Category Archives: Lung Health

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

Research has found cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment potential in improved gene therapy. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that causes the body to produce thick and sticky mucus, which can clog the lungs and obstruct the pancreas. An estimated 30,000 children are affected by cystic fibrosis within the U.S. and roughly 1,000 new cases are ...click here to read more

Nasal polyps can result from chronic inflammation due to asthma, infection and allergies. Nasal polyps are soft, non-cancerous, painless growths that line the inside of the nose. They hang from the inside of the nose like teardrops and can be a result of chronic inflammation due to asthma, infection or allergies. Small polyps can be ...click here to read more

Sinus infection (sinusitis) is related to asthma. The sinuses are located in the cheekbones, around the eyes and behind the nose in hollow cavities. The sinuses help keep the air that is inhaled warm, moist and filtered by being lined with mucus. If something blocks the mucus from draining normally, an infection can occur. The ...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

Asthma in the winter can trigger asthma attacks and seasonal allergies. The cold winter air can be an asthmatic’s worst nightmare as it makes it far more difficult to breathe. Generally, asthma attacks increase during the winter months, not solely because of cold air, but because individuals spend more time inside, which can expose them ...click here to read more

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both conditions are life-long and lead to permanent lung complications, which leads to difficulties with breathing. There are many similarities between emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but they also have very notable differences that distinguish them from one another. Emphysema results from a ...click here to read more

Trouble breathing? Persistent cough or frequent chest infections? This could be chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease. COPD exacerbation is not something you want to fool around with. Your body needs oxygen and you need to breathe! People ...click here to read more