Respiratory tract disorders and diseases

No matter who and where you are, the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19) pandemic affects us all. Discuss symptoms, treatment, preventative efforts, mental health consequences, and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic here.

Asthma is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by obstruction, inflammation and hyper-responsiveness. It causes recurrent breathing problems. In this section, you can talk about asthma symptoms and management, risk factors, attacks, diagnosis and treatment.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the breathing tubes (bronchi) caused by an infection or environmental factors. Bronchitis causes excessive mucus and other changes, can be acute or chronic, and smoking is one of its main causes. Do you have questions, information or advice related to bronchitis? Join this forum!

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited and progressive disease. It is characterized by an abnormality in the glands that produce sweat and mucus. CF causes distress within the respiratory system, but also impacts the digestive and reproductive tracts. CF causes thickening of the normal, thin secretion in the lungs and makes sufferers prone to infections. Frequent infections cause lung damage, improper functioning and lung cell death. CF affects the pancreas and its enzyme secretions as well as reproductive organs — often leading to infertility. Symptoms are numerous, a cure non-existent.Talk about CF management within this forum.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves two lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that often coexist. Both diseases cause airflow obstructions and disrupt normal breathing. The quality of life of COPD sufferers decreases with time and quitting smoking is a must in order to improve the odds. No drugs have been found to prevent or reverse the lung damage and decline in its functioning. On this forum, you can find COPD-related topics!

Interstitial lung disease involves over 180 chronic lung disorders. The diseases got their name because the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs, the interstitium, is affected by fibrosis (scarring). This category of diseases is also known as Pulmonary Fibrosis. Most of the diseases cause inflammations of the bronchioles, alveoli or small blood vessels — affecting breathing and oxygen transport. Discuss Pulmonary Fibrosis — symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and management — here.

Are you wondering if you could have pneumonia, or were you already diagnosed? Join this forum to discuss and learn about ev everything related to this lung inflammation that can be caused by bacteria, viruses and other chemical irritants.

Pulmonary embolism is a severe, life-threatening blockage of the pulmonary artery caused by foreign matters like blood clots, tumors, air or fat. Most at risk are people suffering from heart disease, COPD, cancer, paralyses, sickle cell disease, and those who underwent surgery and had extended bed rest. Sarcoidosis is a rare disease that occurs due to inflammation. Sarcoidosis is characterized by granulomas — small lumps, that usually disappear on their own. Those that do not heal and disappear can cause scarring of the inflamed tissue. Here, you can talk about causes, diagnosis, and treatment, of both diseases.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease usually attacks the lungs can actually affect any other part of the body as well. TB is extremely contagious — one person is infected with Tuberculosis bacilli each second in the world! Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has three stages: exposure, infection and the disease. Join this forum to discuss topics related to tuberculosis!

Do you have a respiratory disease that isn’t listed under any of the other forums? Are you not quite sure what respiratory disease you are dealing with? This is the right place for you to ask questions, look for information, or share advice and experiences.