Respiratory Disorders

Mycoplasma (Mycoplasma pneumonia) is a small, fungal organism that can infect the respiratory tract. The infection is characterized by pneumonia-like symptoms, including: fever, cough, sore throat...

Respiratory therapy techniques which are commonly used for patients with lung and pulmonary diseases such as COPD include aerosol therapy and the use of bronchodilators, intermittent positive...

Only a trained health care professional should diagnosis any pulmonary disorder. That being said, virtually anyone who possesses a working stethoscope and a general understanding of anatomy can...

Bronchial congestion is most commonly caused by an excess production of mucus in reaction to an inflammation of the bronchial tubes or airways. Bronchial congestion can be caused by allergies,...

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective method for treating sleep apnea. CPAP works by pushing air through the airways at a constant pressure according to the...

If you have allergies and you smoke, you should be especially motivated to quit. Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that can irritate your allergies. And you can even develop an allergy to...

About 29 percent of the U.S. population over age 12 smokes, making nicotine one of the most heavily used addictive substances in the country, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse....

Sambucol is a drug made from the elderberry shrub (Sambucus nigra) that is an effective natural remedy for the flu. It may also be useful in treating a wide range of other illnesses, but this has...

Asbestosis is a lung disorder that develops after inhaling asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a mineral product that has been used in some building materials and in workplaces. Asbestos fibers...

Wood dust is a by-product of cutting wood. Dust that collects on wood can also be considered wood dust. Carpenters have had to deal with this annoyance for centuries. Many industrial chemicals...

Respiratory disease affects millions of people throughout the world. It includes diseases ranging from asthma to severe acute respiratory syndrome. Catching respiratory disease in its infant...

Breathing is an important part of life. It is, after all, what keeps the body alive. There are many things in the world that can cause lung problems. They come from the natural environment or...

Rheumatoid lung is a type of lung disease that occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors refer to many lung conditions associated with rheumatoid arthritis as rheumatoid lung.

Gastric bypass surgery is performed to help very overweight people lose weight. It makes your stomach smaller so that you feel full and eat less. It also can cause malabsorption of food, because...

Sinus infections are caused when an obstruction in the nasal passageway allows fluid to buildup and microorganisms to grow inside the nasal cavity. Infrared light therapy is one form of...

Asthma can be debilitating, affecting your life in so many ways. The only way to make asthma better is to get it under control. To do this, you must work closely with your doctor to develop a...

Metered dose inhalers, or MDIs, are inhalers in which the appropriate dose per puff is already calculated and each puff gives an even amount of medication. A doctor will prescribe an Albuterol MDI...

Bullous Lung Disease is the most common form of emphysema. It's a disease that is characterized by abnormal and enlarged air spaces within the lungs, along with the deterioration of alveolar...

Hyaline membrane disease is a condition that occurs in newborns whose lungs failed to develop fully in the womb. Sometimes called respiratory distress disorder, the condition is most common in...

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that more than 20 million people in the United States suffer from asthma, a chronic lung disease that constricts the airways. One treatment...

A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, is inflammation and infection within the sinus cavities or the nasal membranes. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat bacterial sinus infections. Steroid...

Nearly 1 million people in the United States require oxygen therapy 24 hours a day, according to medical journalist Maureen McFadden. Oxygen therapy involves delivering additional oxygen to...

Mark Twain once said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." According to the American Cancer Society, nicotine is as addictive as cocaine. With all the destruction smoking...

If you have lung problems and you discover that you have water under your house, mold and fungus breeding in the water may be making you ill. Mold and fungus can accumulate in water under a house,...

According to the Mayo Clinic, acute sinusitis occurs when the cavities around your nasal passages become inflamed and swollen. The result of this is pain and difficulty breathing. The nose feels...

Arterial blood gases (ABGs) are a set of laboratory tests done on a sample of blood from one of your arteries. They measure the balance between oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in your body. ...

It's important to know the warning signs of the swine flu, also known as H1N1, so you don't infect other people if you have it, and so you can get the proper treatment.

Today, adolescents can easily access drugs like marijuana, alcohol and, especially, nicotine. If your adolescent smokes and you want her to stop, directly show your disapproval. The best approach...

Approximately 14.2 million Americans suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A common form of treatment for advanced COPD is oxygen therapy. Most rules for medical oxygen safety...

Pneumonia is caused by a virus or a bacterial infection in the lungs. This infection is most often caused by the flu or the cold virus. The airways become infected and blocked by a sticky...

The late stages of COPD become evident with the onset of symptoms such as difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, mental confusion and low blood oxygen content. While COPD is terminal, little if...

Oxygen is a vital part of the bodily system. Your blood needs to transport it to every part of your body in order for you to be healthy. Oxygen requirements can vary slightly from person to...

Coughing is a protective natural reflex of the body and results from irritation to airways. A hacking cough is usually evidence of a chronic condition such as allergies, acid reflux or cigarette...

Sinus infections, medically known as sinusitis, occur when the sinuses produce excess mucus that enables bacteria to grow. Some sinus infections require treatment with an antibiotic or even...

Hyperexpanded lungs, or long lungs, is a condition in which the lungs have overinflated, causing them to grow beyond their usual size. This condition can cause respiratory problems, especially...

Lung congestion can occur as a result of several different conditions. It can occur along with the common cold, viral or upper respiratory infections and bronchitis. It is usually associated with...

Many of us at some point have suffered from congestion and chest pain. People usually have these symptoms when suffering form a cold or flu, but there are many other conditions that can cause...

The nasal septum is a wall of bone that separates the right and left sides of your nasal cavity. This bone is covered with the bendable cartilage, mucous membrane and skin that makes up your...

The cells in the human body need oxygen to survive and it is the lungs' primary function to remove oxygen from the air we inhale and transmit it into the bloodstream. But before they can strip it...

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may require a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BiPAP (bi-level positive airway pressure) machine. These machines blow air pressure into the...

Many people are occasionally afflicted by shortness of breath, which is known medically as dyspnea. Barring a diagnosis by a medical professional, shortness of breath cannot be solely attributed...

Black mold exposure is responsible for many health problems. Long-term exposure can cause or contribute to many serious illnesses. Look for black mold as an underlying problem if any of these...

The body produces mucus as a natural defense against irritants and bacteria that are in the air or your body. Mucus naturally forms in the sinuses, nose, throat and lungs. Excess mucus that is...

Sinusitis (also called a sinus infection) is the inflammation of the sinus cavities. Sinus infection symptoms can range from nasal congestion to migraine headache. It may also take the form of a...

Hypoxemia, or hypoxia, is the medical term for a low oxygen level. This condition can be characterized by shortness of breath and reduced exercise capacity, with fatigue occurring quickly after...

When irritants such as smoke and pollen enter the airways, the immune system goes into action, causing inflammation. If the irritants are not removed, then the inflammation continues, leading to...

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a patient's airway becomes blocked during sleep. The patient will temporarily quit breathing and, generally, awaken during the night. A CPAP...

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a person's airways become blocked during sleep causing him to temporarily quit breathing and, generally, wake up in the night. As a result, he will...

Oxygen in the blood is transported to all the organs of the body. Without enough oxygen, the organs can't function properly. An oxygen saturation test is done to determine the amount of oxygen in...

Lung damage can be caused by a number of things. It is our job to know what those things are and to avoid them if possible. Many times in our youth we get careless and don't understand the...