Category Archives: Respiratory

When your lungs are healthy and your airways are free, the phrase “breathing easy” may not be very significant, but if you have an attack of asthma or bronchitis, the only thing you would want in the world is to be breathing easy. Together, bronchitis and asthma account for more than half of the upper ...click here to read more

Influenza (flu) and bronchitis share common symptoms, so early diagnosis may be challenging until more symptoms arise, distinguishing either condition. Flu and bronchitis can also occur at the same time, which can make the diagnosis even more challenging. But the good news is, they can easily be treated if discovered early on. Bronchitis primarily affects ...click here to read more

Throat mucus, or phlegm, can be a result of allergies or a sore throat, but there are numerous reasons for throat mucus, revealing what is going on inside your body. Even when you are healthy, your body is constantly producing mucus – in fact, up to 1.5 liters a day. Most of the time, this ...click here to read more

Bronchitis is characterized by shortness of breath and a cough that can wake up the neighborhood, but the good news is, it can be treated with natural remedies. When inflammation occurs in the lining of the bronchial tubes, it can lead to bronchitis. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic, and can have the patient coughing ...click here to read more

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that often impacts the lungs, and research shows pulmonary complications with this disease can lead to pleuritis, pneumonitis and pulmonary hypertension. When a person has a lung infection it usually affects their airway and lung tissue, but with lupus it seems that it can impact all compartments of the lungs ...click here to read more

New research suggests smokers diagnosed with pneumonia should also be screened for lung cancer as a means to reduce mortality. The findings suggest that heavy smokers diagnosed with pneumonia are at a greater risk of lung cancer – a cancer with only a 27 percent survival rate. Screening should be done by chest-computer tomography. Lead ...click here to read more

There are close to 24 million people in the United States suffering from COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and now experts believe this lung disease increases the risk of cardiac death in those with atrial fibrillation. Research conducted through Ghent University Hospital in Belgium indicates that COPD is linked to cardiac issues, such as ...click here to read more

Dyspnea (shortness of breath) is found in asthma and COPD and is an important symptom for diagnosis. Shortness of breath severity can range from person to person, but is commonly described as tightening of the chest or feelings of suffocation. Shortness of breath can occur for many reasons, and is often a symptom of many ...click here to read more

Pleurisy (pleuritis) is a type of lung inflammation that causes sharp chest pains when breathing. The pleura is a membrane made up of layers of tissues that line the inner chest cavity and a layer of tissues around the lungs. When this membrane becomes inflamed it leads to pleuritis. Pleuritis leads to chest pains that ...click here to read more

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a contagious respiratory infection that causes severe hacking, coughing, followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when the person takes in their next breath. Prior to the development of the vaccine, whooping cough was common among children, but now cases are limited to children who are too young to receive the vaccination. ...click here to read more

Bronchiolitis – inflammation of the bronchioles – in early childhood has been found to increase the risk of adult asthma. Bronchiolitis is a lung infection commonly experienced by children. It leads to congestion of the small airways (bronchioles) in the lungs. Bronchiolitis can occur year-round, but is often worse in the winter months. Bronchiolitis can ...click here to read more

Exhaled carbon monoxide levels can be an indication of stroke risk and heart disease. A recent study found that in seemingly healthy adults exhaled carbon monoxide levels indicated an increased stroke risk. Carbon monoxide is naturally produced by the body and previous research has linked exhaled carbon monoxide with an increased risk of heart disease. ...click here to read more

Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of heart disease and respiratory disease, according to the latest findings. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by the hearing of voices that do not exist, believing someone else is controlling their mind, and being in a state of distress, which can lead to social withdrawal. Individuals with ...click here to read more

Common respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis and COPD can seriously impact a person’s quality of life, but proper diagnosis and treatment can help those who suffer live more comfortably. Understanding the differences between asthma, COPD and bronchitis can help lead to appropriate care. The differences between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are ...click here to read more