Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. In restrictive lung diseases like COPD, patients cannot fully fill their lungs because their lungs are restricted.

The two main forms of COPD are bronchitis and emphysema (source). Most patients with COPD have both conditions. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes and involves a long-term cough with mucus whereas emphysema results in damage to lungs over time.

COPD is caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. Other risk factors for COPD include exposure to certain fumes in the workplace and frequent use of cooking fire with insufficient ventilation. Those with COPD are at increased risk of developing lung cancer, heart disease and other conditions (source).

Pulmonary (Lung) Function Testing is used to confirm COPD, followed by X-ray and CT scan for a more accurate diagnosis. Although chest X-rays seldom give enough information to determine the exact cause of the lung disease, they can help a doctor determine whether and which other tests are needed to make a diagnosis.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) 

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease characterised by chronic inflammation of lung tissue and causes progressive scarring or thickening (fibrosis) of tissues between the lung’s alveoli or air sacs. Patients usually experience a subtle onset of breathlessness with exercise. This breathlessness worsens over time due to decreased oxygen transfer to the blood, possibly leading to heart failure.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs and destroys body tissue. Symptoms include coughing up of blood, phlegm, chest pains and consistent fever.