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 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 …
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 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 …
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 respiratory failure, and what causes it? Respiratory failure is characterized by the inability of the lungs to exchange gases. This means that the lungs are unable to remove carbon dioxide from the body or provide the body with oxygen-rich blood. Acute respiratory failure is a serious illness as oxygen cannot reach the heart, …
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. It is caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, second-hand smoke, air pollution and workplace exposure to dust, smoke or fumes as well as conditions such as emphysema and bronchitis. Emphysema causes destruction of …
Asthma is a chronic airway condition which is when the bronchial tubes become inflames, making it difficult for air to flow through these airways. The cause of asthma is known to be a condition of environmental and genetic factors and is worsened when exposed to various irritants, known as triggers. When triggers are encountered asthma …
