The human lung is a respiratory organ made up of secondary lobules and Broncho vascular bundles, alveoli and blood vessels, and an interstitial. The diseases affecting the lungs, a primary respiratory organ in human beings, are called lung diseases. Most fatal lung diseases affect the interstitium. A Prolonged affliction of the interstitial by a lung disease may result into a fatal condition known as fibrosis (Schwarz and King 4).
The Interstitial lung diseases have a variety of causes which maybe an array of other lung diseases or exposure to chemical substances. Furthermore, the possibility of curing an interstitial lung disease depends on the nature of the underlying cause. An advanced case of fibrosis may result to a chronic condition with minimal applicable control measures (Schwarz and King 6). In addition, an advanced development of fibrosis may require a patient to be equipped with oxygen support to maintain basal respiration.
A patient with fibrosis can be diagnosed through the laboratory testing of his or her blood for indicating factors. The conventional methods of imaging the thoracic cavity are additional diagnostic procedures normally used. If the nature of the fibrosis cannot be ascertained, then a biopsy is conducted to assess the condition of the lungs. While most of lung diseases can be cured, some of the conditions presented by these diseases are chronic (Schwarz and King 7).
The Inflammation of the lungs causes breathing and general respiratory problems. In addition, it may lead to the rupture of the alveoli, the basic respiratory organ element in the lungs. Diseases with this kind of behavior are known as obstructive lung diseases. The obstruction of the respiratory system indicates an abnormal condition in the lungs (Voelkel and macnee 6). The Interstitial diseases of the lung differ with the obstructive diseases because of their primary symptoms. The obstructive diseases cause difficulty in breathing by the patient in their onset period whereas the interstitial diseases are likely to interfere significantly with the breathing process in their terminal stage.
The interference with the breathing process exhibits its signs when an interstitial lung disease has developed a fibroid condition in the lung tissue making the lung stiff. Thus, the disease remains unnoticed for most of its development period. At the fibroid stage, the process of respiratory failure has already commenced. This factor makes the interstitial diseases of the lung fatal with a high mortality rate (Voelkel and Macknee 9).
Another fatal cause of lung disease is the development of cancerous tumors in the lung tissue. Cancerous tumors are known as malignant tumors and are usually a result of prolonged exposure of the lung tissue to foreign chemical substances and particles. Alternatively, lung cancer can be a result of a spreading cancerous condition in another part of the body. Cancerous growths in close proximity of the lungs are almost certain to spread to the lung tissue (Schwarz and king 9). The most significant feature of cancerous tumors that make them fatal is their ability to spread to other parts of the body without adverse symptoms of tumor development exhibiting. The growth of cancer can be arrested in the early stages of its development, but fatalities normally occur with advanced tumors. Benign tumors may also develop in the lung tissue, but have low rates of occurrence (Schwarz and King).
Sometimes, rapidly deteriorating conditions can develop if a foreign material such as a product of blood thrombosis causes the obstruction of blood flow in the lungs, especially after a rupture of a blood vessel in another part of the body. A severe obstruction will cause the instant death of the affected person. Cardiac failure, often results to the blockage of the respiratory surface of the lungs by a fluid in a condition known as edema (Voelkel and Macnee 3). The combined effects of cardiac failure and respiratory obstruction are usually fatal.
Works Cited
Schwarz, Marvin I., and Talmadge E. King. Interstitial lung disease. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical ;, 2010. Print.
Voelkel, Norbert F., and William MacNee. Chronic obstructive lung diseases. Hamilton Ont.: BC Decker, 2002. Print.