Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that exists naturally in soil, rocks and water. Decomposing uranium releases radon, which can then enter your home through cracks in the foundation, dirt floors, sump holes or other openings. Although radon...
The human lung consists of a spongy and elastic network of tissue and airways that are part of the respiratory system. Inside the lungs, there is a series of tubes, starting with the trachea, that branch out into increasingly smaller airways all...
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is present all over the world. As naturally occurring uranium in soil and rocks breaks down over time, it releases radon gas, which finds its way into the air we breathe. Radon also finds its...
A natural byproduct of decaying underground chemicals, radon is potentially dangerous if it makes its way into your home. Even in small amounts, radon has been found to cause a wide range of health problems, from emphysema and chronic pneumonia to...
Salmonella infection is an illness caused by the salmonella bacteria that can be found in water, animal feces, soil, and raw meat or eggs. Many people who ingest the bacteria do not develop salmonella disease. However, infants and children are...
Radon is a byproduct of the radioactive element uranium. It occurs naturally in soil, rocks and other natural settings in small amounts. Radon becomes dangerous when it accumulates in enclosed areas like homes and underground mines and is...
Night sweats are a symptom of many disorders, some quite serious. A comprehensive health history and physical exam by a physician is necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Night sweats may indicate hidden infection in the body, an autoimmune...
The lungs perform a multitude of vital functions, with breathing, the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide, being the most important. Lung cancer can interfere with this normal exchange of gases and result in undesirable symptoms. Fruit...
Viral or bacterial organisms cause bronchitis and pneumonia. Pneumonia results from infection of the lower respiratory system that can spread throughout the body. Bronchitis inflames the lung airways. In non-smokers, it often results from...
Cefdinir is a prescription cephalosporin antibiotic medication that helps prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria through the body, according to Drugs.com. This medication is typically administered orally as a liquid or capsule up to twice...
Asthma and pneumonia both impair lung functioning; however, each condition has a separate course and cause. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute indicates that asthma is a chronic lung disease that leads to inflammation and narrowing of the...
The Surgeon General has called smoking "the single greatest avoidable cause of disease and death." Smoking damages multiple organ systems and some of the damage is irreversible. Smokers also are plagued by chronic cough, discolorations of the...
Breast cancer typically starts as a small group of cells in the breast that begin to grow in an out-of-control manner. Consequently, some of the earliest effects of breast cancer are localized lumps and masses within the breast. Because these...
Radon is the byproduct of the breakdown of uranium and thorium. It is a colorless, odorless gas, but it is present in many homes, posing potential health risks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Radon can seep into a home through...
Nighttime coughing can be a nuisance for individuals suffering from a cold or illness. Nursing a cough at night can steal sleep from the cougher and his bed partner, causing daytime drowsiness. Cough remedies can help alleviate coughing at night;...
Mullein is a common wildflower which herbalists have traditionally classified as an expectorant. It is able to grow in almost any region, but is native to both Europe and Asia. Mullein leaf is available in tea bags, capsules, elixirs and...
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of streptococcus pneumonia is 13 per 100,000 people in the United States. Those who are at increased risk include the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and the very...
Mucus can cause head, throat and chest congestion, Congestion can sometimes require medical attention to prevent complications, according to Dr. William and Martha Sears of AskDrSears.com. Various drugs for mucus relief are available...
1. Know the Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis Early on, acute bronchitis is indistinguishable from the common cold and upper respiratory infections. Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the larger airways, or bronchi, before the lungs. It is...
The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General periodically issues updates on research about tobacco use and disease risk due to smoking. Its major revelation in 1964, that cigarette smoking causes lung and larynx cancer, was significantly expanded upon...
Lung and breathing problems can occur due to such respiratory illnesses and conditions as asthma, pneumonia, collapsed lung and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Inflamed and swollen lungs and airways make breathing difficult and cause chest...
Cigarettes contain many poisons including tar, nicotine and carcinogens. In a 2006 report, the Surgeon General called smoking "the single greatest avoidable cause of death and disease." Cigarette smoke not only affects the smoker but those around...
Heavy smoking is a dangerous habit that can cause conditions that affect the heart, lungs and other major organs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male smokers are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer and female...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine was first administered in 1990, this bacterium was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States for children...
As former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona pointed out in 2004, "The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere the blood flows." The consequences of smoking cigarettes, however, extend beyond physical limits. While serious diseases brought on...
A hacking cough may be a sign of an underlying health problem in your respiratory system. A hacking cough often develops in long-term cigarette smokers. FamilyDoctor.org states that there are many possible causes of cough, including cold, flu,...
Many elements in tobacco and cigarette smoke harm the human body, causing a wide variety of health problems. Cigarette smoking can cause disease in people who smoke, people who breathe the air around smokers and people who contact nicotine...
Uranium in rocks and soil releases radon during radioactive decomposition. Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that becomes concentrated in homes and other buildings that lack adequate ventilation. The gas molecules can attach to dust...
The lining of the respiratory system, extending from the nose through the airways of the lungs, is coated with mucus. This clear, sticky substance helps keep the airways clean by capturing particles and chemicals from the air we breathe....
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs that's usually caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms. Pneumonia is a particular concern for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems. Learn...
Coughing could be due to a cold or the flu, but the reason for a cough isn't always clear. Even your doctor may have trouble determining the exact cause. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of a cough in this video.
