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By Mayo Clinic staffAll the cells in your body need oxygen. When your cells use oxygen, they produce carbon dioxide. Too much carbon dioxide can be harmful to your body, so it has to be removed quickly. Your lungs do the work of taking in oxygen when you inhale and eliminating carbon dioxide when you exhale.
Unhealthy or damaged lungs can make it difficult for your body to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. A variety of diseases and conditions can damage your lungs and hinder their ability to function effectively, including:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema
- Scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis with advanced fibrosis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Damage to lung arteries caused by an untreated congenital heart defect (Eisenmenger syndrome)
In some cases, lung damage can be treated with medication or with special breathing devices. But, if your lung function deteriorates to the point that these or other therapies no longer help improve breathing, or when poor lung function is life-threatening, a lung transplant may be an appropriate treatment option. A lung transplant may be able to increase your life expectancy and substantially improve your quality of life.
