4 Common Lung Diseases Which Affect Women

Lung diseases have become very common for people living in the urban areas all over the world. Diseases in the lungs are the most common medical conditions which affect millions of people globally; however, the numbers of women who have been affected by numerous lung diseases are more in comparison to men. There are a number of lung diseases which differ from each other in terms of severity and their treatment. Some of the most common lung diseases which affect women mostly are given below.

1. Asthma
Asthma is the condition in which the lungs and bronchial tubes get inflamed and become extremely sensitive as well. In this condition, the airways become easily irritated mostly because of smoking cigarettes or being in a polluted area. Your lungs and bronchial tubes may also get sensitive to allergens like dust mites and pollen. Difficulties in breathing, regularly coughing and wheezing are some of the problems which are caused by Asthma. This condition affects women more than men because of the presence of high level of testosterone protect them from the disease, if the research is to be believed.

2. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is that deadly disease which affects women more than men. The leading cause of cancer deaths in women, this disease is largely linked to smoking cigarettes. However, it is often observed that women who have quit the habit are more likely to get affected by the disease. It is believed that estrogen plays a major role in the development of lung cancer in women as treatment with progesterone and estrogen after hitting menopause can increase your chances of getting affected by lung cancer.

3. Pulmonary Emboli
Blood clots which start forming in one part of the body, which is usually the legs, and slowly travel to various other parts of the body which end up getting stuck in the lungs are called pulmonary emboli. These small blood clots which get stuck in the lungs cause problems in breathing and affect more women than men, in general. The pulmonary embolus is also responsible for reducing the oxygen flow in the blood-streams. Women who take contraceptive pills or go through hormone treatments are often at the risk of developing this problem.

4. Pulmonary Hypertension
Another lung disease which affects women more than men is pulmonary hypertension. The blood pressure in this lung disease becomes dangerously high. The right side of the heart starts to work harder due to the increased pressure built. This results in the oxygen-rich blood to be pumped back to the lungs. Childhood infections and other lung problems are often observed as the reason for women to develop this issue.