Showing posts with label Restrictive Lung Diseases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Restrictive Lung Diseases. Show all posts

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Restrictive Lung Diseases

Restrictive Lung Diseases
Restrictive lung diseases are characterized by reduced lung volume. They are caused by intrinsic lung disease (such as fibrotic diseases, connective tissue diseases. Lung diseases induced by drugs, sarcoidosis, etc.), a neuromuscular disease, chest wall, or diseases affecting the pleura and / or respiratory muscles. Restrictive lung disease is a chronic disorder that causes a decrease in the ability to expand the lung (breathe in) and sometimes makes it harder to get enough oxygen to meet the body's needs.
OR 
 Restrictive lung diseases (or restrictive ventilatory defects) are a category of extrapulmonary, pleural, or parenchymal respiratory diseases that restrict lung expansion, resulting in a decreased lung volume, an increased work of breathing, and inadequate ventilation and/or oxygenation. Pulmonary function test demonstrates a decrease in the forced vital capacity.

In disorders that are intrinsic to the lung parenchyma, the underlying process is usually pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung).As the disease progresses, the normal lung tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue interspersed with pockets of air. This can lead to parts of the lung having a honeycomb-like appearance.