Browsing: Respiratory Illness
The page provides quick access to a list of common lungs and respiratory diseases, syndromes, health conditions, and other topics of health importance. The list is organized alphabetically. Links are provided to respective diseases sections that serve as a comprehensive and ultimate guide about the disease or health condition.
Each breath allows our lungs to inhale oxygen from the air and transport it to the bloodstream. Oxygen is highly essential for our body’s growth and function. People suffering from a lung disease may face difficulty in breathing, experience cough and cold, chest tightness and congestion in their lungs and throat.
Lung diseases indicate improper functioning of your respiratory system. Smoking, lung infections, environmental factors and hereditary concerns are the major factors responsible for lung diseases. These factors may damage the lungs and can lead to respiratory failure, in severe cases.
Lung diseases are the third most leading cause of death in the United States. They are responsible for about one in seven deaths worldwide and also a foremost cause of death among infants under the age of one. About 10 million people suffer from lung disease in the U.S.
Common lung diseases which severely affect the human population include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Bronchitis is a respiratory illness that can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, and it is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. It is often associated with other respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. People with bronchitis are at risk of developing these other respiratory illnesses and vice versa.
Treatment options for bronchitis include over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms, antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, and bronchodilators to open up the airways. In some cases, inhaled corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation. Rest and fluids can also help to alleviate symptoms, and avoiding irritants such as cigarette smoke can help prevent exacerbation of the condition.
Symptoms of bronchitis include cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and production of mucus. Diagnosis is typically made through physical examination, chest X-ray, and pulmonary function tests. A culture of the mucus may also be taken to determine if the cause is viral or bacterial.
Acute bronchitis is caused by viral or bacterial infections and exposure to irritants such as pollution or smoking, which can lead to inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. Risk factors include smoking, exposure to pollution, and a weakened immune system.
The total IgE serum test, often called a Serum IgE test, measures the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in a…
Asthma in pregnancy can have serious effects on the health of a pregnant woman as well as the fetus. Uncontrolled asthma lowers the oxygen levels of the mother’s blood. Since the mother’s blood provides oxygen to fetus, this can decrease oxygen levels in the fetal blood. As a result, it may lead to impaired fetal growth and survival.
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that is given to COPD people when they have extremely low levels of oxygen in their blood (called hypoxemia). Oxygen therapy is used for providing supplemental or extra oxygen to COPD patients. It provides many benefits but also has some side effects which should be known to patients before opting for the oxygen therapy.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also called as COPD, is a group of progressive lung diseases that limit the airflow into the lungs. The most common among COPD diseases are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most of the people with COPD suffer from both of these conditions.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disease caused due to exposure of lungs to various irritants and particulate matters especially cigarette smoke. Cough in COPD may be an indication of disease progression. COPD cough is a protective mechanism for sputum clearance and helps patients in breathing easily. There are various techniques for promoting a protective cough in COPD.
COPD exacerbations are sudden flare ups in acute respiratory symptoms in people diagnosed with severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). They cause difficulties in an already serious condition. People may be able to avoid flare-ups or better manage the symptoms by understanding triggers of COPD exacerbations.