Asthma
Asthma is very similar to COPD, since there is airway constriction and obstruction to airflow. But unlike COPD, asthma usually involves inflammation and constriction of mainly the small airways.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a lesser known, but equally common lung disorder. With bronchiectasis, a person develops large, swollen and inflamed airways which make copious secretions and cause a chronic cough.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, is a socially stigmatizing disorder. It is usually not the most common reason people come to see lung doctors, but the topic does arise from time to time.
COPD
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most common lung diseases related to smoking. It is otherwise known by patients as "smoker's cough" or "emphysema."
Cough
Cough is this is an example of a healthy defense mechanism gone wrong. The important purpose of cough is to propel material out of the lung which would damage it; getting rid of anything that "doesn’t belong."
Cancer
Lung cancer is an abnormal growth of tissue that destroys the normal tissue and produces substances that can make your entire body weak and sick.
Embolus
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most vicious and devastating respiratory diseases. It can take an otherwise healthy appearing person, and strike them dead in a matter of minutes.
Effusion
A pleural effusion is a collection of fluid or blood that collects outside of the lung tissue in the chest cavity. It can be caused by injury, infection or tumor.
Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition where there is increased scarring of the lung tissue. Scar tissue may be the body's way to "cut its' losses" when a healthy repair cannot be accomplished.
Hiccups
Hiccups are those repetitive sounds that are made as involuntary inhalations and exhalations occur. The medical name for them is singultus.
Nodule
A lung nodule or nodules is a small abnormality seen on a chest x-ray or CAT scan of the chest which is usually less then one centimeter in size.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of the lung, which can also involve the entire body. Inflammation is usually a healthy response to injury and infection, but in this case, it has been magnified and exaggerated.
Snoring
Snoring and sleep apnea is a condition where during sleep the muscles of the airway relax and collapse shut, cutting off the oxygen supply to the heart and brain.
Transplant
Lung transplantation is taking one or both lungs from a donor and placing them into a person whose own lungs have severely limited functioning.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a difficult time for the lungs. As the baby grows in the uterus, the abdominal cavity enlarges and compresses the chest cavity. The lungs are “smushed,” with less room to expand with each breath.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is when air collects outside of the lung tissue and into the chest cavity causing the lung to deflate. It may be accompanied by shortness of breath and/or pain with deep breathing.