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...
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...
When you smoke, you inhale 4,000 chemical compounds into your lungs which your body is not equipped to cope with. About a tenth of them are poisonous and at least 80 can give you cancer. Your respiratory system is under severe pressure if you...
Lung health is an important part of breathing. People who have degraded lung health are less active, and they may have trouble breathing. Herbal remedies are available to help promote lung health after pulmonary disease and cancer. These remedies...
Aortic valve replacement surgery is a major heart procedure designed to help restore functionality to the aortic valve according to the Texas Heart Institute. The surgery may be performed in response to a valve defect, calcification of the valve...
Tuberculosis is a highly-contagious disease that may affect up to one-third of the world's population, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Some people infected with Mycobacteria tuberculosis, the bacteria responsible for this...
Vitamin K is stored in your body's fat tissue and in your liver. Vitamin K gives your blood the ability to clot and it has an important hand in the role of bone health. While vitamin K is a very significant vitamin, it is not considered a classic...
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...
Trauma from a gunshot, knife wound or high force blunt trauma, like a car accident, can all lead to a punctured lung. Typically when the lung is punctured, it leads to a traumatic pneumothorax, or a collection of air between the lung tissue and...
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....
Lungs are a network of connected tubes that supply oxygen to different cells of the body via blood and help remove carbon dioxide from the body. A normal human being breathes about 25,000 times per day. However, people with lung conditions such as...
Wheezing is defined by Medline Plus as a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs during breathing when air travels through narrowed airways. Wheezing is most audible during exhalation but may also be heard lightly during inhalation. Wheezing is a...
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacteria tuberculosis, a bacteria that infects lung tissues. Some people with tuberculosis infections do not experience any symptoms, while others may have symptoms such as lung inflammation, breathing...
Breathing, the inspiration and expiration of air from the lungs, involves a number of tissues. Breath is inhaled through the nose or mouth, travels down the larynx and into the tubes of the lungs, which are called the bronchi and bronchioles. Air...
Your lungs are designed to assist in the gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. They are a part of your respiratory system and are situated on either side of your rib cage inside of the chest cavity. When toxins are inhaled through the...
The loss of lung function caused by emphysema may be reversible to some extent. A derivative of Vitamin A known as retinoic acid, or RA, induces the regeneration of lung tissue in rats and helped restore lung function. RA also helped repair...
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...
Smoking puts the lungs at an increased risk for cellular damage. After smoking cessation, vitamins can help repair lung damage. However, seek the advice of a medical professional before trying to prevent, treat or cure any lung condition.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs when a weakness develops in the wall of the aorta, the main blood vessel of the body, as it runs through the abdomen. The bulge in the aorta can rupture, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. Small aneurysms...
An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a persistent communication between the upper chambers of the heart. It is present in about one to two percent of the population. The defect results when tissue fails to form correctly between the atria. An ASD...
"Smoking can harm the skin...of the mouth, eyes and fingernails," says Dr. Kimberly Bazar, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatologists. Collagen is one of the most important proteins in your skin. Smoking damages it and slows its healing....
You can't definitively diagnose or treat yourself for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) all alone. You'll need correct testing and accurate analysis. You'll need prescriptions that address your personal needs and additional heath...
Athletes are commonly perceived as powerful, healthy, energetic and vibrant. They exercise regularly and complement this with a healthy, balanced diet that leaves them primed for optimum athletic performance. But, improbable as it seems, some...
You can find a host of natural foods at your local grocery store that will promote lung health and improve pulmonary function. Consuming a varied combination of fruits, vegetables and other whole foods may protect your lungs against disease and...
A thoracotomy is a major surgery that impedes your level of activity for weeks afterward. However, once the incision has healed and you begin to recuperate, normal activities can again become a part of your life. Check with your doctor first...
Several conditions can contribute to decreased lung capacity, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and lung cancer. Many natural supplements, such as vitamins and minerals in particular, contain substances that contribute to the...
Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women, is rarely detected until it has advanced into the later stages when more aggressive treatment is necessary. The primary treatment options include surgery,...
A normal, healthy body detects and removes cancerous cells before they spread and cause disease. Mutations in genes that control normal cancer surveillance or that allow abnormal cells to evade it can increase a person's risk for developing...
Every time you breathe, you inhale oxygen from the air. Your lungs send a continuous supply of fresh oxygen to your blood, which carries it throughout your body to nourish tissues and cells. Air pollutants, smoking, viruses and bacteria can...
