• Breathing in Chemicals or Toxins can Cause Acute Lung Disease"Worker wearing half-mask replaceable particulate filter respirator" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: NIOSH - Nat Inst for Occupational Safety & Health (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Statistics

• According to the American Lung Association, acute lung disease is a chronic condition that affects millions of people in the United States every year. In addition, over 400,000 Americans die of lung disease each year. These statistics are staggering to think about, considering that each patient with lung disease will need some type of medical care. Not to mention the effects the illness and death may have on families all over the United States.
  
  

Causes & Types

• Lung disease can be caused by many different factors. These can include heavy smoking, exposure to asbestos or pollution, or years of working in an environment where hazardous chemicals or toxins are inhaled. As a result, there are many types of lung disease. Occupational lung disease occurs when someone works in a hazardous environment where they breathe in toxins or chemicals. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be caused by smoking or illness that has caused scar tissue or damaged the lungs. According to the Mayo Clinic, acute lung disease can also develop in patients who have received radiation therapy for lung cancer. In addition, there is also a lung disease that is caused from the World Trade Center collapse (World Trade Center Lung Disease). The dust and toxins that were breathed in by those who survived, lived nearby or worked trying to save lives, has caused serious damage to the lungs of some of these people, causing permanent disability.
  
  

Effects

• The effects of acute lung disease can be life-altering. Many people with acute lung disease are unable to physically do the activities they once enjoyed. Sufferers are often homebound and have to remain on oxygen 24 hours a day, relying on family and friends check on them. Some may be so disabled that they require nursing home care.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of the disease may be slow because the symptoms usually come on gradually over time. Many people are unaware of any serious problems. Once symptoms are realized, a physician does tests to determine diagnosis. The physician conducts a complete exam and listen to a patient's lungs for any wheezing or fluid in the lungs. The way the chest moves is also observed by the physician because this can be a sign of labored breathing. In addition, chest X-rays and CT scans are done to take a closer look at the lungs. Pulmonary function tests measure airflow obstruction.
  
  

Treatment

• Treatment for acute lung disease may be done in a combination of ways. According to the Mayo Clinic, medication such as corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and improve lung function. Acetylcystein, an antioxidant, that can be used as an inhalant or an oral suspension, can help improve lung function by thinning mucous in the lungs. Pulmonary rehabilitation is also useful in treating severe cases of lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation offers education about exercising and how to breathe more effectively. It also offers emotional support and nutritional counseling.