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What Is Popcorn Lung?
"Popcorn lung" is the nickname for bronchiolitis obliterans. That's a condition that damages your lungs' smallest airways and makes you cough and feel short of breath. It's sometimes caused by breathing in a chemical used to flavor microwave popcorn. But other chemicals or lung illnesses can also cause popcorn lung.
Inside your lungs, those tubes split again and again, like the branches of a tree. The smallest of those branches are called bronchioles, and they end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are where the oxygen is picked up by your blood.
When you have "popcorn lung," those tiny air passages get irritated and inflamed. That leads to scarring that makes them narrower. That makes it harder for you to get enough air.
The chemical that gave this condition its nickname is diacetyl. After workers at a factory that packaged microwave popcorn were found to have bronchiolitis obliterans more often than other people, some companies stopped using diacetyl as a flavoring. But it's still used in some electronic cigarette flavors in the US. Many e-cigarette makers state they aren't using this chemical in their products and its use in e-cigarettes is banned in Europe.
Another common cause is acetaldehyde, a chemical found in the smoke from marijuana and some electronic cigarettes. Acetaldehyde also can damage the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach.
Other chemicals that can cause popcorn lung include:
Sometimes, bronchiolitis obliterans happens after you've had a serious illness that affects your lungs, for example some forms of pneumonia or bronchitis. And some people who have rheumatoid arthritis can get popcorn lung as a side effect of that condition.
If you've had a lung transplant or a stem cell transplant, you may get this condition if your body tries to reject the new organ. It's the primary cause of death in people who get lung transplants.
The main symptoms of popcorn lung are a dry cough and shortness of breath. These show up between 2 weeks and 2 months after you've been around a toxic gas or had an illness. You're especially likely to have them when you're exercising or doing heavy labor. If you've had a lung transplant, it might take several years for symptoms to show up.
If you feel tired without an obvious reason or wheeze when you don't have asthma or a cold, that also could be a symptom of bronchiolitis obliterans.
If you have some of the symptoms of bronchiolitis obliterans, your doctor might recommend a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest. Several X-rays are taken from different angles and are put together to make a more complete picture. They'll probably also want to test how well your lungs are working.
A chest X-ray might tell your doctor if your lungs are holding in too much air, but the best way to confirm you have bronchiolitis obliterans is to have a biopsy. This is most often done with surgery.
Popcorn lung causes lasting damage, so it's important to catch it early. If you do, you might be able to slow it down or keep it from getting worse:
What's The Difference Between COPD And Acute Bronchitis?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute bronchitis both cause lung irritation and inflammation. They can trigger similar symptoms, including coughing, chest pain, and fatigue.
Acute bronchitis is typically caused by a virus or, less frequently, bacteria. It's an infection that will clear up after a few weeks.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on the other hand, is chronic, which means it develops over time. While symptoms may improve, they'll never disappear completely. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, a long-term form of bronchitis.
Here, we compare COPD and acute bronchitis symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Both COPD and acute bronchitis cause inflammation in the bronchi. The bronchi are airways that branch off from the windpipe, allowing oxygen to enter your lungs.
This inflammation can lead to symptoms such as coughing and mucus production. But COPD is more likely to make it difficult to breathe than acute bronchitis.
COPD symptomsThe most common symptoms of COPD include:
These symptoms may improve, but they don't usually go away completely. Late stage COPD can lead to weight loss and swelling in the lower half of your body.
Acute bronchitis symptomsSymptoms of acute bronchitis often resemble those of an upper respiratory infection and can include:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acute bronchitis symptoms shouldn't last longer than 3 weeks.
While COPD and acute bronchitis have different causes, the risk factors are similar.
COPD causesCOPD often develops after prolonged exposure to substances that irritate the airways and lungs, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution. Many people who develop COPD are current or former smokers.
Genetic factors probably play a role in who develops COPD. In addition, people who have other lung conditions, such as a history of asthma or respiratory infections, are at risk.
