Lungs are a sophisticated mechanism that expands and contracts hundreds of times daily to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Scarring or inflammation of the tissue restricts the lungs from adequately expanding. That makes it difficult for the lungs to absorb O2 and release CO2. Lung disease can be caused by abnormalities in any portion of the respiratory system. Over the last 30 years, the global prevalence of lung disorders has increased. The 25th of September is World Lung Day (WLD), a day for lung health advocacy and action, a platform for humanity to join and promote improved lung health globally.

Lung disease encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting the lungs, including asthma, lung infections, lung cancer, and various other breathing issues. The ICD-10 codes for five common lung conditions are as follows.

Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory illness that can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can cause your airways to narrow and create excessive mucus. Asthma is one of the most frequently observed chronic diseases in children but can also affect adults. Asthma affects 334 million individuals, commonly diagnosed with chronic conditions of childhood. It affects 14% of children worldwide and is on the rise.

Signs And Symptoms

These signs and symptoms differ from one person to the next. Some common symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Sleeping difficulties (induced by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing)
• Whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
• Coughing and wheezing attacks

Causes Of Asthma

Following are the causes of asthma

• Air pollutants and irritants
• Cold air
• Respiratory illnesses
• Exposure to airborne particles (such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander)
• Stress
• Medication use

Treatment

Asthma has no specific treatment. However, the best method to treat the disorder is to avoid causes and take drugs to keep symptoms under control.

ICD-10 Codes For Asthma

The ICD-10 codes for asthma are as follows:

J45.2: It is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code; for a diagnosis of moderate intermittent asthma, consider choosing a code with a greater level of specificity. The code is not particular and is NOT acceptable for submitting HIPAA-covered transactions in 2022.

J45.20: Uncomplicated mild intermittent asthma.

J45.21: Intermittent mild asthma with (severe) aggravation.

J45.22: Mild intermittent asthma with asthmatics status.

J45.3: It is an ICD-10 code for Mild persistent asthma that is not billable

J45.30: Uncomplicated mild persistent asthma

J45.31: Mild chronic asthma with (rapid) deterioration

J45.32: Mild persistent asthma with asthmatics status

J45.5: Diagnosis code for severe persistent asthma

J45.50: Uncomplicated severe chronic asthma

J45.51: Severe and persistent asthma with exacerbations

J45.52: Severe and persistent asthma with status asthmatics

COPD

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a category of progressive lung diseases that cause blocked airflow from the lungs. Long-term exposure to irritating gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, causes the syndrome. COPD results in other conditions such as heart disease, lung cancer, and other illnesses. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects 65 million people globally and kills 3 million annually, making it the third greatest reason for mortality. This disease results in other conditions such as Symptoms.

Symptoms

Following are the common symptoms of COPD.

• Breathing problems
• Coughing
• Mucus (sputum) production
• Wheezing
• Weakness
• Ankle, foot, or leg swelling
• Weight loss

Causes

• An inflammation of the bronchial tube lining which is known as Chronic bronchitis.
• Emphysema disorder in which the alveoli at the end of the lungs’ tiniest air channels (bronchioles) are destroyed due to cigarette smoke and other irritating gases and particulate matter.

Treatment

Medication and lung therapies such as oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are among the treatment possibilities.

ICD-10 Codes For COPD

The ICD-10 codes for asthma are as follows:

J44: Diagnosis for other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary illness.

J44.0: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated by an acute lower respiratory infection

J44.1: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with exacerbation

J44.9: Unspecified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer, killing 1.76 million individuals annually. It is reported that approximately 14% of new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States are related to the lungs.

Symptoms

Following are the common signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

• Coughing up blood
• losing body weight
• headache
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• bone pain

Causes

• Tobacco use
• Second-hand smoke exposure
• Before radiation therapy
• Radon gas exposure
• Asbestos and other toxins exposure
• Lung cancer runs in the family

Treatment

The treatment approach for this illness is determined by several criteria, including overall health, cancer kind, stage, and patient preferences.

ICD-10 Codes For Lungs Cancer

ICD-10 codes for reporting lung cancer diagnoses include:

C34: Diagnosis of malignant bronchus and lung neoplasm

C34.0: Main bronchus malignant neoplasm

C34.1: Upper lobe, bronchus, or lung malignant neoplasm

C34.2: Middle lobe, bronchus, or lung malignant neoplasm

C34.3: Lower lobe, bronchus, or lung malignant neoplasm

C34.8: Malignant neoplasm of overlapping bronchus and lung locations

C34.9: Unspecified malignant neoplasm of the bronchus or lung

Conclusion

The vast majority of lung disorders are curable. The risks of developing the aforementioned common lung problems can be significantly lowered by taking proper preventive measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet and exercising, controlling cholesterol and blood pressure levels, reducing salt intake, and stopping smoking. Healthcare providers must be familiar with the highly detailed ICD-10 codes to report common lung disorders. Using the services of a reputable medical billing and coding organization can assist or support professionals in submitting proper claims for optimal compensation.

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