Asthma is a condition in which the bronchial tubes--those which lead from the windpipe to the lungs--become inflamed and irritated, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma attacks can occur in which the condition is worsened by irritants such as...
The National Cancer Institute reports that tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and can cause lung cancer and other lung-related diseases. Herbal medicine denotes certain qualities on plants, such as expectorants. Expectorant herbs may help...
Smoking can damage the lungs and affect lung capacity, making it difficult to breathe. The lungs contain tiny air sacs called alveoli where oxygen is transferred from inhaled air to the blood, according to the Cleveland Clinic. When these air sacs...
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD for short, is a long-term digestive condition that affects both children and adults. GERD is the consequence of a faulty lower esophageal sphincter, a valve that sits at the intersection of the esophagus...
Bactrim DS is an oral antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It is available by prescription only and includes the medications sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Patients who are prescribed Bactrim DS should take it as recommended by their...
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, actually includes several conditions in which your airflow is blocked. The two most common COPD conditions are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the Mayo Clinic reports. Or, it can be chronic...
The common cold is caused by a virus---or really, by many different viruses---so there is no treatment for it. Unfortunately, you just have to suffer through the symptoms and do your best to soothe them. However, it is important to differentiate...
Doctors define wheezing as a high-pitched or whistling sound that occurs when exhaling. Uncommon during the first two months of life, wheezing is most likely to occur between 2 and 5 months of age, according to Children's Memorial Hospital of...
Although there are three different classifications of the influenza virus, all types of flu produce the same symptoms. What is different, however, is the severity of those symptoms. The symptoms from Influenza Type A are usually more intense than...
People with asthma often suffer from asthma attacks. This is an acute condition where the tubes in the airways become inflamed, swollen and coated with excess mucus. People can have different irritants that trigger their asthma, such as...
GERD or gastroesophgaeal reflux disease is esophageal mucosal damage produced by the abnormal backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus. GERD can be treated with Nexium, a proton pump inhibitor that reduces the production of stomach...
Coughing is a natural defense system used by the body to clear air passages. Coughing is associated with common illnesses such as a cold or the flu. Excessive coughing is uncomfortable and interferes with sleep patterns. Some natural herbal...
Mucus is a diffusion barrier present in your respiratory tract that works against contact with noxious substances, such as smoke, according to Colorado State University. Smoking can cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which causes excess...
A cough is a normal reaction that keeps the throat clear, but frequent coughing may be a sign of disease or infection, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Natural remedies can help heal the throat and soothe mucous membranes....
Bronchitis, the flu, the common cold and other viral and bacterial infections can all cause chest congestion. Coughing, wheezing and other respiratory distress can be particularly upsetting to children. The FDA recommends that parents avoid giving...
Asthma is respiratory condition that affects both children and adults. Asthma causes inflammation of the airway, making it hard to breath. A person with asthma may find certain triggers, such as dust or environmental allergies, make asthma...
The American Lung Association reports that nearly 23 million Americans have asthma. This disorder is sometimes called reactive airway disease, a name that describes the underlying problem during an asthma attack. A variety of environmental...
Coughing is caused by a variety of common illnesses, from influenza to bronchitis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises that decongestants are not safe for children under the age of 2. In older children, these over-the-counter remedies...
According to MayoClinic.com, the common cold is the result of catching one of over 200 different viruses. Common cold symptoms can be easily confused with allergy or asthma symptoms. These symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion and chest...
According to the American Medical Association, in an average lifespan of 75 years, a human being will breathe in and out more than 8 million cubic feet of air. Because breathing is essentially an unconscious process, it's only when it becomes...
Haemophilus influenza type B is a bacterium that inhabits the upper respiratory tract of humans. It is spread by person-to-person contact of respiratory secretions. Widespread vaccination against this bacterium has reduced the incidence of...
Crack is a form of cocaine that is usually smoked through a pipe. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, crack has been a serious problem in the United States since the 1980s. Unlike powder cocaine, which produces a high within minutes, crack...
Bronchospasm is a term used to describe the unusual narrowing or constriction of the airways. The symptoms of bronchospasm typically mimic those of asthma, a chronic lung disease, though people who don't have asthma can experience bronchospasm....
The list of diseases caused by cigarette smoking grows over the years as research becomes more conclusive. From the U.S. Surgeon General's original finding that cigarettes cause cancer, the deadly consequences of smoking continue to accumulate....
Influenza (flu) is a common condition characterized by infection in the throat, nose and/or lungs. Though the majority of people who contract the flu virus recover completely, approximately 36,000 people in the United States die each year from...
Asthma is the result of the airways becoming blocked or narrowed because of inflammation and obstruction. The airways to the lungs become overly active and very sensitive to allergens, air irritants, smoke or viruses, according to the Asthma and...
Reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux, is a condition in which the stomach contents in a person's stomach regurgitates back into the throat and mouth. The severity of the pain depends solely on severity of the condition, which varies with...
Acid reflux comes about when the esophageal sphincter, which lies between the esophagus and the stomach, weakens and allows acid contents to rise back up from the stomach into the esophagus and throat. It causes a burning sensation in the chest...
Gastroesophageal reflux is a common disorder in infants. The symptoms are a result of acid from the stomach flowing out of the stomach and up the esophagus. This is the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux is the...
If your chest starts to feel sore and you develop a cough followed by the chills or a slight fever, you just might have bronchitis. Bronchitis is a condition that occurs when the inner walls that line the main air passageways of your lungs become...
