Samansara Asked : I stopped smoking seven months ago after 40 years. I had a chronic smoker’s cough. I am still coughing but it seems worse to me. My doctor keeps telling me it is my sinus and has given me steroids, antibiotics, benzonatate to help with the cough, nasonex…….and the list goes on. Now I have a >> Read More ...
What is a Hiccup? Hiccups are the repeated involuntary spasm of the diaphragm which causes a sudden intake of air. This is followed by the abrupt closure of the glottis (the vocal cords and space between it) which then restricts the air rushing in. These two actions, diaphragmatic spasm resulting in rapid air intake and >> Read More ...
Signs and Symptoms of Breathing Trouble Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the most common symptom of any problem with the respiration process. Refer to the articles on : What Causes Shortness of Breath? Reasons for Shortness of Breath Other signs and symptoms may include : Flaring of the nostrils. Abnormal expansion of the >> Read More ...
What is Respiration? The process of respiration involves four stages – ventilation which we know as breathing (inhalation or inspiration and exhalation or expiration), exchange of gases between the air in the lungs and blood stream (pulmonary diffusion), transport of gases in the blood (perfusion) and exchange of >> Read More ...
Diagnosing the cause of dyspnea depends on the clinical evaluation and the results of investigative tests that will be conducted. Due to the various reasons for shortness of breath, some of the tests will not be directly related to the lungs. Not all the tests mentioned below will be conducted and the attending physician >> Read More ...
What is lung disease? The term lung disease is a broad term that encompasses various pathologies that involve the lungs and related structures. Other organs and systems may also be involved, but the lung disease is often the primary disorder. At times the problem may lie in the airways or blood vessels of the lung >> Read More ...
Sudden and severe breathlessness is extremely distressing if it arises for no known reason and persists for even a few minutes. Breathlessness includes shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing or discomfort when breathing that restricts the breathing rate and depth. While an acute shortness of breath is >> Read More ...
Lung nodules or pulmonary nodules may be routinely discovered on a chest x-ray or thoracic CT scan. A patient may be asymptomatic or sought medical attention for some other condition when a nodule is identified on follow-up imaging studies. Screening may also be done for immigration purposes, where a person from a high >> Read More ...
What is a lung nodule? A lung nodule, also known as a pulmonary nodule, is a a round or opaque opaque mass in the lung that is seen in a chest X-ray or thoracic CT scan. It is more accurately defined as a discrete nodule that is equal to or less than 3 centimeters in diameter. Larger opacities are known as growths or >> Read More ...
An infection of the lung may be due to a number of bacterial and viral causes, with fungal infections being less common and more frequently seen in immunocompromised patients. Lungs infections may be acute, lasting less than 3 weeks or chronic, persisting for more than 3 weeks. Most lung infections start as a respiratory >> Read More ...
