Pulmonary Health Resources

• Viral infections cause most cases. With acute bronchitis, the tubes that carry air into your lungs become inflamed and filled with mucus. This can cause:

• Coughing, sometimes coughing up mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing

PREVENTION

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke
• Stay updated on vaccines
• Wash your hands

• ARDS is a devastating, inflammatory lung condition that can cause sudden and usually fatal respiratory failure. It’s not a disease, but rather an acute dysfunction related to incidents and diseases such as:
  • Blood abnormalities
  • Drowning
  • Extensive surgery
  • Inhalation of toxic gases
  • Pneumonia
  • Sepsis
  • Shock

In nearly all cases, ARDS onset happens 24-72 hours after the original illness or injury.

PREVENTION

• Seek immediate medical attention for:
  • Illness
  • Infection
  • Trauma
• Stop smoking cigarettes

• Colds last a week or two, but stuffiness and irritation can linger. This could be because of rhinitis or sinusitis, both inflammatory respiratory conditions.

Rhinitis is inflammation of the nose and can cause:

• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. Those are air spaces within the skull surrounding the nose.

PREVENTION

• Avoid upper respiratory infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds or who have other illnesses. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before meals.
• Control your allergies. Work with your doctor to keep symptoms under control. Avoid exposure to items you’re allergic to.
• Avoid cigarette smoke and polluted air. Tobacco smoke and air pollutants can aggravate your lungs and nasal passages.
• Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, adding moisture might help control sinusitis. Keep the humidifier sanitary and free of mold with frequent, careful cleaning.

• Allergies triggered by substances such as:
  • Dust mites
  • Mold
  • Pet dander
  • Pollen

An allergist or immunologist can help determine what causes your illness. If allergens aren’t responsible for it, a physician will screen and treat you for other issues. Non-prescription nasal sprays can temporarily relieve nasal congestion.

PREVENTION

• Wear wrap-around sunglasses to shield your eyes from pollen.
• Use hypoallergenic bedding and blankets.
• Clean bedding at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
• Dust with a damp cloth. 
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Wash your pets at least every 2 weeks and groom them outside.

• You know the cold- or flu-like symptoms:
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes

Allergic diseases affect 20% of the United States population (40 million people), the nation’s most common cause of disability. Those who suffer from allergies are sensitive to substances others aren’t, such as:

• Medications
• Mold
• Pollen
• Certain foods

PREVENTION

• Avoid allergens.
• Take medications as prescribed.
• Keep an allergen diary.
• Keep epinephrine auto-injectors with you at all times if you’re at risk of anaphylaxis.
• Learn what to do during an allergic reaction.
• Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

• Household pets can be a major source of animal allergies. Proteins found in hair and skin particles shed in dander provoke allergic reactions. These proteins are also found in animal saliva and urine. When wet particles dry, they settle into carpets, dust, and furniture.

PREVENTION

• Bathe pets weekly
• Brush (or have someone else brush) them
• Keep pets outside of the bedroom
• Remove carpets
• Vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter vacuum

• Asbestos was a common insulator and fire retardant until scientists discovered its fibers were deadly. They could cause:
  • Asbestosis (scarring of lung tissue)
  • Lung cancer
  • Mesothelioma

Occupationally related airway diseases pose a substantial health threat.

PREVENTION

• Wear:
  • A respirator
  • Disposable coveralls and gloves
  • Eyewear
  • Rubber boots

• This condition has been on the rise since the early 1980s. An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from it. Rising numbers affect all ages, genders, and racial groups. Despite the growing numbers, medical advances have made it easier to manage asthma.

PREVENTION

• Get your flu shot.
• Keep pets out of your home.
• Quit smoking, and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Use HEPA filters in your vacuum, furnace, and air conditioner.
• Use protective bedding and pillowcases.
• Wear a mask when painting, doing construction, or doing yard work.

• Coal dust causes coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) or black lung. It’s an obstruction of the small airways in the lungs that affects coal workers.

PREVENTION

• EMPLOYERS
  • Ensure sufficient ventilation
  • Sample dust in mines to identify high-risk areas
• EMPLOYEES
  • Wear proper protective gear, such as masks

• Inflammation of the bronchioles, which are small passages in the lungs. Viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus, can cause it. Children aged 2 and younger are particularly vulnerable. Most are ill for about a week before recovering.

PREVENTION

• Keep newborns away from anyone with a cold or flu. Especially if the child is 2 months old or younger or was premature.
• Use disposable tissues; throw them away as soon as they’re used.
• Wash your hands and your child’s hands.
• Wash or wipe down toys and clean surfaces.

