Jun 11, 2018
With all of the numbers, facts and information you have to remember about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have many questions. One common question is, “how long can I live with COPD?” It’s an important one to ask, but many people understandably...
Apr 19, 2018
Sarcoidosis of the lungs results from the growth of granulomas, or inflammatory cells, and is characterized by a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest pain. While sarcoidosis is resolved on its own in about half of all cases, it may linger for...
Apr 5, 2018
There are currently 24 million Americans living with a severe and deadly condition. The nature of this disease causes the lungs to deteriorate and makes every breath an effort. As the years progress, the condition ultimately takes its final toll upon its sufferer....
Apr 5, 2018
Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that thickens and hardens the lung passageways responsible for carrying oxygen into the bloodstream. It can cause shortness of breath even with minimal activity. Over time, it can lead to permanent inflammation or scarring...
Mar 20, 2018
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) explains that pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed when there is “high blood pressure in the arteries going to the lung.” When this pressure gets too high, the heart’s right ventricle doesn’t work efficiently. This results in...
Feb 27, 2018
When your health isn’t as good as you’d like, it can send you in search of answers as to what may be going on. However, sometimes this search sends you in a couple different directions, leaving you unsure of what condition you could potentially have, a situation that...
Feb 24, 2018
Sometimes managing COPD symptoms just takes a new perspective. For those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often the most challenging aspect of the disease is the daily degradation of one’s quality of life as a result of symptoms. As with any chronic...
Feb 11, 2018
People living with chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, often have their pulmonary function tested. Many doctors use lung function tests to help diagnose, monitor and treat chronic lung...
Feb 10, 2018
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex and progressive chronic lung disease. Typically, COPD includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is characterized by the restriction of airflow into and out of the lungs. The obstruction of airflow makes...
Jan 27, 2018
There are two major classifications for chronic lung diseases. One group of chronic lung diseases is classified as obstructive lung disease, which includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (COPD) and emphysema. The other group is classified as restrictive lung...
Jan 21, 2018
Everything you need to know about pulmonary fibrosis stages, prognosis and life expectancy and what to do next. For those who are living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), the shock of the initial diagnosis is often devastating. As a degenerative lung disease, the...
Jan 20, 2018
Understanding your oxygen saturation levels is the key to better respiratory health. When it comes to living with a chronic lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis or emphysema, understanding one’s disease and all the...
Jan 18, 2018
When you’re not feeling well, popping a pill is often the first line of defense. Got a headache? Take some aspirin or ibuprofen. Allergies bothering you? An antihistamine will likely help. Though medications like these may effectively relieve the symptoms they’ve been...
Jan 14, 2018
The field of COPD treatments is wide and varied. Here are a few that can make a difference. For those who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and have been given a clear understanding of their life expectancy, the primary concern...
Jan 9, 2018
Having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is difficult enough, but when the symptoms flare up—commonly referred to as COPD exacerbations—things can go from bad to worse pretty quickly. The shallow, fast breathing. The coughing and wheezing. The discolored,...