Pneumonia is a respiratory infection caused by inflammation.Source: iStock Facts you should know about pneumonia Pneumonia is a lung disease characterized by inflammation of the airspaces in the lungs, most commonly due to an infection. Pneumonia may be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections, or fungi; less frequently by other causes. The most common bacterial...
Facts you should know about smoking and quitting smoking There are many techniques to help people quit smoking. Although smoking is an addiction, people can quit smoking. Secondhand smoke is harmful to the health of children, unborn children, family members, and coworkers. Quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory...
Pulmonary hypertension definition and facts Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. Pulmonary hypertension is abnormally elevated pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The classification of primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension has been reclassified, and now is based on the main underlying disease or condition,...
Facts you should know about the anatomy of the lungs Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story The lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. The tracheobronchial tree is the passage way from the mouth to the interior of the lung. Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli deep in...
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM, rare lung infections) definition and facts Readers Comments 3 Share Your Story Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM ) are bacteria that are found widespread in water, soil, and the air that we breathe. There have been more than 150 species of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) identified. The signs and symptoms of NTM lung...
What are lung segmentectomy and limited pulmonary resection? A lung segmentectomy is the removal of diseased lung, often due to lung cancer. A lung segmentectomy is a procedure to remove the diseased lung without removing excess normal lung. Certain diseases, such as lung cancer, may require removal of the part of the lungs to limit...
What is a blood clot in the lungs? The signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism differ depending on the size of the clot, extent of lung involvement, and underlying medical conditions. A blood clot is a solid or semisolid clump of blood. When the tissues of our body are injured, excessive blood loss is prevented...
What is drug-resistant tuberculosis? There are different types of drug-resistant TB. Usually, anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs have been divided into First-line (early/initial treatment) drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin) Second-line drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, capreomycin, viomycin, enviomycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ethionamide, prothionamide and cycloserine, terizidone) Most people with TB are cured by following a strict six-month,...
What is alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency? AAT may lead to lung conditions and lung damage. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD or AATD) is an inherited genetic disorder that occurs due to the mutation of the gene, Serpina1. This results in insufficient levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT or AA), which is a protein that protects the lungs. It is an...
What are bronchitis and Covid-19 (Coronavirus)? Acute bronchitis and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses. They can have some of the same symptoms. Only a licensed healthcare professional can diagnose whether you have COVID-19 or bronchitis. Acute bronchitis and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) are both respiratory illnesses. They can have some of the same symptoms. It's important to...