Premature babies born with underdeveloped lungs are susceptible. This chronic lung disease causes inflammation and abnormal development of the airways. It develops in the first four weeks of life, in babies born at least four weeks early. The more weeks a baby is born preterm, the more likely BPD is to develop.

PREVENTION

• Premature birth causes BPD. Efforts to prevent BPD revolve around decreasing the number of preterm births.

It’s a chronic condition in which there is an obstruction of the small airways of the lungs. Dust from textile processing causes this, also known as byssinosis. It can come from:

• Asbestos
• Coal
• Cotton
• Silica
• Talc
• Wood
• Silica affects those who work in:
  • Blasting operations
  • Foundries
  • Mines
  • Manufacturing of:

• Clay
• Glass
• Stone

PREVENTION

• Avoid textile dust
• Use medications that widen your airways when needed

They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Types of cancers of the chest include:

• Ewing’s sarcoma
• Chondrosarcomas
• Osteosarcoma

Cancerous tumors can spread to other parts of the body, or originate elsewhere. Even benign tumors can cause problems if they press against vital organs in the chest.

PREVENTION

• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet
• Avoid carcinogens at work, such as:
  • Asbestos
  • Benzene
  • Secondhand smoke
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Exercise most days of the week
• Quit smoking
• Test your home for radon

A major lung disease. Inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes that connect the windpipe to the lungs. It restricts airflow to and from the lungs. Those with chronic bronchitis cough up heavy mucus.

PREVENTION

• Quit smoking
• Avoid lung irritants such as:
  • Air pollution
  • Secondhand smoke
  • Chemical fumes
  • Dust

Also called chronic obstructive lung disease. It includes bronchitis and emphysema, which often occur together in the same patient. Risk factors include:

• Age
• Exposure to air pollution in the environment or workplace
• Extensive history of heavy smoking
• Heredity
• History of childhood respiratory infections

PREVENTION

• Conserve your energy.
• Exercise.
• Get nutritional counseling.
• Learn about your lung disease or condition and how to manage it.
• Use breathing strategies.
• Seek psychological counseling or group support.

• The result of allergies or infection. Often, it’s caused by chronic inflammation or structural sinus problems. Other possible triggers include exposure to:
  • Air pollution
  • Air pressure changes
  • Alcohol
  • Chlorine in swimming pools

Patients can experience sinus headaches and painful pressure in the head. Other symptoms:

• Congestion
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Thick nasal discharge

PREVENTION

• Avoid cigarette smoke and polluted air.
• Avoid upper respiratory infections.
• Avoid contact with people who have colds or other infections.
• Manage your allergies.
  • Work with your doctor to keep symptoms under control.
• Use a humidifier.

People get an average of two to three colds yearly; young kids get them more often. Viruses infect the upper respiratory tract and spread from person to person. More than 100 viruses can cause colds, but not cold weather. They might happen more in winter because people spend more time indoors with others. This increases the chance of viral spread.

PREVENTION

• Discard used tissues immediately.
• Encourage children to wash their hands often.
• Keep your surroundings disinfected.
• Strengthen your immune system by:
  • Controlling stress
  • Maintaining a healthy diet
• Use clean handkerchiefs and tissues to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands.

An extensive group of viruses. It gets its name from the crown-like spikes on its surface. Several strains cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses. Some feel like the common cold, and some are more harmful.

PREVENTION

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccine (CDC recommended)
• Socially distance if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
• Wear a mask when prudent.
• Use hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.

A common respiratory disease that impacts young children. It’s usually mild, but it can be severe. It’s the swelling of the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe). The swelling constricts the airway, making breathing loud and difficult.

PREVENTION

• Encourage your child to cough or sneeze into his or her elbow.
• Stay away from anyone who is sick
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

This genetic condition involves the digestive and respiratory systems. It also affects the sweat glands and reproductive system. It is chronic and progressive and affects 30,000 Americans.

PREVENTION

• There is no current way to prevent cystic fibrosis.

• A combination of materials in dust can trigger dust allergies, such as:
  • Bacteria
  • Bits of insects and plants
  • Dead skin cells
  • Food particles
  • Lint
  • Stuffing materials

Dust mites live on this and produce waste, which triggers a reaction. Dust mites also cause perennial allergic rhinitis, a year-round nasal inflammation.

