Your lungs are protected from adverse conditions by a variety of defense mechanisms. Running in extreme weather can result in short-term discomfort, but will not often cause permanent damage. Asthma can aggravate the discomfort and increase your...
The lungs function by transferring oxygen into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide out of the body with every breath taken. Tobacco use upsets this mechanism on many levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),...
Running outdoors in freezing temperatures rather than working out inside has both its benefits and drawbacks. Many people find running outdoors more enjoyable than the repetition of a treadmill, and it can build muscle and stamina when the body...
Water intoxication can damage your lungs, brain, heart and other organs. The condition occurs when you drink too much water too quickly, placing stress on your kidneys. Your kidneys normally filter water and waste from your body. When you drink...
Parasites, fungi and bacteria can all cause pneumonia; viruses can cause this disease as well. It is a disease which can be especially troublesome to the elderly, to those with a weakened immune system, people with a chronic illness, to infants...
Because cigarette smoking uses inhalation as its nicotine delivery system, the lungs and bronchi, or the airways leading to the lungs, sustain the most damage. Any restriction to the airways or the blood vessels that serve the lungs hampers lung...
In the wintertime, runners in northern climates must decide whether to continue exercising outdoors or move inside to a treadmill. Running in chilly temperatures won’t cause permanent lung damage and is -- for most people -- a safe and...
Each cell of your body contains the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Your body produces alpha-lipoic acid and uses it to convert glucose into energy. Alpha-lipoic acid provides protection against damage caused by free radicals. It also helps other...
Unfortunately, you cannot reverse lung damage through exercise. Exercise can, however, improve the function of related body systems, which can improve your endurance and respiratory function. Using alternate strategies during daily activities can...
Your body begins to repair itself almost immediately after you quit smoking. According to the CDC, your heart rate drops within 20 minutes of smoking your last cigarette, and your lung function begins to improve within 3 months of quitting. If you...
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...
Lung inflammation occurs when fluid collects either inside your lungs or within the inner lining of your lungs. The exact cause of lung inflammation varies, but toxins, pollutants, viral infections and lung diseases such as tuberculosis, cystic...
Obstructive lung disease, commonly referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, is a group of respiratory disorders which block airflow into the lungs and make breathing difficult. Disorders include emphysema, chronic bronchitis...
Mucus, medically known as sputum or phlegm, is a secretion produced in the lungs during infection, irritation or inflammation. Mucus keeps the nasal passages and throat lubricated. Sometimes, pollen, foreign particles or even bacteria get trapped...
Your lungs provide oxygen to your tissues and organs. They help you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The most common lung conditions are pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease....
Atypical pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria. Children and older adults are at a greater risk for atypical pneumonia due to weakened immune systems. Atypical pneumonia is also common in people with serious disorders such as AIDS and...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the leading cause of death and illness worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic. COPD, usually caused by long-term smoking damage, is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that affect the lungs....
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refers to a group of diseases that obstruct airflow and cause difficulties in breathing. The obstruction can cause severe and irreversible damage to the lungs. According to the National Heart Lung...
Numerous diseases, disorders and injuries can affect the right side of the chest causing stabbing pain. This pain often causes anxiety because the first thought that comes to mind is a heart attack, even though a heart attack generally causes pain...
Smoking cigarettes raises tobacco users' risks for many health problems and emergencies above the rate for the general nonsmoking public. When combined with individual risk factors, such as genetics and preexisting medical conditions, the chances...
Bronchitis stems from an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that bring air in and out of the lungs. Acute bronchitis can develop from the common cold or other respiratory infections. Chronic bronchitis is far more serious, resulting in constant...
That smoking damages lungs might be obvious with each cough, wheeze and shortened breath a smoker takes. The effect that impaired breathing has on physical activities may also seem obvious. Even light physical activities, such as climbing stairs...
Some of the effects of cigarette smoking occur immediately, such as the action of nicotine that smokers seek, and others accumulate gradually. As the many toxic and carcinogenic substances in tobacco harm the body, chronic diseases and acute...
The progressive lung disease emphysema occurs when the tiny sacs in the lungs are destroyed and lungs are unable to effectively get oxygen into the body. Emphysema is rarely diagnosed in people under the age of 45; about 94 percent of people...
Invisible and odorless, radon gas is a health hazard in many homes and offices. The radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water creates the gas that slips from the soil into a building. Gas moves through gaps and cracks found in areas...
Nearly 15 million adults are diagnosed with emphysema or chronic bronchitis every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Consuming a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco and maintaining a normal body weight helps preserve or...
Treatments for pulmonary disease are aimed at controlling symptoms, reducing the risk of complications and improving quality of life, according to MayoClinic.com.While in-depth treatments are based on the specific lung disease, there are a number...
When cigarette smoke is passed through a filter, it leaves a black, sticky substance known as tar. The exact composition of the tar that smokers inhale is uncertain. Any sort of plant material is a veritable witch's brew of complex chemical...
Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. smoke each day, notes the University of Michigan Health System. The addictive habit is the main reason why Americans develop various medical conditions that can result in an early death. Smoking is not only a...
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...
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos. Sufferers have severe shortness of breath and are at an increased risk regarding several...
