The lungs are hollow but inflatable organs that are located on either side of the heart in the chest cavity. During inhalation, air flows through the trachea into the lungs, and tiny tissue sacs called alveoli absorb oxygen into tiny blood vessels...
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects more than 30,000 infants, toddlers, children and adults throughout the United States, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This inherited condition is the result of a gene mutation that...
L-arginine is an amino acid, or a protein building block, that is naturally produced by the body. It is also present in a number of foods including cottage cheese, yogurt, beef and wheat germ. L-arginine is involved with the production of new...
The lungs are made of delicate elastic tissue that inflates and deflates as air is inhaled and exhaled, respectively. Blood vessels that line tiny sacs in the lungs called alveoli absorb oxygen that then travels through the blood stream to the...
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. and is the leading cause of cancer death in the country. This and other lung diseases, such as emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, pneumonia, asthma and cystic...
The human body has an astounding capacity to repair and heal itself. However, neither the body nor modern medicine can repair certain conditions and damage to the body. These diseases are incurable. Some incurable lung diseases, such as asthma,...
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...
The interstitium, which is lung tissue that surrounds and supports the airways and blood vessels within the lungs, is highly susceptible to environmental substances as well as viral and bacterial attacks. Interstitial lung diseases result from...
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, exercise helps people with cystic fibrosis improve their fitness, decrease the rate of lung function decline and increase their self-esteem and confidence. Although almost all people with cystic...
Cystic fibrosis is a condition that affects your secretory glands, the glands that produce sweat and mucus. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that cystic fibrosis usually targets your lungs, pancreas and other organs. People...
Cystic fibrosis is primarily characterized by recurrent lung infections and digestive and pancreatic dysfunction. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reports that approximately 30,000 Americans have the disease. According to an article in the February...
The health benefits of exercise are indisputable. Regular exercise will help your body's cardiorespiratory system to function at a more efficient level, causing oxygen to be transported through the bloodstream to the muscles more effectively. It's...
The American Lung Association reports that each person takes an average of 20,000 breaths a day. During inhalation, air flows into small sacs of thin tissue called alveoli that expand as air is inhaled. Small blood vessels in the alveoli called...
A collapsed lung is a potentially fatal medical condition that causes breathing difficulties, chest pain, a rapid heart rate and skin discoloration. This condition occurs when pressure accumulates within the thin protective tissue that covers the...
Infant lung diseases may cause a number of respiratory problems in newborns and infants, which may cause additional problems during childhood or adulthood. Infants born prematurely are particularly susceptible to developing lung disease. Depending...
Viokase is a medication used to replace digestive enzymes (natural chemicals used to break down food) in your body. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis (lung disease) and chronic inflammation of the pancreas cause your body to be deprived of these...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell anemia is the most common hereditary disease in America that begins in childhood and has no promise of a long life. Cystic fibrosis is number two. As of 2004, 1,000 infants...
When a child has trouble breathing the situation can be scary for both the parents and the child. Parents should talk to their child in a soothing voice and calm the child by giving him or her a favorite comfort item, such as a blanket or stuffed...
Orthopnea refers to a symptom in which shortness of breath occurs while lying down. This can cause people to awake in the middle of the night in order to catch their breath. Sometimes, orthopnea is a sign of an underlying medical problem. There...
In the United States, approximately 30,000 people live with cystic fibrosis--a chronic hereditary disease that affects the respiratory and digestive tracts--reports the American Lung Association. This disease most commonly affects Caucasian...
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects your body's epithelial cells, found in places including your lungs, sweat glands and pancreas. It causes your mucus to become thick and sticky. It clogs your lungs, leading to breathing problems...
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder in which the defective gene causes abnormally thick mucus secretions. The thickened mucus tends to clog the passageways into which it is secreted. The lungs and pancreas are particularly susceptible to the...
Several lung diseases may be caused by protein-related problems. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are numerous types of lung problems that require the attention of a physician or other qualified health care...
If you lead a healthful and physically active lifestyle, sudden shortness of breath during exercise might seem insignificant, a nuisance to be ignored and worked through. But shortness of breath accompanied by chest pain can be symptomatic of...
Cystic fibrosis (CF), a common genetic disease that causes severe lung disease and other symptoms, has two forms: classic and nonclassic, or atypical. People with the atypical form of cystic fibrosis can have the same symptoms as a person with the...
The term rectal prolapse refers to a condition in which the tissue that lines the rectum drops down into, or protrudes through, the opening of the anus. According to the National Institutes of Health, rectal prolapse most commonly occurs in...
A sharp pain in the right or left side, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dizziness and an increased respiratory rate are some symptoms of a collapsed lung, or pneumothorax. The pain will get progressively worse, because a collapsed lung...
Most children will have infections and colds that are usually not that severe. Some infections will resolve given time, rest and plenty of fluids, while others will need to be treated. Thus, all of a child's illnesses should be brought to the...
Zosyn is an antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections of the urinary system, bone, stomach, vagina, skin and lungs. According to Drugs.com, it is a combination of two drugs: piperacillin and tazobactam. Typically, Zosyn is given as...
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and...
Adjusting the diet to deal with cystic fibrosis. Learn how to change your diet to fit your specific health and nutrition needs in this video on grocery shopping.