left untreated, lung disease can become so severe that one or both lungs no longer function, making patients very sick.
Patients with end-stage, noncancerous lung disease that cannot be managed with medications or breathing devices might be candidates for lung transplantation.
When Lung Transplantation Might Be Appropriate
Many conditions can cause the lungs to fail – including issues that impact the internal structures that facilitate breathing, such as the muscles, arteries, bones, and nerves. However, lung transplantation is typically appropriate only for people whose conditions originate in the lungs themselves. These include:
Symptoms of Lung Disease
Depending on its cause and severity, lung disease can result in symptoms that include:
- Wheezing
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Chronic mucus production
- Chronic chest pain
- Cough that brings up blood
- Fatigue and sleepiness
- A blue tint of the skin, lips, and fingernails
- Confusion
- Irregular heartbeat
