Lungs

A collapsed lung (pneumothorax) is a medical emergency that can occur due to trauma, like a car accident, or can occur spontaneously. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, and an elevated heart rate are all symptoms of a collapsed lung. Medical treatment may include surgery to fix the injury.

Respiratory illnesses, including asthma or a viral infection, can cause pain in the area of your lungs. Lung pain should always be taken seriously because other causes, such as pneumonia or a pulmonary embolism, need to be treated immediately.

Most smokers know that quitting is good for their health. But if you’ve become physically and psychologically dependent on smoking, the idea of quitting can seem daunting.

Wheezing can be a sign of an asthma attack, pneumonia, or chronic lung condition like COPD. Here’s how to tell when it’s a medical emergency and when to treat it at home.

Pulmonary Hypertension is when there is high blood pressure in the blood vessels in your lungs. It can cause shortness of breath when you’re active and fatigue.

Both infections affect the lungs and cause similar symptoms. Pneumonia is less common but can be more severe and require hospitalization.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when something inhaled inflames the lungs such as exposure to mold, animals, grain/flour, or synthetic materials.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of cystic fibrosis. Symptoms of cystic fibrosis may be present at birth, such as salty sweat or an inability to pass stool. Symptoms that may develop later include a cough, difficulty breathing, lung infections, and sinus problems, among others.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention of non-small cell lung cancer. The primary symptoms of this condition include cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, and hoarseness. A history of smoking is the predominant cause.