5 Symptoms of Lung Infarction, Coughing Blood to Shortness of Breath

KOMPAS.com – The lungs are sacs of tissue just below the ribs and above the diaphragm.

The lungs are vital organs for the respiratory system which are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Just like other organs, the lungs can also be affected by certain diseases. One of the diseases that can attack the respiratory organs is: pulmonary infarction.

Also read: Symptoms of End-Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Lung Infarction is the death of lung tissue due to obstruction of the pulmonary artery or its branches by an embolus. This condition results in a lack of blood supply to the lungs.

If left unchecked, you can get pneumonia or an infection that causes inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs. This infection can threaten anyone’s life.

Causes of pulmonary infarction

This disease occurs when part of the lung tissue dies due to a deficiency in the blood supply.

By far, the most common cause of pulmonary infarction is pulmonary embolism or a condition when one or more arteries in the lungs are blocked by a blood clot.

Quoted from Verywell Health, up to 30 percent of pulmonary emboli result in at least a small pulmonary infarction. In addition to embolism, the following conditions also cause pulmonary infections.

• cancer
• autoimmune diseases: lupus, various infections, sickle cell disease
• infiltrative lung disease: amyloidosis or air embolization

Symptoms of pulmonary infarction

1. Coughing up blood

Coughing up blood in medical parlance is called hemoptysis. This blood can come from the nose, throat, windpipe, and lungs.

Hemoptysis or coughing up blood is a common condition of chronic respiratory disease. Blood can come out minimally to massive, which can be life-threatening.

2. Chronic shortness of breath

Shortness of breath or dyspnea is not a frightening symptom, but it is also often a sign of a serious medical problem such as a pulmonary infarction.

Reporting from Healthline, when someone experiences shortness of breath, they automatically don’t get enough air that they need.

In addition, dyspnea is also often accompanied by chest tightness, feeling of suffocation, and panic.

Also read: 13 Warning Signs of Lung Disease

3. Fever

As is known, fever is often a form of the body’s response to an illness. Fever can be characterized by an increase in body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius.

Fever accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, chest pain signs of pulmonary infarction. Immediately consult a doctor to avoid chronic conditions.

4. Chest pain

The symptoms of chest pain associated with a lung infarction are different from the usual pain. In people who have had a pulmonary infarction, chest pain occurs when breathing in.

When you experience unbearable pain when you inhale, it means that the lining of the chest is inflamed. Immediately visit a health service if you experience pain when breathing in.

5. Dizziness and weakness

Dizziness and weakness are often signs of various diseases. However, if you feel dizzy and weak after experiencing chest pain or cough up bloodyou should immediately see a pulmonologist.

Risk factors

Pulmonary infarction is rare, but people with the following conditions must be aware of this disease.

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• people with chronic heart failure
• heavy smoker

Also read: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

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