Lung Diseases and Conditions
Many steps are involved in breathing. If injury, disease, or other
factors affect any of the steps, you may have trouble breathing.
For
example, the fine hairs (cilia) that line your upper airways may not
trap all of the germs you breathe in. These germs can cause an infection
in your bronchial tubes (bronchitis) or deep in your lungs (pneumonia). These infections cause a buildup of mucus and/or fluid that narrows the airways and limits airflow in and out of your lungs.
If you have asthma,
breathing in certain substances that you're sensitive to can trigger
your airways to narrow. This makes it hard for air to flow in and out of
your lungs.
Over a long period, breathing in cigarette smoke or
air pollutants can damage the airways and the air sacs. This can lead to
a condition called COPD
(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD prevents proper airflow
in and out of your lungs and can hinder gas exchange in the air sacs.
An
important step to breathing is the movement of your diaphragm and other
muscles in your chest, neck, and abdomen. This movement lets you inhale
and exhale. Nerves that run from your brain to these muscles control
their movement. Damage to these nerves in your upper spinal cord can
cause breathing to stop, unless a machine is used to help you breathe.
(This machine is called a ventilator or a respirator.)
A
steady flow of blood in the small blood vessels that surround your air
sacs is vital for gas exchange. Long periods of inactivity or surgery
can cause a blood clot called a pulmonary embolism (PE) to block a lung artery. A PE can reduce or block the flow of blood in the small blood vessels and hinder gas exchange.
Clinical Trials
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is strongly
committed to supporting research aimed at preventing and treating heart,
lung, and blood diseases and conditions and sleep disorders.
NHLBI-supported
research has led to many advances in medical knowledge and care. Often,
these advances depend on the willingness of volunteers to take part in
clinical trials.
Clinical trials test new ways to prevent,
diagnose, or treat various diseases and conditions. For example, new
treatments for a disease or condition (such as medicines, medical
devices, surgeries, or procedures) are tested in volunteers who have the
illness. Testing shows whether a treatment is safe and effective in
humans before it is made available for widespread use.
By taking
part in a clinical trial, you can gain access to new treatments before
they’re widely available. You also will have the support of a team of
health care providers, who will likely monitor your health closely. Even
if you don’t directly benefit from the results of a clinical trial, the
information gathered can help others and add to scientific knowledge.
If
you volunteer for a clinical trial, the research will be explained to
you in detail. You’ll learn about treatments and tests you may receive,
and the benefits and risks they may pose. You’ll also be given a chance
to ask questions about the research. This process is called informed
consent.
If you agree to take part in the trial, you’ll be asked
to sign an informed consent form. This form is not a contract. You have
the right to withdraw from a study at any time, for any reason. Also,
you have the right to learn about new risks or findings that emerge
during the trial.
For more information about clinical trials related to your disease or condition, talk with your doctor.
