Respiratory Archives - Page 174 of 175

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) or hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis is a widespread disease of the lungs, involving inflammation in both the small airways of the lung and the alveoli (air sacs). It is not dissimilar to asthma, but the latter involves the bronchi and bronchioles. It is...

Pulmonary oedema

Pulmonary oedema is a disease of the lung. The lungs essentially provide the interface between air and blood. The lungs consist of a series of folded membranes (the alveoli), which are located at the ends of very fine branching air passages (bronchioles). Blood which arrives into...

Doctor and patient looking an x-ray image

Pleural effusion

A pleural effusion is a disease of the lung. The pleura are thin films of connective tissue, which line both the outer surface of the lungs, and the inside of the chest cavity. The relationship of the pleura to the lungs and chest can be imagined as if the pleura were a balloon...

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a disease of the lung. The lung is composed of large airways (bronchi), which progressively divide and become smaller airways (bronchioles), which eventually terminate as 'alveoli' - the small folded membranes, shaped like a bunch of grapes where gas exchange...

Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the lungs. People with asthma experience episodes of asthma, or asthma attacks. This occurs when there is a narrowing and inflammation of the airways, which makes it harder to breathe. Asthma is an extremely common disease, and is the most common chronic...

Common cold

Common Cold: The common cold is an acute infection of the throat and nasal passages. It may be caused by several different viruses, the most common of which are rhinoviruses. The term 'common cold' refers to a set of symptoms, rather than a specific disease.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a disease of the lungs. The pleura are thin films of "connective tissue", which line both the outer surface of the lungs, and the inside of the chest cavity. The relationship of the pleura to the lungs and chest can be imagined as if the pleura were a balloon...