PREVENTION

• Protect mattresses and pillows with airtight plastic covers.
• Remove the curtains or wash them in hot water.
• Remove feather pillows and down-filled blankets.
• Replace carpeting with:
  • Hardwood
  • Linoleum
  • Tile
• Use window shades instead of blinds.
• Vacuum regularly, preferably with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum.
• Use a damp mop and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth.
• Wash bedding in hot water (at least 130 degrees F) weekly.

It affects the hypopharynx, which surrounds the larynx. It’s the entry to the esophagus at the bottom of the throat. Like cancer of the larynx, it usually begins in the squamous cells that line the hypopharynx.

PREVENTION

• Consume alcohol in moderation
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Quit smoking

• Flu season in the U.S. ranges from November through March. It sometimes extends into early spring. Contagious viruses infect the nose, lungs, and throat and cause influenza. A person can spread the flu one day before experiencing symptoms, which include:
  • Chills
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Muscle aches

PREVENTION

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then discard it immediately.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you don’t have a tissue. Wash the garment you are wearing as soon as possible.
• If you get sick, the CDC recommends staying home and limiting contact with others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Use alcohol-based hand cleaners.

• This is cancer of the larynx (voice box), at the top of the windpipe. Laryngeal cancer affects 12,000 people each year, and 95% of cases begin in the vocal cords. Cancer can originate in any part of the larynx.
  • Glottis if it starts in the vocal cords
  • Supraglottis if it starts above the cords
  • Subglottis if it starts below the cords

PREVENTION

• Consume alcohol in moderation
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Quit smoking

These respiratory system illnesses are legionella bacteria infections. Legionellosis, meaning infection with legionella bacteria, has two different forms:

• Legionnaires’ disease. This is the more severe form of infection that includes pneumonia.
• Pontiac fever. A milder condition, generating flu-like symptoms without pneumonia.

PREVENTION

• When handling garden soils and potting mixes:
  • Keep the mix damp while in use.
  • Open bagged material carefully to avoid inhaling airborne particles in the mix.
  • Store potting mix in a cool place, out of the sun.
  • Wash your hands after use.
  • Wear gloves and a mask to help avoid inhaling aerosols.
• When using humidifiers and nebulizers
  • Rinse nebulizer bowls after each use. Wash the chamber and mask daily with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Allow it to air dry.
  • Service nebulizer pumps and change filters according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
  • Empty, clean, and rinse humidifiers in warm water and dishwashing liquid daily. Air dry all components.
  • Use only distilled water or boiled water that has cooled in humidification devices.

• It’s the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and its rates are declining for men and growing for women. Tobacco use causes 87% of lung cancer cases, from:
  • Cigarettes
  • Cigars
  • Pipes
  • Secondhand smoke

This lung cancer risk assessment can help you understand your risk factors. It’s based on National Cancer Institute guidelines.

PREVENTION

• Avoid carcinogens at work.
• Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Don’t smoke.
• Exercise most days of the week.
• Maintain a diet full of fruits and vegetables.
• Test your home for radon.

• It’s a chronic rheumatic condition. From it, inflammation impacts several parts of the body, including:
  • Blood
  • Heart
  • Joints
  • Kidneys
  • Lungs
  • Muscles
  • Nervous system
  • Skin

There are many types of lupus, including:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The most common and severe type. It involves many parts of the body.
• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE). It produces a skin rash that doesn’t go away.
• Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE). This results in skin sores on parts of the body exposed to the sun.
• Drug-induced Lupus. Medications cause this type.
• Neonatal Lupus.  A rare disorder that affects newborns.

PREVENTION

• Lupus is not preventable.

• An environmental element, mold multiplies through microscopic airborne spores. When spores land on wet surfaces, mold can grow there. Indoors or out, molds can trigger allergies in people who are sensitive to them.

PREVENTION

• Avoid walking through tall weeds or grasses
• Clean shower curtains and stalls often
• Clean trash cans
• Have someone else mow your lawn and rake the leaves
• Remove houseplants from your home
• Wear a mask when working outdoors where mold grows
• Use a dehumidifier

• Rare in North America. It accounts for a quarter of one percent of all cancers, and only 2% of head and neck cancers. It’s more common in:
  • Asia
  • North Africa
  • The Arctic

Eighteen percent of cancers in southeast China are nasopharyngeal.

PREVENTION

• Maintain a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
• Moderate consumption of salt-cured fish and meats.

