Breathing fuels energy metabolism, movement and overall survival. Chronic lung disease gradually leads to breathlessness, reduced stamina, and disrupted sleeping patterns. It affects every aspect of the quality of life of individuals.
Chronic lung disease (CLD), alternatively termed as ‘chronic respiratory disease’ (CRD) causes more than 400000 deaths every year, among which 80% of the cases involve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [1]. Similarly, more than 35 million individuals live with CLD due to COPD and asthma in the US [2]. India has the highest burden of CRD, with approximately 15.69% cases globally in 2017. While the global deaths accounted for 30.28% cases in India [3].
Understanding Chronic Lung Disease (CLD), its types, symptoms, and evolving treatment is crucial for its adequate management.
What is CLD?
Chronic Lung Disease is a chronic condition that restricts the respiratory system’s functioning. The condition develops gradually and gets worse over time. The risk factors associated with CLD development include smoking, allergens, indoor pollution (dampness, moulds, biomass fuels), outdoor pollution, and occupational dust or chemicals. CLD progression brings long-term inflammatory response and fibrotic changes in the lung tissue.
What are the Common CLD Types?
Depending on the affected areas (airways, lung tissue, pulmonary circulations), types of Lung Diseases are categorized. The sub-type includes:
Restrictive Lung Disease
Lung tissue becomes inflamed, scarred or stiff. Individuals find difficulty in breathing, which includes:
Pulmonary Fibrosis/ Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Progressive irreversible lung condition
- Permanent scarring around the air sacs of the lungs
- Characterized by a dry hacking cough, clubbing of the toes or fingers
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment involves medications like anti-fibrotic drugs, immunosuppressants, or supportive treatment like oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation
Work-Associated Disease
- Silicosis, workers in the silica factory
- Black lung for workers in coal mines
- Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum (fungus) exposure, is found in solid materials with large amounts of bird/bat droppings
Sarcoidosis
- In an inflammatory condition, the immune system gets hyperactivated
- Leads to nodules or lumps formation (granulomas)
- Can get triggered by genetic or environmental factors
Obstructive/ Airways Lung Disease
Airways are blocked or obstructed, breathing becomes harder, and the airway gets inflamed with thick mucus.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Mucus buildup thickens the lung linings and makes breathing difficult
- Inflammation in the airway
- Air sacs, or alveoli, lose their efficiency, resulting in compromised gaseous exchange
Asthma
- Swollen lungs are making breathing difficult
- Characterized by wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness
- Can get triggered by allergic reaction, being overweight, premature birth, and eczema
Bronchietasis
- Inflammation in the bronchial tube, increased mucus production
- Occurs due to sinus or cold infection
- Characterized by frequent cough, breathlessness, and chest tightness
Cystic Fibrosis
- An inherited condition changes the mucus makeup in the body
- Mucus production becomes excessive, thickens, and becomes sticky.
- Characterized by chronic coughing, dyspnea, sinus infection, and recurring chest cold
Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Lung disease that affects the blood vessels of the lungs. The heart and lungs both find difficulty working efficiently.
Pulmonary Hypertension
- High blood pressure in the lungs affects blood vessels
- Blocks or restricts blood flow in the heart
- The heart has to overwork to push blood into the capillaries.
Pulmonary Embolism
- Sudden blockage in the lung artery, blood clots break from deep veins in the legs, pelvic regions, and travel to the lungs
- Characterized by sharp chest pain and dyspnea, sudden leg pain
What are the Early Lung Disease Symptoms?
Individuals must be aware of Lung Disease Symptoms to ensure an on-time diagnosis and treatment. The common symptoms include:
- Excessive mucus production and persistent coughing
- Breathlessness (dyspnea) while performing normal activities
- Wheezing sound, chest tightness, low energy or fatigue
- Reduced tolerance to exercise
- Clubbing of fingers, low oxygen reaches the body’s organs (in advanced conditions)
How Does CLD Affect Daily Life?
Chronic lung disease widely compromises an individual’s daily life activities. This includes:
- Physical Limitations: reduced stamina, muscle weakness. Breathlessness while climbing stairs, speaking or walking
- Psychological Effect: Breathlessness leads to anxiety in social settings, insomnia, or depression
- Disrupted Work-Life Balance: Reduced independence and challenge in performing daily life tasks, increased sensitivity to smoke, dust, or temperature
What are the Treatments Available Against CLD?
