Chronic Destructive Pulmonary Disease

Sometimes called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic destructive pulmonary disease is not one specific disease, but a group of medical conditions that affect the lungs. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two of the most common types of chronic destructive pulmonary disease.

Identification

Chronic destructive pulmonary disease reduces airflow through your lungs by causing destructive damage to their interior structures. This reduction in airflow makes it difficult for you to breathe.

Causes

The most common causes for chronic destructive pulmonary disease are smoking and repeated exposure to harmful fumes and gases, according to the Mayo Clinic. In rare cases, chronic destructive pulmonary disease is caused by a deficiency of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Time Frame

Chronic destructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease that becomes worse over months and years.

Risks

Possible complications of chronic destructive pulmonary disease include hypertension, infections like pneumonia, depression, heart disease and lung cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Significance

There is no cure for chronic destructive pulmonary disease. Each year, over 100,000 people die from complications due to the conditions of it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Mayo Clinic
• CDC: Statistics