• Rhinitis that doesn’t affect the immune system. Instead, it’s caused by irritants, including:
  • Fumes
  • Pollution
  • Smoke

Other causes of symptoms can include:

• Polyps
• Structural abnormalities
• Thyroid issues

PREVENTION

• Drink liquids.
• Blow your nose.
• Humidify.
• Rinse your nasal passages with:
  • Bulb syringe
  • Neti pot to irrigate your nasal passages
  • A squeeze bottle, such as the one included in saline kits

• Airway diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They pose a large public health threat. Occupational exposure to irritants accounts for 30% of COPD and adult asthma.

PREVENTION

• Check lung function with spirometry. It’s an evaluation of lung function performed in the doctor’s office. Do this as often as your doctor recommends to learn about your lung function.
• Don’t smoke.
• Wear proper protective devices, such as masks, when around airborne irritants and dust.

• It affects the middle of the throat, or oropharynx, including:
  • The base of the tongue
  • Soft palate
  • Tonsils

It’s rare, and risk factors include:

• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use
• Weakened immune system

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections cause some oropharyngeal cancers. See a doctor if you exhibit any of these symptoms:

• Constant sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Earaches
• A lump or lumps in the back of the mouth or throat
• Voice changes

PREVENTION

• Don’t smoke or use smokeless tobacco products.
• Limit alcohol consumption.

•  This affects the hollow spaces that surround the nose. Symptoms can include:
  • Clogged sinuses
  • Eye problems
  • Headaches in the region
  • Lumps in the nose
  • Nosebleeds
  • Pain in the upper teeth or dentures
  • Sores in the nose that won’t heal

To diagnose paranasal sinus cancer, a doctor might use:

• Biopsy
• CT scans
• Endoscopy
• MRI
• Pet scans
• Physical exam
• X-rays

PREVENTION

• Be aware of workplace health and safety rules and follow them.
• Don’t smoke.
• Limit your consumption of salted, preserved fish, especially for very young children.

• Also known as whooping cough. It comes from a bacterium and antibiotics are used to treat it. It’s contagious: Someone with pertussis coughing or sneezing in a room can spread it to others. The first signs include:
  • A low-grade fever
  • Coughing
  • Flu-like symptoms and a runny nose
  • Sneezing

PREVENTION

• Vaccination, at:
  • 2 months of age
  • 4 months
  • 6 months
  • 15 months
  • 4 to 6 years
  • 65 years

A child should be reassessed at age 11 or 12.

This is inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. Pleural surfaces are smooth and lubricated, but inflammation roughens them. This causes pain, especially in deep breathing and coughing.

PREVENTION

• Avoid contact with people with serious respiratory conditions.
• Avoid environmental exposure to materials such as asbestos.
• Wash your hands before touching your face or eating and after using the restroom.

An inflammation of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe. As the lungs fill with fluid, oxygen cannot reach the bloodstream. This can cause many problems that could result in death. Antibiotics have helped lessen the impact of pneumonia, once the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S.  

PREVENTION

• Get a flu shot every year.

When air collects in the pleural space, between the lungs and the chest wall. It stops the lungs from expanding when someone inhales, and the lung can collapse. Injury can cause it, but some people also experience spontaneous (primary) pneumothorax.

PREVENTION

• Don’t smoke.
• Follow standard precautions when scuba diving.

Also known as hay fever. Quite common in the U.S., pollen allergies affect 35 million people. Pollen is one of the most widespread allergens, and it is seasonal. Some people are allergic to pollen, mold, or dust. So symptoms can linger year-round for them.

PREVENTION

• Keep doors and windows closed
• Shower after being outside
• Take a vacation during the height of allergy season
• Use an air conditioner in your home and car
• Wear a mask when working outdoors

A blood clot lodged in the lung. It usually originates elsewhere in the body, and when it breaks free, it’s called an embolus. These can block a blood vessel and cause problems. Each year, 600,000 Americans get pulmonary embolisms and 60,000 die.

PREVENTION

• Avoid Tamoxifen and hormonal replacement therapy if possible.
• Consult a doctor if you are pregnant.
• Exercise.
• Take breaks on a long trip to get up and move around.

The blood pressure in the pulmonary artery exceeds normal levels. Normal mean pulmonary-artery pressure is 14 mmHg at rest. Pulmonary hypertension is more than 25 mmHg at rest and 30 mmHg during exercise. This results in increased resistance to blood flow in the vessels.

