Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, occurs when an illness causes an increase in mucus in the airways. The mucus allows viruses and bacteria to multiply, resulting in the infection. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that viruses...
During surgical anesthesia, respiratory reflexes such as gag reflexes that normally prevent vomited food or gastric juices from entering the lungs are suppressed. Food, stomach juices, blood or saliva can enter the trachea, the tube that leads to...
The double-layer membrane surrounding the lungs is called the pleura, and also covers the inner chest wall. It keeps the chest cavity airtight, however, if air enters the space between the two layers of the pleura, a collapsed lung or pneumothorax...
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. According to the Children's Hospital Boston, pneumonia tends to occur more during the winter and spring, and is more common in boys than girls. The most common causes of pneumonia in children are bacteria,...
Aspiration pneumonia is a specific variant of pneumonia caused by inhalation of a noxious substance. Accidental inhalation of stomach contents is a frequent cause of aspiration pneumonia. Impaired consciousness is a major risk factor for...
Sometimes chest x-rays and other imaging techniques identify multiple pulmonary nodules. These are lesions in the lungs with a multitude of possible causes. If the cause of these nodules is not already known, their presence on imaging indicates...
A lung nodule is a small mass of abnormal tissue growth in the lungs. The nodules can be generally divided into benign or malignant lesions, but there are many causes for their presence in the lungs. The majority of lung nodules are benign, but...
Injuries that crush the chest and abdomen are common in automobile accidents. These types of injuries occur as the driver's body compresses against the steering wheel. Wearing seat belts dramatically reduces the incidence and severity of crushing...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, often called COPD, refers to a group of diseases that prevent the lungs from working normally. C stands for chronic because the disease is constant and irreversible. O stands for obstructive because the...
Bronchopneumonia, also known as bronchial pneumonia, is a disease resulting in an acute inflammation of the small bronchial tube walls. If left untreated, bronchopneumonia can cause lung abscess, emphysema, jaundice and heart failure. Exercises...
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest responsible for respiration, a process that involves breathing in air and adding fresh oxygen to the blood, which then carries the oxygen to the cells. Many factors and conditions can alter how the lungs...
Cavities in the lungs are formed by inflammation of lung tissue leading to the development of an abscess. When the abscess ruptures, the contents are expectorated, leaving behind an air- and fluid-filled cavity. Chest X-rays and computer...
Lung infections are one of the most common infections that patients acquire, according to the Washington Manual of Surgery. Lung infections often start with viral disease such as influenza or the common cold. Respiratory tract viruses are common...
It is easy to feel self-conscious about your breath. After all, no matter how bad it might be, there is a good chance no one will tell you. Fortunately, in most cases, bad breath is a fairly simple problem to cure or at least keep at bay. And in...
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, a cancer that usually affects smokers, can cause an increase of calcium within the bloodstream. The high blood calcium level causes a variety of symptoms and happens because the cancer cells release a substance...
The effects of secondhand smoke on children's health are clear: it's responsible for 7,500 to 15,000 of pediatric hospitalizations for respiratory tract infections each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports. It also causes up to...
Inflammation of pleurisy is an inflammation of the membrane around the lungs, called the pleura. This membrane is two layers thick and lines the chest cavity, thereby protecting the lungs. In healthy individuals, there is a thick layer of fluid...
Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, can be caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria. Bacterial pneumonia tends to be the most dangerous type and also the most common in adults. In healthy individuals, bacterial pneumonia can usually be treated...
Bad breath can be a hindrance to forming interpersonal relationships, attracting romantic interests and developing effective working relationships with colleagues who interact closely with you. Bad breath has many causes, one of which includes...
Bad breath, formally known as halitosis, is a term used to describe an unpleasant or offensive odor emanating from your mouth when you breathe or speak. In some cases, the source of bad breath is temporary or medically insignificant. However, it...
The purpose of physical therapy is to assess and provide treatment for patients with physical disabilities or limitations. The aim is to rehabilitate patients whose physical condition is limiting their level of physical abilities. Physical...
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a type of bacteria commonly found in the back of your nose. Streptococcus pneumoniae may spread to your lungs and cause serious health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that Streptococcus...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. It is resistant to several antibiotics usually used to treat Staphylococcus--or staph--infections. MRSA infections increased from 2 percent of...
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a ubiquitous bacterium normally found in the mouth, throat, skin and especially the intestines of most healthy people. Klebsiella can become a problem and cause serious infections in those with compromised or weakened...
Pathogenic bacteria cause disease in humans. Many different types of bacteria prove harmful to humans, causing infections that range from mild to potentially life threatening. In most cases, pathogenic bacteria can invade different areas of the...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also called MRSA or antibiotic staff infection, may cause a variety of symptoms when pneumonia--a secondary infection--develops. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, staph...
A fungus is a type of microorganism that can infiltrate the lungs and create severe respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing, a fever and a cough. Sometimes, individuals are more susceptible to fungal lung infections if they live in a...
Pneumonia is a respiratory health problem involving lung infection. Pneumonia is a serious health problem and can lead to dire health consequences in children, elderly individuals and people who have compromised immune systems. The Centers for...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, until 2000, strep pneumonia causes 100,000 to 135,000 hospitalizations per year. Because of the pneumonia vaccine this rate has decreased to 13 cases per 100,000 people, says the CDC....
