Lung infections in humans arise when a pathogenic bacteria invades the lungs. The bacteria can then replicate and spread to other parts of the body, in serious cases. The bacterial replication results in inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs,...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a chronic airway condition in which patients have a chronic cough and expectoration with varying degrees of shortness of breath. An exacerbation means there is a change in the patient's normal...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, or COPD, are a group of lung diseases that block airflow to and from the lungs, states MayoClinic.com. COPD progressively worsens and makes it increasingly difficult for patients to breathe properly. COPD...
Chinese medicine has been used for centuries as a holistic way to cure many illnesses. The basic principle behind the use of this approach is that what affects the body also affects the mind and spirit: that an emotional problem often manifests...
If you suffer from chronic coughing, you may not know what is triggering the cough reflex. Your cough may be dry, leading to lost sleep; you may throw up or break a rib from the force of your coughing. Your doctor can examine you and narrow down...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD, causes breathing problems that get progressively worse over time, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Air pollution, chemical...
Nearly one-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, which is why tuberculosis remains one of the most deadly diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports...
Influenza and pneumonia describe disease conditions of the respiratory system. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, fevers, chills, cough, sputum production, malaise, runny nose, muscle aches and chest pain. Severe disease requires...
Phlegm is a thick liquid produced in the lungs and throat during a cold or flu. In traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, phlegm is produced by the spleen, and can be either visible, as in cough sputum, or invisible and dispersed throughout the...
The lungs are organs in the body that are essential to respiration. Sometimes tumors can form in the lungs or the blood vessels in the lung may malfunction. Bacteria, fungi and even parasites may infiltrate the lung, resulting in breathing...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a constant obstruction of the airways that often occurs with emphysema or chronic bronchitis, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Cigarette smoking seems to be the main cause, but...
A "chest cough" is a type of cough in which congestion is present in the lungs. Pregnancy can be a state of decreased immune function and mothers-to-be are at risk for a number of infections. The worst of these is pneumonia, which can be...
Often referred to as TB, tuberculosis is a dangerous and highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While TB usually affects the lungs, it can also infect other parts of the body including the spine, brain and...
Congestive heart failure, or CHF, is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body. Due to scientific research and new knowledge, suggested treatment regimens for this condition have changed over time. In time past,...
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis is typically caused by a cold or other virus infection that spreads to the respiratory organs of the body. Bronchitis starts in the nose or throat and...
Community acquired pneumonia is a disease that affects the lungs. It is usually caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It can be spread from person to person and is acquired through the inhalation of...
A cough is a normal bodily reflex that occurs when airways are exposed to an irritant such as pollen or mucus. A cough may be acute or chronic and accompanied by a fever, phlegm, unintentional weight loss and night sweats. Sometimes your cough can...
Phlegm, or sputum, is produced when the lungs are inflamed and excess mucous is produced in the respiratory tract. The medical term for blood in the sputum is hemoptysis. According to MedlinePlus, blood in the sputum differs from bleeding that...
The symptoms of respiratory system diseases can often overlap and cause confusion over the exact pathology affecting the patient. A very common question faced by primary care physicians is whether a patient has bronchitis or pneumonia and, if so,...
The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, or TB. It spreads when actively infected patients cough disease-filled sputum into the air, and others breathe it in. Untreated tuberculosis can cause serious lung or organ damage or...
Inflammation and narrowing of the airways causes wheezing; the result of a chain reaction of sorts as bronchioles and alveoli become inflamed and swollen, causing airway constriction, limiting the flow of air into the lungs. Wheezing often occurs...
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound the lungs make when breathing in and out. It develops when airflow is constricted, causing the air to whistle through narrowed breathing tubes. When wheezing accompanies a cough and phlegm, it is almost...
Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, increased sputum production and wheezing can indicate COPD exacerbation as a result of respiratory infection, allergens, pollution, the flu or pneumonia. According to the American Thoracic...
Irritation of the airways by infections, inflammation, inherited disorders or structural abnormalities can cause increased mucus production and coughing up phlegm. Hair-like projections on the cells, lining the airways, move mucus up and out of...
It is the job of your lungs to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide, because all of the cells in your body must have oxygen to provide them with the energy that they need to do their work. Carbon dioxide is a waste product that must be removed. Yet...
Parasitic diseases are a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one in four people harbors a parasite. The growing number of people with...
Advanced, or end stage lung cancer is a medical prognosis, not an actual tumor staging. When one is diagnosed with end stage lung cancer, this means that traditional curative options have been exhausted and the cancer will progress and eventually...
Streptococcus pneumonia is a bacterium that can infect several organ systems in humans, resulting in various diseases. It commonly affects the respiratory tract, accounting for everything from ear infections to pneumonia (lung infection). The...
Community-acquired pneumonia primarily affects the lungs. It originates from an infection by bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. It spreads through inhalation of air droplets and can spread rapidly in places with...
Pulmonary edema refers to a swelling of the lungs and/or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, which occurs from a weakness of the heart or direct injury. Learn more about pulmonary edema in this video.
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...
