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All Lung Disorders Special Reports
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Planning Ahead: The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney
If you have a progressive lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis, you may want to take the time now to make some important decisions about your future medical care, in case you are ever not able to make decisions for yourself. This Special Report looks at two popular kinds of advance directives: a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare.
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On the Horizon: New Treatments for COPD
You probably know that sildenafil (commonly known as Viagra) is a popular drug for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). But what you may not know is that it is being investigated as a possible treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well. This use for sildenafil is just one of a host of new treatments for COPD now under investigation.
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Four Steps to Better Asthma Control
Do you know what to do if your asthma symptoms are waking you up at night or when you're very short of breath and your quick-relief medicines don't help? If you are not completely sure, you're likely to benefit from an asthma action plan -- a key feature of newly updated guidelines issued by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP). … More...
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COPD: Catching the “Silent Killer”
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute about 12 million Americans likely have COPD but don't know it. Because COPD often produces no symptoms in its early stages, it is often not caught until severe breathing problems develop. That's why COPD is sometimes referred to as 'chronic overlooked pulmonary disease.' However, by catching the disease early, people with COPD can make lifestyle changes and start on treatments that will slow the loss of lung function, improve their quality of life, and, in some cases, increase survival. More...
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Home Monitoring for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects an estimated 19 million. Getting diagnosed usually means spending a night in a sleep lab, but more convenient, less expensive home tests have been gaining credibility among sleep specialists. Recently, portable monitoring devices that can be used in the home were recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) to test for sleep apnea in some patients. Here's what you need to know. … More...
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Looking At How The Lungs Work
What else is so essential, so continuous, and yet so unnoticed? When all goes well, you breathe in and out about 25,000 times each day. Every inward breath carries oxygen into your lungs, where it passes into your bloodstream and is pumped with each heartbeat throughout your body, powering the chemical energy that keeps you alive and operating. An exhalation always follows, ridding your body of a waste product: carbon dioxide. More...
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Advice on Home Air Cleaners
If you have a lung condition and are trying to reduce indoor air pollution in your home, portable air cleaning devices may look like an attractive option to cut down on lung irritants. But do they really work? Here's a review of your choices from the experts at Johns Hopkins. … More...
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9 Common Mold Myths
Media reports have linked indoor mold exposure to everything from asthma to headaches. But what's the real scientific evidence that exposure to mold in your home actually can cause physical symptoms? A recent review of scientific literature about mold-related diseases found that, while mold can cause certain health problems, many common claims just don't hold up under scrutiny. … More...
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Why Popular Asthma Drugs Got the Black Box Warning
Users who use Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Foradil Aerolizer, Serevent Diskus, and Symbicort for their asthma must decide if it makes sense to continue with these drugs despite the risks.
If you rely on one of the popular long-acting asthma medications -- Advair Diskus, Advair HFA, Foradil Aerolizer, or Serevent Diskus -- it must have been a jolt to read the medical advisory that you suddenly began to find in the package along with your asthma… More...
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What You Should Know About Treating Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most dangerous type of cancer, killing 85% of people within five years of diagnosis. “Lung cancer causes more deaths in women than breast and ovarian cancer combined, and more than three times more deaths in men than prostate cancer,” emphasizes Julie Brahmer, M.D., an assistant professor at Hopkins’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Care Center. More...
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Sleep Apnea's Multiple Health Risks
It’s well established that sleep apnea—characterized by repeated episodes of breathing cessation and partial awakening during sleep—contributes to daytime fatigue. Now, experts are beginning to realize that sleep apnea can have more serious consequences as well.
Fortunately, treatment for sleep apnea (including lifestyle measures, weight loss, and
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Three Effective Steps for Relief of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
When taken together, chronic bronchitis and emphysema—two distinct conditions known collectively as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. As many as 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD. Experts estimate another 16 million have the condition without knowing it.
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Exercise Testing, Measurement of Blood Gases, and Sleep Studies to Help Diagnose Lung Disease
If you are experiencing symptoms related to a lung disease you will first need to provide a medical history and undergo a physical examination. Your doctor may then recommend other tests that can provide complementary.
Exercise Testing
Exercise testing using a treadmill or stationary bicycle also can be used to evaluate shortness of breath and to determine whether it is caused by a lung problem, heart
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Pulmonary Function Tests for Lung Disease
Just as people with high blood pressure or diabetes need measurements of blood pressure and blood glucose, respectively, people with lung diseases need tests of their pulmonary function. Pulmonary function tests measure lung capacity and reveal patterns characteristic of particular lung diseases. A person’s measurements are compared with those expected for a healthy person of the same age, height, and gender. More...
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Chest Imaging for Lung Disease
If you are experiencing symptoms related to a lung disease you will first need to provide a medical history and undergo a physical examination. Your doctor may then recommend other tests that can provide complementary.
A chest x-ray may reveal an abnormality that clearly explains the respiratory problem or
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Laboratory Tests to Diagnose Lung Disease
If you are experiencing symptoms related to a lung disease you will first need to provide a medical history and undergo a physical examination. Your doctor may then recommend other tests that can provide complementary.
Routine blood tests may show a low hemoglobin level (anemia), which might help explain a patient’s shortness of breath or suggest a chronic condition (such as lung
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Diagnosing Lung Disease
If you are experiencing symptoms related to a lung disease you will first need to provide a medical history and undergo a physical examination. Your doctor may then recommend other tests that can provide complementary.
In addition to blood tests, chest imaging and pulmonary function tests are two other More...
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Avoiding Environmental Triggers for Asthma
Even people whose asthma is well controlled with medication can experience symptoms if they are exposed to allergens—substances that can cause airway inflammation in susceptible people. Pollen, dust mites, animal dander, and mold are examples of allergens; they may trigger asthma in people allergic to these substances. Irritants, however, can worsen symptoms in all asthma sufferers. They include smoke, air pollution, strong odors, and cold air. It’s not possible to completely eliminate allergens and irritants, but you can take the following steps to minimize your exposure to them. More...
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