What does a respiratory allergy look like? Along with allergic asthma, there is a range of airborne allergens that commonly cause respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightness in your chest and difficulty breathing. Allergies occur in the upper respiratory system and go hand-in-hand with nasal congestion, sinus pain, and nasal drip, which can cause …
A chest infection affects the lower respiratory tract, usually the trachea, bronchi and lungs. Chest infections are caused by bacteria or viruses and in very seldom cases, fungi. There is commonly a build-up of mucus and inflammation of the airways, causing difficulty breathing. They are contracted when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing respiratory …
What is a lung functions test? A lung functions test, otherwise known as a pulmonary function test (PFT) is a variety of non-invasive tests done to evaluate the lungs in terms of lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange, providing your physician with the necessary data to make a diagnosis and determine whether …
What could be the real cause for these symptoms? Fatigue is a lingering tiredness that is constant and limiting. It is common to be tired if you have the flu, a cold or viral infection, but when tiredness lingers with no identifiable cause, chronic fatigue can affect daily functioning and productivity and may be a …
What are sleep studies? A sleep study, otherwise known polysomnography, encompasses a range of tests done to monitor sleeping patterns and the activity of the brain and body during sleep including brain waves, the blood’s oxygen level, heart rate and breathing. Sleep studies are useful for diagnosing various sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnoea, periodic …
What is lung ultrasound? A chest or lung ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic test done to visualize the organs and structures within the chest, including the lungs, heart, aorta and trachea as well as the pleural space. Ultrasound provides a quick visualization of the organs, which in this case, may be useful to make a …
What is a bronchoscopy? A bronchoscopy is done by your physician to examine the airways using a thin, flexible tube-like instrument fitted with a light and a camera. This camera allows him to view the airways, including the larynx, trachea, and the smaller airways of your lungs, the bronchi and bronchioles, on a monitor and …
Lung cancer, like all other types of cancer, develops as a result of an abnormality in the body’s cells. Tumours can be malignant or benign, but when we speak of cancer, we are referring to the malignant tumours. Tumours in the lung can be primary or secondary. In cases where the tumour is primary, these …
What is interstitial lung disease, and what causes it? Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a group of lung conditions which affect the interstitium of the lungs. The interstitium is a lace-like network of tissue which supports the tiny air sacs within the lungs, known as the alveoli. When air is inhaled, it goes through the …
What is obstructive sleep apnoea and what causes it? Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder and respiratory condition in which the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, causing interruptions in breathing. Breathing is interrupted by repeated episodes of apnoea and hypopnoea throughout the night, in which apnoea refers to …
