Breathe in, breathe out; other than the whoosh of air, no other sounds should be heard. Anything more than the regular breath sound is considered abnormal. When altered sounds can be heard, there is usually a condition harming the lungs or airway....
Breathing patterns normally change during sleep. During deep sleep, breathing slows and becomes lighter as the body rests. During light sleep and REM, breathing can resemble waking life, including periods of heavy breathing during dreams. However,...
A heartbeat consists of a two-part pump action that takes less than one second, according to the Texas Heart Institute. Normally, the heart follows a distinct beating pattern that properly sends blood through the blood vessels and supplies the...
A heart disease diagnosis signifies that your doctor has detected areas of cholesterol, calcium and fatty buildup in the lining of your arteries. Heart disease is a serious concern because it indicates that you are at increased risk for suffering...
Abnormal breathing in infants can be a scary situation for parents. An infant can experience several different types of heavy breathing that can range in severity from mild to severe. The breathing can be accompanied by a combination of other...
Breathing is usually automatic and regular. Breathing frequency responds to activity level, with breath slow and deep during sleep and rapid during exercise. When the breathing pattern does not match the active state, that can indicate a problem.
Newborn babies often have irregular sleep and breathing patterns that distress their parents. In most cases, grunts and other noises are harmless. However, they can indicate a more serious condition. It's important to know the causes and signs so...
Exercising affects your breathing, causing you to take deeper breaths, breathe more rapidly and sometimes even gasp for breath. Allergies can add to breathing problems because of the irritation they cause the nasal passages and airways. Put...
Breathing rate, also known as a respiratory rate, is the number of breaths that you take per minute at rest. Breathing rate is a general indicator of the health of your lungs and cardiovascular system. It changes very rapidly in response to...
Emphysema is a serious and chronic condition that can become life threatening. If you have emphysema, it means your airways are damaged and have narrowed which makes it hard to breathe normally. However, it can be treated and managed, especially...
The Mayo Clinic defines yoga as a mind-body type of alternative medicine practice that combines physical and mental exercises that result in a sense of peacefulness, relaxation and calmness. Practicing yoga regularly improves both mental and...
Iboga is a potent hallucinogenic plant used for shamanic purposes in various countries in Africa. The roots of Tabernanthe iboga, and in particular the bark of the roots, are ground into powder and either eaten or made into tea. While iboga's...
The generically named drug pioglitazone is marketed in the United States under the brand name Actos. It is a prescription-only medication that is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The medicine may be prescribed by itself or in a...
A peach allergy can manifest in one of two ways: either it's a true food allergy or it develops out of a birch-pollen allergy. A true food allergy is an actual allergic reaction to the peach. It's what the body identifies as the allergen. With a...
Of the 599 additives used in cigarettes, at least 69 are known to cause cancer, notes Tri-County Cessation Center. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 430,000 deaths annually and is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States....
MSNBC.com reports that recent studies indicate that air pollution significantly exacerbates allergies and asthma. The Environmental Defense Fund states that asthma affects more than 22 million Americans. It is a chronic disease of the lungs,...
An allergic reaction to champagne sometimes indicates an allergy to alcohol or any other ingredient in the champagne, such as grapes, yeast or wheat. A common source of a champagne allergy is sodium metabisulfite, a chemical used to preserve...
A staging system is a standardized way for the cancer care team to summarize information about the extent of your cancer. However, cancers of the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system [CNS]) differ from tumors in other parts of the...
Although people who have asthma rely on long-term medication to prevent asthma attacks, quick-relief medicines relax tight muscles around the airways during sudden flare-ups, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains. The medicine...
The diaphragm muscle, which is located underneath the lungs, usually drops down during inhalation to allow the lungs to expand. It then contracts or pushes upwards when exhaling, to push the air out. However, if the diaphragm becomes irritated,...
According to the Nemours Foundation, one out of three children in the United States is considered overweight or obese. The health consequences that result from being overweight are serious and can impact a child for the rest of her life....
Interval training can be incorporated into your cardio exercise routine, no matter your fitness level or experience, according to MayoClinic.com. Interval training consists of alternating bursts of higher-intensity activity with periods of...
An unhealthy diet fails to supply the essential nutrients your body needs in order to function properly. At the same time, it may contain too much of one or a few nutrients that cause health problems from excessive consumption. Both of these...
An enlarged thyroid, or goiter, is a condition in which the butterfly-shaped gland in the base of your neck grows larger. Goiter is usually not painful but can be very uncomfortable. It is caused by various diseases, illnesses and conditions of...
Keeping blood pressure levels under control is an essential step in lowering the risk of a heart attack or stroke. For some patients, however, blood pressure that drops too low may be unhealthy and can be a warning sign of an underlying disease....
The lungs are spongy, paired organs located deep within the chest and are responsible for respiration. Sometimes the airways can tighten or mucus can fill these airways. In some instances, a bacteria can infiltrate the lungs and lead to a very...
A colon obstruction occurs when intestinal adhesions, hernias, tumors, inflammation or other structural problems in the intestines block the passage through the large bowel. Obstructions can be partial or complete. While partial blockages can...
A cough from the chest is a common symptom of a chest cold, or bronchitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A chest cold is inflammation in the airways, commonly from a viral infection. The infection causes the airways to become...
When you sleep, your heart rate works in a cyclical variation. This variation ranges from a minimal heart rate of 63 bps to a maximum of 67 bps, according to a study by researchers at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and published in a...