Alveoli Damage - Symptoms, Causes, Prevention

Complete Guide of Alveoli Damage

Alveoli refer to microscopic, balloon-like structures present in the lungs. They play a crucial role in the process of respiration. They can easily get damaged due to inhaling toxic substances or due to poor lifestyle habits.

What is a lung disease of the alveoli?

Alveolar lung disease is a category of respiratory conditions that affects the alveoli. It refers to tiny sacs located towards the end of bronchioles in the lungs. These sacs are essential for gas exchange and let oxygen enter the bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide. Diseases which affect the alveoli can impair gas exchange function and cause various complications.

What Causes Damage to the Alveoli?

Any form of damage to the alveoli affects the way a person breathes. Such damage creates difficulty in receiving oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide outside of the sacs. It leads to an accumulation of harmful chemicals. As a result, the body fails to deliver oxygen for optimal function.

Common Symptoms of Alveoli Damage

Alveolar damage negatively affects lung function. An individual with this condition may avoid activities that cause them to feel short of breath and the following other symptoms:

• The feeling of tightness in the chest area
• Constant periods of exhaustion
• Unexplained weight loss
• Swelling of the ankles
• Whistling, wheezing or squeaking sounds during breathing
   

Lung Diseases that Affect Alveoli

There are certain types of lung diseases which only affect the alveoli and are thereby called alveolar lung diseases. An alveolar lung disease is of either type, chronic or acute. Some types of lung disease that affect alveoli are:

Pneumonia

The primary characteristic of pneumonia is an infection in the alveoli. It generally happens due to bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus, that cause COVID-19.

Emphysema
 

It happens when the links between the alveoli are torn and damaged. The primary cause of this condition is smoking. Emphysema limits the airflow and blocks the airways.

Pulmonary Oedema
 

In this condition, fluid leaks out of the smaller blood vessels of the lungs into air sacs and then into the area around them. One form occurs due to intense back pressure in the lungs and heart failure. Additionally, having a lung injury also causes fluid leakage.

Tuberculosis (TB)

It is a bacterial infection which primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. This happens due to bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Pneumoconiosis
 

It refers to a category of conditions that occur due to inhaling substances that injure the lungs. Examples include:

• Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (Black lung disease) from coal dust.
• Asbestosis from asbestos fibers.
• Silicosis from silica dust.
   

Lung Cancer

It has several forms and might start in any part of a person's lungs. The majority of the time, it happens in the primary part of the lung or near the air sacs.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

ARDS is a sudden and severe injury to the lungs which can occur due to a serious illness. A prime example of this is coronavirus-induced COVID-19. Many people have ARDS and require help breathing with a ventilator till their lungs recover.

How Do You Check Alveoli Health?

Experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier is indicative of damaged lungs. While there is no direct way to check alveoli health, a few lung function tests can help determine the condition of the lungs. These tests check the performance of the lungs. It is also known as pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

They can be used with other tests to determine the condition of a person's lungs. Here are a few such tests:

• Spirometry: It is the most common form of lung function test and measures the amount of air that an individual can breathe in and out. Spirometry helps diagnose lung diseases like asthma and COPD that affect the airways.
• Lung Volume Test: The lung volume test is also known as plethysmography. It is the most accurate way to measure the amount of air that the lungs of an individual can hold. This test also measures the amount of air that remains back after a person exhales.
• Lung Diffusion Capacity Test: A lung diffusion capacity test measures the amount of gas that is transferred to the blood from the air upon inhaling. In this test, a person has to inhale carbon monoxide, and then the level of it in the bloodstream is measured to check for lung health.
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test: It is an evaluation of how well the lungs work when active. There are different series of tests under a cardiopulmonary exercise test. For example, there is a six-minute walk test that checks for lung health.
   

To prevent alveoli damage, it becomes necessary to maintain a lifestyle that minimises exposure to harmful and toxic substances that can contribute to lung damage. Early prevention can help avoid any lung complications in the future.