Lung cancer is a devastating medical condition that begins with abnormal cell changes in your lung. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of lung cancer include trouble breathing, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, wheezing and hoarseness. You...
Pulmonary nodules are small round or oval spots on one or both of the lungs that are less than 3 cm in diameter, according to the University of Colorado Hospital. Though a pulmonary nodule can be a sign of lung cancer, National Jewish Health...
Diffuse interstitial lung disease refers to a group of lung disorders in which the tissues of the lungs become inflamed, according to Penn Medicine. The lungs contain small air sacs called alveoli where oxygen is exchanged into the blood and...
Asbestos is a type of mineral that can be made into durable fibers. Because of its durability, asbestos was once used in fireproofing, roofing, and making paints and plastic. In the past decades, asbestos began gaining attention for the negative...
A collapsed lung, called a pneumothorax, occurs when air accumulates around the outside of the lung. The air pushes against the lung, preventing it from expanding when an individual tries to breathe. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition may...
More than 37,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year, mostly those over the age of 55, reports Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Typically, there are no early symptoms of pancreatic cancer, which makes...
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used as insulation and a fire retardant. When disrupted, damaged or destroyed, asbestos microfibers become airborne and can be inhaled. Once...
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...
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that affects the lungs and surrounding tissue. It is generally classified as either small cell or non-small cell lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year 196,687 people are...
Shortness of breath feels like you just can't get enough air. It can also be accompanied by a feeling of tightness in your chest, coughing, fever or chest pain. Shortness of breath may happen only when you exercise or when lying down flat.
Asbestos fibers cause the most damage when they are inhaled, because they don't break down easily and can stay in the lungs for a long time. If you have asbestos in your home or workplace, don't disturb it or try to move it yourself. Call an...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2006, 196,454 people in the United States were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 158,599 sufferers died. Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than...
The spontaneous collapse of a lung is also known as a spontaneous pneumothorax. The lung collapses because of a buildup of air in the chest space. With a spontaneous collapse there is no warning and the exact cause is not always known. Patients...
Amiodarone, a drug prescribed for heart conditions, is particularly effective at controlling rapid heart rates. While very effective, it also causes side effects in a number of organs that must be monitored by a physician. According to the U.S....
Primary ciliary dyskinesia, or PCD, is a relatively rare condition of the lungs. It causes cough and wheezing in children. Breathing problems often begin to occur right after birth without an evident cause. PCD is an inherited condition that...
Pneumonia is "an infection in the lung parenchyma," according to the Cleveland Clinic, decreasing the lungs' ability to supply oxygen to the body. Fungus spores are present in most healthy people, but with the introduction of pneumonia, the body...
Two types of cancer may affect the lungs: primary lung cancer, which is cancer that begins in the lungs, and metastatic lung cancer, which is cancer from other locations in the body that spreads to the lungs. The two main types of lymphoma are...
The symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can take months or even years to develop. The diagnosis of this disorder can include not just your medical history and a physical exam, but a chest x-ray, a high-resolution CT scan, pulmonary function tests to...
An upper respiratory infection, a cold or the flu are usually treated with over-the-counter remedies, plenty of fluids and rest. However, when symptoms persist or get worse, they can indicate a more serious condition. Consulting a doctor can help...
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. Should you begin displaying symptoms, such as coughing up blood, shortness of breath and a chronic cough, undergo testing as...
Mesothelioma is an almost always incurable cancer that affects the mesothelium, the membrane that protects and lines many vital organs in the body. This cancer is caused primarily by exposure to asbestos.
The mesothelium are membranes that cover the organs in the abdomen, chest cavity and reproductive system. Without the two lubricating layers of the mesothelium, our organs couldn't move freely in the presence of neighboring organs. When cells in...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer kills more people than any other type of cancer. Lung cancer includes all cancer that begins in the lungs, not cancer that spreads to the lungs after beginning in...
Breast biopsies diagnose breast cancer in women who have suspicious lumps or breast changes. While the prospect of cancer causes great concern for many women, learning about breast biopsies can help ease some of the fears about the diagnostic...
The lungs contain a number of specialized cell types that facilitate the transfer of oxygen from air in the lungs into the bloodstream, to allow oxygenation of tissues throughout the body. Lung cancer develops when any of the cells within the lung...
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...
Breathing sustains life, and when disease alters our ability to breathe in, and breathe out, it can become life altering. Human respiratory system diseases have a profound effect on how we absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide, as every cell in...
If you have been given a diagnosis of lung cancer, you may feel like you will never be able to engage in your favorite sporting activity again. Treatment targeting your lung cancer can cause extreme fatigue and weakness --- making physical...
The lungs are shaped like large, spongy, slightly concave cones on either side of the chest cavity. Made of multitudes of air sacs, they are lightweight and elastic. The right lung is larger than the left and has three lobes; the left lung has two...