PREVENTION

• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Manage existing conditions, such as:
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic lung disease from tobacco use
  • Coronary heart disease
  • High blood pressure

It affects premature newborn babies. Their lungs aren’t developed and often don’t have surfactant, a foamy fluid that air sacs need to expand. This causes breathing difficulties.

PREVENTION

• Have surfactants administered at a child’s birth.
• If you’re at high risk for premature delivery, ask about hormone treatment. It can help promote lung development in the baby.

RSV causes infections in the breathing passages and lungs, mostly in infants and young children. It infects tens of thousands of kids every year. Nearly all American children have had RSV by age 3. Researchers are developing a vaccine.

PREVENTION

• Don’t share cups and utensils
• Keep infants away from people who have cold symptoms
• Wash hands and toys frequently with soap and water

Also known as hay fever, pollen from plain-looking plants causes it. These allergies tend to recur at the same time each year when these plants pollinate. Trees usually pollinate in the spring, grasses in the summer, and many weeks in the fall.

PREVENTION

• Shower after being outside
• Keep doors and windows closed
• Wear a mask when working outdoors
• Use an air conditioner in your home and car
• Take a vacation during the height of allergy season

SARS usually starts with a fever greater than 100.4 degrees, as well as:

• Body aches
• Discomfort
• Headache

After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing. Some experience mild respiratory symptoms and most contract pneumonia.

PREVENTION

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.
• Contact your provider by phone if you have SARS.
• Create a travel health kit with first aid and medical supplies.
• Encourage people around you to cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.
• Identify in-country health care resources before you travel.
• Review your health insurance plan or add insurance to cover medical evacuation.
• Stay current on shots.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Visit your health care provider 4 to 6 weeks before traveling.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.

A chronic disease caused by too much collagen protein. Extra collagen results in the hardening and thickening of tissue. There is no known way to prevent this surplus production. 

There are two major types of scleroderma:

• Localized Scleroderma — The skin produces rigid, oval patches, lines, or streaks. It is most common in children. Often it improves or passes on its own. But the skin changes and damage that occur when the condition is active can be permanent. For some, it is severe and disabling.
• Systemic Scleroderma — Also called generalized scleroderma or systemic sclerosis. It involves connective tissue throughout the body. This includes:
  • Blood vessels
  • Esophagus
  • The gastrointestinal tract
  • Heart
  • Internal organs
  • Joints
  • Kidneys
  • Lungs
  • Muscles
  • Skin

PREVENTION

• Don’t smoke, and quit if you do.
• Dress warmly.

It’s a disorder that can be harmful or even fatal and affects millions of Americans. Breathing can stop for as long as 10 seconds at a time. Mouth and throat muscles relax and obstruct the airway. Or sometimes, the chest muscles and diaphragm don’t work.

PREVENTION

• Avoid taking sedatives such as anti-anxiety drugs or sleeping pills.
• Exercise.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Don’t drink before bedtime.
  Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking.
• Use a nasal decongestant or allergy medications.
• Sleep on your side or stomach.

 They have similar symptoms, but are different conditions.

• Sore throat — The medical term is pharyngitis. An assortment of causes is responsible, including:
  • Bacteria
  • Irritants such as air pollution and smoking
  • Post-nasal drainage
  • Viruses like those that cause colds
• Strep Throat — A distinct type of sore throat. A typical bacterium called Group A Streptococcus causes it. It’s more common in children than in adults. It can lead to severe difficulties if it is left untreated with antibiotics. 

PREVENTION

• Avoid irritants.
• Cover your mouth with an elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Don’t share personal items, such as drinking glasses or eating utensils.
• Drink fluids to keep the throat moist and prevent dehydration.
• Gargle with saltwater.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Humidify the air.
• Ingest comfort foods and beverages.
• Remain home while you’re sick.
• Suck on lozenges or hard candy.
• Wash your hands.

They are common and can be benign or malignant. The trachea (windpipe) is the tube that begins at the larynx (voice box) under the throat. Doctors sometimes find them while diagnosing asthma, COPD, or other conditions.

PREVENTION

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight for your:
  • Age
  • Body type
  • Gender

• Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Change your air filters and clean your home.
• Exercise to support your heart and lungs.
• Limit your exposure to air pollution.
• Quit smoking or using other tobacco products.

TB once caused more deaths than any other disease in the United States. Bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause it. TB can attack any part of the body. People who inhale TB bacteria usually develop lung problems. This bacteria can remain suspended in the air for several hours.

PREVENTION

• Ensure living areas get proper ventilation.
• Expose yourself to natural light — UV light kills the TB bacteria
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.