Lung & Respiratory Resource Center - All Articles
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Lung & Respiratory - All Articles

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Respiratory health supports your breathing and addresses disorders and injuries involving the lungs and airways. Asthma, COPD, lung cancer, pneumonia, and other respiratory conditions can cause a range of symptoms that affect breathing.

 Treatment varies based on the specific condition and may involve medication, oxygen therapy, medical procedures, or surgery. Avoiding pollutants and smoking, exercising, and getting regular checkups are central to lung health.

FAQ

What are common respiratory symptoms?

A chronic cough, breathlessness, chest pain, excess mucus, wheezing, and coughing up blood may indicate a respiratory condition. Seeing a doctor about these before they become severe can help you treat lung diseases before they become serious or life-threatening.

Smoking damages the airways and increases your risk of COPD, lung cancer, and other types of cancers. Secondhand smoke can lead to asthma if children or infants inhale it. Quitting smoking can help you reduce your risk of lung disease.

Allergies to pollen, animal dander, dust mites, or ragweed often trigger asthma and other respiratory issues. Anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction, can make breathing difficult or extremely rapid in the short term.

Doctors often test lung function through spirometry, which shows the speed and volume at which your lungs can expel air. Other breathing tests include the lung volume test, the lung diffusion capacity test, and exercise tests.

Protecting yourself against indoor and outdoor air pollution, quitting or avoiding smoking, and regular exercise benefit lung health. Take steps to avoid allergy triggers if you have asthma. Regular checkups can help you catch any underlying respiratory issues early on.

Meet Our Experts In Lung & Respiratory
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Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.

Rohan Mankikar, MD

Medical Reviewer

Rohan Mankikar, MD, is the chief of pulmonary medicine at Huntington Hospital and practices on Long Island. Originally from New Jersey, Dr. Mankikar studied medicine at The Medical...

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Paul Boyce, MD, MPH

Paul Boyce, MD, MPH

Paul Boyce, MD, MPH, is the medical director of the pulmonary hypertension program at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. He is a board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist, and his ...

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Philip Diaz, MD

Philip Diaz, MD, is a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care specialist and a professor of medicine at The Ohio State University. He specializes in caring for patients wit...

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Niya Jones, MD, MPH

Medical Reviewer

Niya Jones, MD, MPH, is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a special interest in cardiology, particularly as it relates to health care disparities and women's healt...

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Walter Tsang, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Walter Tsang, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, hematologist, and lifestyle medicine specialist. Inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophy of yang sheng ("nourishing li...
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chung-yoon-bio

Chung Yoon, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
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Jessica-Lee-bio

Jessica Lee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn mo...
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Grant Chu, MD, MS, MBA, FACP

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the ...

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David Mannino, MD

Medical Reviewer

David Mannino, MD, is the chief medical officer at the COPD Foundation. He has a long history of research and engagement in respiratory health.

After completing medical training as ...

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Michael-S-Niederman-bio

Michael S. Niederman, MD

Medical Reviewer
From NewYork-Presbyterian, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Michael S. Niederman, MD, is the lead academic and patient quality officer in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City;...

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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Warning Signs of Lung Disease. American Lung Association. November 20, 2024.
  2. Protecting Your Lungs. American Lung Association. November 20, 2024.

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