J99.0: Rheumatoid lung disease

The lungs are on the left and right side of the ribcage. They are also connected to the nose and mouth via the bronchial tubes and windpipe (trachea).

You need lungs to breathe. When you breathe in, the air with the oxygen passes through the airways to the lungs. The respiratory tract ends in the air sacs in the lungs. Oxygen passes into the blood in the pulmonary alveoli (air sacs). The pulmonary alveoli and the airways are surrounded by supportive tissue. This supportive tissue consists of connective tissue.

You have a disease in your lungs. This is caused by rheumatic disorder. A rheumatic disease can affect the entire body. There may be inflammation in the bones, the connective tissue, and the joints. The symptoms can be more and less severe. It is thought that rheumatic diseases are caused by a person’s immune system producing antibodies against their own body. These antibodies attack the body’s own tissue. The tissue can get inflamed and damaged as a result.

In your case your lungs have become inflamed. This type of inflammation can result in the lungs being damaged and there may be an increase in the connective tissue in the lungs. When the lungs are damaged they are not able to absorb as much oxygen as usual.