Lungs
Breathe in, breathe out. Hello oxygen. Goodbye carbon dioxide. With each inhale, your lungs replenish the cells and tissues in your body with life-sustaining oxygen. But when your lungs are under attack—from asthma to inflammation to COVID-19—it can take your breath away.
Editor's picks
Find out what it is, the most common symptoms, best ways to treat, and more
An asthma attack is when asthma symptoms worsen. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed, making it hard to breathe. An asthma attack can be an urgent situation that requires immediate medical attention.
Bronchitis is a viral infection of the lungs that leads to swelling of the bronchial tubes. The most common symptom is a cough with mucus. It usually develops after a cold. That is why it is sometimes called a chest cold.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs. It's often from inhaling toxins (poisons), most commonly tobacco smoke. It can be from smoking yourself (a significant risk factor for COPD) or from secondhand smoke.
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lungs that blocks blood flow. It typically starts in the lower legs. The clot may cause difficulty breathing or a sharp chest pain when breathing deeply. It can be life threatening.
Wheezing, associated with difficult breathing, is a high-pitched whine or squeaky sound that comes from deep within your lungs when you inhale and/or exhale.
There are tips and tools to help you successfully stop smoking. Learn how to get yourself ready to quit, medications that can help, support groups, and how to handle withdrawal symptoms.
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs, causing the air sacs in one or both of your lungs to become inflamed. This causes a cough, chest pain, and a fever. It can be bacterial or viral.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that makes breathing hard. It gets worse over time. Certain therapies and medications can help you breathe easier and slow the progression of the disease.
Lung diseases
Lung Abscess
A lung abscess is a bacterial infection that occurs in the lung and causes tissues to die while a pus-filled cavity develops in its place.
Read article
Bronchogenic Cyst
This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms in infants include difficulty breathing or feeding and blue skin. Other symptoms that are likely later in life include coughing and wheezing, recurrent lung infections, and trouble swallowing, among others.
Read article
Goodpasture Syndrome
This article will review the symptoms, causes, management, and prevention of Goodpasture syndrome. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, nausea, a loss of appetite, pale skin, lung symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood, and kidney symptoms such as painful urination, reduced urination, and swelling, among others.
Read article
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Treatment
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when something inhaled inflames the lungs such as exposure to mold, animals, grain/flour, or synthetic materials.
Read article