Advanced Lung Disease Program

COPD is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It is caused by damage to the lungs over many years, usually caused by smoking.

Caused by scarring and blood clots, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) occurs when there is high blood pressure in the small blood vessels of the lungs. CTEPH is treatable. However, if left untreated, patients with CTEPH have a reduced life expectancy.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs. In the lungs, mucus clogs the airways and can lead to infections, inflammation, respiratory failure and other complications.

This is lung disease with infiltration of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Eosinophilic lung disease occurs as a reaction to infection, drugs, autoimmune disease or malignancy. Therapy depends on proper diagnosis of the cause, and early intervention will result in full recovery.

Caused by environmental exposure, genetics or lifestyle habits, interstitial lung disease (ILD) refers to a group of diseases that cause scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. The scarring makes it difficult to breathe and get sufficient oxygen to the bloodstream. Lung damage from ILD is often irreversible and gets worse over time.

In people who have this rare lung disease, abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs and other parts of the body, creating systems that can reduce or prevent airflow in and out of the lungs.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition where the walls of the bronchi are thickened from inflammation or infection, periodically causing difficulties with breathing. Treatment focuses on preventing infections and flare-ups through the use of medication, hydration and physical therapy.

This breathing disorder can affect some people who suffer from obesity and involves breathing at a slow rate, which can result in not enough oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the body.

This terminology is used to refer to exceptionally rare lung diseases with little to no research or limited treatment options.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare lung disease that can clog the alveoli (air sacs) in your lungs, resulting in impaired effectiveness of breathing, reduced oxygen labels and other issues.

Pulmonary hypertension occurs when pressure in the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs is too high. This condition affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.

This syndrome, often caused by autoimmune disease, describes combined respiratory and kidney failure with bleeding in the lungs.

Tracheomalacia is the collapse of the windpipe (trachea). This is most often seen in newborns when the cartilage of the windpipe has not fully developed or has been damaged.  

Asthma is a chronic disease that makes it difficult to move air into and out of your lungs due to inflammation. There are many types of asthma, and it can be diagnosed at any time in one's life. This serious disease can often be managed through medications, treatments, and lifestyle changes.