Acute bronchitis causesAcute bronchitis usually develops after a viral infection, such as:
In rare cases, it's caused by bacteria. It's common during flu season and is often contagious.
Like COPD, acute bronchitis is more common in people who smoke tobacco products, are exposed to air pollution, or have asthma.
Most people don't need to see a doctor for acute bronchitis, which should go away without medical intervention.
If it doesn't go away after 3 weeks, you should try to make an appointment with a doctor. In addition, you should consider talking with a healthcare professional if you develop bronchitis often. These are signs of a lung condition that requires treatment, such as COPD.
If you see a doctor for a persistent cough, they might start by asking you questions about your medical history and current symptoms. During the physical examination, they'll use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs while you breathe.
A doctor might order additional tests to make a diagnosis. Some common diagnostic tests for COPD and other lung conditions include:
COPD is a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment. Acute bronchitis usually goes away on its own in time and doesn't require long-term treatment.
COPD treatmentIf you have COPD, a doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The goal is to ease and prevent your symptoms while also slowing the progression of the disease.
Some common treatments for COPD include:
Learn more about treating COPD.
Acute bronchitis treatmentTreatment for acute bronchitis typically involves home rest while the infection runs its course. To ease symptoms such as fever, chills, and pain, over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help.
Antibiotics and other prescription drugs don't typically help with bronchitis, even when it's caused by bacteria.
Learn more about treating acute bronchitis.
It's not possible to prevent COPD or acute bronchitis. But you can lower your risk by taking care of your lungs. Try the following:
The following questions can help you determine whether your cough might be COPD.
Does bronchitis turn into COPD?COPD is an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis. When symptoms of bronchitis don't go away, it can be a sign of COPD.
How do I know if my cough is COPD?A COPD cough often causes wheezing and mucus production, and although it may improve, it doesn't really go away. You should try to talk with a doctor to find out if your cough is COPD.
What does a COPD cough sound like?COPD is more likely to produce sounds like crackling when you inhale and high-pitched wheezing. If a doctor suspects that you have COPD, they'll listen for these sounds with a stethoscope.
COPD is a lung condition that develops over time. It includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis and causes symptoms such as coughing, mucus production, and difficulty breathing.
Acute bronchitis occurs after you get a respiratory infection. It causes coughing, along with other symptoms that resemble a cold or the flu, such as a sore throat or fever.
A cough caused by acute bronchitis can last up to 3 weeks. If you have a cough that doesn't go away, speak with a healthcare professional, as it could be a sign of another condition.
When Your Chest Infection Could Be A Sign Of Lung Cancer - Red Flag Signs To Spot
Dr Chris discusses CT scans detecting lung cancerThe main types of chest infections are bronchitis and pneumonia, which may share the same symptoms as lung cancer.
The NHS said bronchitis is caused by viruses while pneumonia is mainly caused by bacteria.
Such infections are contagious, as the virus or bacteria travels when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
"This launches tiny droplets of fluid containing the virus or bacteria into the air, where they can be breathed in by others," the health body explains.
Symptoms of a chest infection can include:
Most people recover from a chest infection in a matter of weeks.
However, a persistent cough, breathlessness, and unexplained pain could all be symptoms of lung cancer.
The leading charity Macmillan Cancer Support warned that repeated chest infections could also be a sign of lung cancer.
How do you know if it's a chest infection or cancer?The key in determining if it's a chest infection or cancer-related symptoms is simply time.
Should any cough linger for three weeks or more, do book a doctor's appointment.
This is also true for recurrent chest infections, as this could be a sign of a tumour.
It may not be cancer, but if it is, an earlier diagnosis is key for better outcomes.
There are additional symptoms of lung cancer to be aware of, such as:
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get them checked out by your GP.
Should you feel concerned about speaking to a doctor, Macmillan does offer a support line on 0808 808 00 00.
They also have specialists you can talk to who are available online.
For more information on lung cancer, visit Macmillan Cancer Support.
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