Lung disease treatment recommendations depend on the types of lung diseases and severity. The key treatment approach includes:
Palliative Care
- Bronchodialators, in the form of inhalers, relax allergic reactions or inflammation, widening airways and facilitating adequate breathing
- Corticoids: Oral medication, which relaxes inflammation, controls sudden flare-ups of the problem
Respiratory Therapies
- Oxygen therapy: Inadequate respiration leads to low oxygen availability.
- Oxygen therapy is delivered via nasal tubing or mask.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Combines exercise training, dietary nutritional management and breathing technique for maximizing lung capacity
- Adapting prevention methods like quitting smoking, reducing pollutants or allergen exposure, and adapting flu shots every year, enables long-term management
Surgery
- For managing lung volume, a surgical procedure for scarred or damaged tissue removal is performed.
- In severe cases, lung implantation is an option.
*The above therapies are well-established, yet there is no cure for chronic lung disease. Emerging regenerative medicine has opened possibilities for supportive care
What is Stem Cell Therapy in Treating CLD?
In past decades, researchers and clinicians have focused on better management of CLD. With the emergence of regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy has emerged with new possibilities for CLD management. The intent is rejuvenation of the damaged or dead lung tissue and introducing repair mechanisms. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely explored for their ability to create a paracrine effect and cellular regeneration. The key mechanism includes:
- Activating Repair Mechanism: MSCs release various signalling molecules and growth factors. It elevates cellular communication and activates the body’s natural repair mechanism. They aid in damaged cell repair and create a supportive environment for the surrounding tissues.
- Cellular Regeneration: MSCs release various cytokines and growth factors that aid in new cell regeneration. It replaces scarred lung tissue, aiding in naive cell regeneration.
- Anti-Inflammation: Stem cells modulate the immune response. The cells release anti-inflammatory cytokines and neutralize the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It reduces inflammation and aids in the adequate flow of the gaseous exchange.
- Anti-Fibrotic Effect: Stem cells modulate collagen overproduction, reducing lung tissue scarring
What do Preclinical and Clinical Data Reveal About Stem Cell Therapy Against Chronic Lung Disease?
Currently, stem cell therapy against chronic lung disease has not been completely cured. Preclinical and clinical evidence have supported symptom management. The outcomes include:
- Reduced inflammation in the respiratory tract
- Improvement in breathing ability
- Improved quality of life of the patient
- Safety and tolerability of the stem cells [4]
*In future, the large-scale clinical trial is desirable for establishing the long-term effect of the stem cells for targeting chronic conditions
What are the Key Considerations While Opting for Stem Cell Therapy?
- Personalized treatment approach as per the individual’s needs
- Superior quality clinical-grade stem cells for the treatment
- Applicable as supportive therapy (combination of stem cells and conventional treatment)
- Consult renowned clinics and experienced clinicians, set clear expectations based on science-backed evidences
*Advancells, India is leading stem cell research laboratory that supplies clinical grade stem cells for various chronic diseases.
Conclusion: Protecting Every Breath Matters
Chronic lung disease is a chronic health condition that disrupts the daily life of individuals. Understanding early symptoms and opting for adequate treatment in a timely manner is crucial for better management. Regenerative medicine can aid in supporting better outcomes when combined with conventional treatment options. The therapeutic future looks promising with emerging evidence in lung disease care
References
- WHO Chronic Respiratory Diseases Fact Sheet. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/chronic-respiratory-diseases
- American Lung Association – Trends in Lung Disease. U.S. data and statistics. Chicago (IL): American Lung Association; 2026. Available from: https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease
- International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) India. Available from: https://www.ipcrg.org/india
- Melo MM, Cruz FF, Rocco PR. Mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for chronic lung diseases: experimental and clinical evidence. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine. 2023 Mar 4;17(3):223-35.
FAQ’s
Q- What are the Chronic Lung Disease Symptoms?
Lung disease symptoms include chronic cough, wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, fatigue, etc.
Q- Can Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment Reverse Lung Scarring?
The current pulmonary fibrosis treatment approach can aid in the active management of the problem when started early. Emerging regenerative medicine holds better promise in achieving positive outcomes. However, none of the treatments can promise a complete cure.
Q- How Does CRD Affect Daily Activities?
CRD occurrence disrupts the normal daily life activities of the individuals. They compromise an individual’s stamina, lead to insomnia, limit mobility, and cause breathlessness during simple daily life tasks, etc., which occurs due to physical discomfort and also invokes psychological conditions like anxiety or depression.
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