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Lung (Respiratory) Diseases

There are several common respiratory diseases. As well as addressing lung disease in general, we also cover:

• Asthma



• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)



• Cystic Fibrosis

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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe. Airways become inflamed.  The welling and build-up of mucus makes the airways narrower, so that it is harder for air to pass through. As the airways become more swollen, the muscles around the airways begin to tighten becoming narrower.  As the airways become narrower there is less room for air to pass through.

Different people have different signs and symptoms of asthma. Asthma signs and symptoms are also variable - they can change over time or depending on the situation. People with asthma often have one or more these symptoms:

• Wheezing



• Chest tightness



• Coughing



• Feeling short of breath

Breathing problems can be caused by different conditions.
Asthma can't be cured, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

From What is asthma? Lung Association of Canada, 2010; and  Signs and Symptoms, Lung Association of Canada, 2010 

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis and is one of the leading causes for hospital admissions in older adults. COPD is a long-term lung disease that is caused by smoking (in 80% of cases), being exposed to second hand smoke, long-term asthma, and air pollution in most cases. Many people with COPD have both bronchitis and emphysema. COPD also often goes hand-in-hand with heart failure.

The main symptoms of COPD and chronic bronchitis are:

• A long-lasting cough (cough that won't go away)



• Coughing up mucus or extra mucus (phlegm) in the lungs



• Being short of breath

If you have COPD or chronic bronchitis:

• The cells lining the inside of the airways are swollen



• The airways in your lungs have become narrow and partly clogged with mucus



• The air sacs at the end of the airways become damaged making it hard to move air in and out of your longs

Diagnosis and Treatment:
It is important to have COPD or chronic bronchitis diagnosed and treated early. The earlier it is caught, the easier it is to treat and more damage can be avoided. COPD is diagnosed with a test called spirometry, which measures the amount of air you can move in and out of your lungs. If chronic bronchitis is left untreated, the mucus becomes thicker and more difficult to cough up. This means it's easier for bacteria to settle in your lower airways and for infections to develop.

Used with permission from The Canadian Lung Association, 2010

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Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects people's lungs and digestion. The body produces thick mucus that may interfere with lung functioning making it difficult to breathe. It can lead to life-threatening lung infections. CF also affects the pancreas. Thick secretions there stop the release of the digestive enzymes that normally help break down food, making it hard for people to digest and absorb nutrients. The mucus can also block the bile duct in the liver, which eventually causes permanent liver damage in some people with CF. Approximately one in 3600 children born in Canada has CF.

Adapted from The Lung Association of Canada, 2010

Newborn Screening (NBS) for Cystic Fibrosis
Newborns are screened for serious, often life-threatening disorders that may not be apparent at birth.  The disorders that are screened through NBS vary from province to province. Cystic Fibrosis is screened for in Alberta; British Columbia; Ontario; and Saskatchewan.

Carrier Testing for Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that is passed from parents to children through their genes, carriers can pass the defective gene on to their offspring, just as they pass on other characteristics such as eye and hair colour.

Any person who is born with one defective and one normal copy of the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis is a cystic fibrosis carrier.  Approximately one in 25 Canadians is a cystic fibrosis carrier. CF carriers do not have cystic fibrosis, nor do they exhibit any symptoms of the disease.
Carrier testing is performed for the purpose of family planning. Since carriers are unaffected by the disease, the fact that they are carriers is relevant only if they – or their grown children – wish to have children. A genetic counsellor can help individuals decide whether or not to be tested.

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