Types of Lung Disease

The Different Types of Lung Disease

Lung disease is non-discriminatory; i.e. it can affect anyone whether they are male or female, young or old, no matter what race, colour or creed and whether you have smoked or not. There is a wide variety of different types of diseases that can affect the lungs including:

Asbestosis – a chronic disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres

Asthma – a chronic disease that makes lungs hyper-sensitive and often causes difficulty with breathing (Work-related Asthma is when this condition is brought on or made worse due to someone’s working environment)

Byssinosis – a lung disease caused by exposure to cotton dust

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – this includes Bronchitis; an inflammation of the bronchi (airways) that causes swelling and excess mucus production resulting in regular, often chronic coughing, and also Emphysema where the air sacs (alveoli) become damaged making it difficult to breathe

Farmer’s Lung – an allergic reaction to microbes within crops and dusts commonly found in agriculture

Hantavirus – a rare but serious lung disease spread by rodents and deer

Lung Cancer – this is any cancer that starts in the lungs. Sadly there is a wide range of different types of cancers that can start in the lungs for a variety of reasons. Essentially these are broken down into two main types: Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) which account for about 10-15% of lung cancers, and Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) which are responsible for around 85% of cases.

Mesothelioma – a lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall

Pleural Plaques – Pleural plaques are caused by asbestos exposure and although, in the main, symptomless they can be a source of considerable anxiety. In England and Wales compensation is no longer awarded by the Court for pleural plaques but you should contact us if you have previously had a payment for this condition and you think your chest has deteriorated or if you have never claimed before and are experiencing some shortness of breath.  

Pleural Thickening – As the name suggest this is caused when the lining of the lung, the Pleura, thickens up restricting lung capacity. Although it can have a number of causes, it can sometimes be associated with asbestos exposure.

Pneumonia – an inflammation of one or both lungs usually caused by an infection

Pneumoconiosis – any disease of the lungs caused by inhaling dusts

Pulmonary Fibrosis – a form of disease that causes scarring of the lungs and particularly affects the interstitium (the lining around the alveoli)

Silicosis – a scarring of the lungs caused by inhaling Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

Tuberculosis – a serious disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis that affects the lungs and other parts of the body and is extremely contagious

Contact us today for free, no obligation advice regarding your Lung Disease claim – either by calling us free on 0800 122 3130, or by requesting a free call back, whereby one of our team will contact you at a time of your choice, to discuss your situation.

We’re here to help – contact us today.