It is an umbrella term used to describe diseases that affect the airways and the lungs. On a typical day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. Lung disease affects your ability to breathe and the ability of the lungs to work well. 

Tobacco smoke, air pollution, occupational chemicals, dust, childhood respiratory infections, genetic and other environmental factors cause lung diseases. While some lung diseases are caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, other lung diseases are connected with environmental factors. 

Asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), emphysema, acute bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, sleep apnea, infections like influenza, pneumonia, and tuberculosis are some diseases that affect the airways and lungs. Certain lung diseases can lead to respiratory failure.

The Lancet states that close to 545 million people worldwide had a chronic respiratory disease in 2017, an increase of 39·8% since 1990. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma have been identified as the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases. These diseases accounted for 3·9 million deaths in 2017.

Chronic respiratory diseases are not curable. Treatments can help open blocked air passages, improve shortness of breath and help control symptoms, thus improving the quality of life for people with the disease.  

Consult your doctor at Amrita Hospitals for a detailed medical examination and treatment.