Diagnosing disease is mostly a process of knowing what is "normal" and recognizing what is not. A doctor recognizes a disease by seeing a pattern formed by symptoms and findings during a physical examination. Laboratory tests can confirm these...
Asthma is often characterized by a recurrent wheezing and coughing combined with a shortness of breath and a tightness in the chest. If you have these symptoms and they get worse at night or are triggered by exercise, allergens or exposure to...
A spirometer is a basic type of medical testing equipment that is used to measure and analyze lung functions. The simple plastic device measures how much air the lungs can hold and how well the patient can move air in and out of them. People who...
To correctly diagnose asthma, your physician will order a pulmonary function study, which may include a series of three or four tests to determine if you have asthma, as well as how severe it is. The process of diagnosing asthma also includes...
Smoking increases the risk of all types of cancer, but the effect on the lungs is most significant. Approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men are caused by cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. In addition to raising the...
Saunas have been in use for hundreds of years under the belief that they improve health, but scientific evidence for the benefits of saunas has only recently been discovered. The term "sauna" generally refers to the Finnish-style sauna bathing. A...
Most people probably take their breathing for granted, with an average adult inhaling 15 to 20 times a minute, or more than 20,000 times per day, according to the American Lung Association. Various diseases, the aging process and pollution all...
