Sodium silicate is a chemical compound found in household cleaning products and pesticides. It is also a common ingredient used in fertilizers and is one of the ingredients in Cascade dish soap. Sodium silicate must be handled carefully because it...
Asbestos was at one time a popular material used in building because it is heat- and fire-resistant and does not conduct electricity. Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that is formed by bundles of fibers that can be separated into usable...
Contact with three forms of mercury---elemental or liquid mercury, organic mercury and inorganic mercury salts---can result in poisoning, according to Medline Plus. Elemental mercury is used in thermometers, mechanical switches, fluorescent...
Tubercle bacillus, also referred to as tuberculosis or TB, is a contagious bacterium. It spreads through the air when a person with the active form of the disease coughs, sneezes or exhales forcefully. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease...
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a very serious infectious disease that attacks the lungs. It is still a major cause of illness and death in the world, killing about 2 million people every year. TB can be cured by taking many medications over a few months,...
Mercury is a toxic element found in certain types of fish, glass thermometers and batteries. There are three different types of mercury that can be poisonous to humans: elemental mercury, inorganic mercury and organic mercury. Those who are...
According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, asthma affects more than 20 million people in the United States. Asthma occurs when the airways narrow in response to certain allergens or irritants. People with asthma experience coughing, wheezing and...
Mercury is a naturally occurring substance that can be fatal when patients are exposed to or consume it in high concentrations. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are three types of mercury that can be dangerous: liquid...
Your lungs are protected from adverse conditions by a variety of defense mechanisms. Running in extreme weather can result in short-term discomfort, but will not often cause permanent damage. Asthma can aggravate the discomfort and increase your...
Mercury exists in three chemical forms and they each can cause adverse effects on human health. The exposure to mercury in any of its forms can occur under different circumstances. The effects of mercury poisoning on human health depend on the...
Asthma symptoms usually appear in groups, not in one isolated incident here and there. Triggers like allergies, mold, smoke, pollen and cold air can spur asthma on. You may wheeze on a smoggy day or after eating spicy foods or are exposure...
The Mayo Clinic defines tuberculosis (TB) as a potentially serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is an airborne illness that spreads through tiny droplets released into the air during coughing or sneezing....
Genetic diseases are passed down from parent to child through defective genes. Genes, the basic unit of heredity, carry the sequences of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) which is responsible for determining the characteristics a person will exhibit....
Atrial septal defect is categorized as a congenital heart defect and commonly referred to as a "hole in the heart," states Kids Health. Atrial septal defect occurs as an opening between the two upper chambers of the heart, the atria. This defect...
Your trouble breathing may manifest itself as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, nasal congestion or other symptoms. If mucus in the nose is making inhalation difficult, assess the additional warning signs. Sneezing and a fever of 100 to 102...
Occupational asthma happens when your lungs overreact to workplace dusts, fumes, gases or vapors. Exposure to these workplace irritants cause inflammation in the airways and make breathing difficult. Long-term exposure to the irritants can cause...
The side effects of medication vary from person to person. In cancer chemotherapy, it could be nausea or vomiting, fatigue or hair loss, bruising or bleeding, anemia and infection. You may have issues with your bowels and appetite or weight, sore...
In many people, mild allergic reactions to pollen, mold, pets and other allergens grow worse from prolonged exposure. Continual contact or periodic episodes of intense exposure can bring on stronger allergy symptoms over time, whether or not...
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, asbestos consists of six different naturally occurring silicate minerals, all of which are hazardous to human beings and can cause cancer. Asbestos was used and named by the...
Genetics is the process in which parents pass certain genes onto their children. An abnormal gene that is passed down through the family may have only minor consequences, or it may have a dramatic impact on one's quality of life. Abnormal genes...
Increased asthma symptoms can be caused by environmental factors that differ among sufferers of the disease. Asthma symptoms can come and go, ranging from mild to persistent wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and shortness of breath. Severe...
Tuberculosis lung disease, also referred to as TB, is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis most commonly attacks the lungs, but can also affect the kidney, spine and brain. According to Medline...
Since 1996, avian influenza, or bird flu, has affected several hundred people worldwide via infectious transmission from birds to humans. While many patients suffer only transitory health effects, the World Health Organization reports that more...
Asbestos exists as six unique, naturally occurring silicate-based minerals, all of which are dangerously toxic to human beings and considered carcinogenic, as cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Asbestos was utilized in ancient...
Mold allergies cause the bulk of health symptoms in people who inhale black mold spores. Their bodies mistake mold allergens for more harmful bacteria and send chemicals, including histamines, into the bloodstream to neutralize them. Histamines...
TB, or tuberculosis, is a serious infectious pulmonary disease that attacks the lungs. It remains, to this day, one of the leading causes of illness and kills more than 2 million people a year. Tuberculosis can be cured by taking a regimen of many...
Cadmium is a heavy metal that is highly toxic, even in low doses. The most common uses of cadmium include electroplating, some industrial paints and some types of batteries. Lethal exposure to cadmium sometimes occurs when welders have unknowingly...
Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a contagious infection that primarily affects the lungs. It is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While pulmonary tuberculosis is curable, it can lead to serious complications in certain...
Regular aerobic exercise is critical for cardiovascular fitness and reduces the amount of work the lungs need to do. Regular exercise does not substantially change total lung capacity in healthy people nor will it improve lung function in people...
