Feeling breathless after a short walk? Getting tired more easily than before? These symptoms can have many causes, but sometimes they may be linked to pulmonary hypertension. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, you may have questions about what it means, how serious it is, and what treatment can…
Read MoreHave you ever felt breathless while climbing stairs, walking a short distance or doing everyday household tasks? Do you have a persistent cough that never seems to go away? While these symptoms can have several causes, they may sometimes be signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term lung condition that makes breathing difficult.…
Read MoreFever, body aches, cough, sore throat and tiredness can make you wonder whether you have influenza. However, having flu-like symptoms does not necessarily mean you have influenza (the flu). Several respiratory viruses can cause similar symptoms, and it is not always possible to identify the infection from symptoms alone. Understanding the possible causes of flu-like…
Read MoreWorld Chronic Cough Day is observed on 15 October to raise awareness of persistent cough, its impact on everyday life, and the importance of appropriate diagnosis and care. The 2026 campaign theme is “Let’s Talk About Cough.” The campaign encourages people living with chronic cough to share their experiences, seek medical advice and help others…
Read MoreIf your chest X-ray or CT scan shows fluid around the lungs, you may wonder what it means, whether it is dangerous, and whether the fluid needs to be removed. Fluid around the lungs is medically known as a pleural effusion. It occurs when excess fluid collects in the space between the lung and the…
Read MoreWhen people think about pneumonia, they often expect fever, chills, and feeling very unwell. But pneumonia does not always cause a high temperature. In some patients, pneumonia can be present without fever, and this can sometimes make the infection harder to recognize. If you have been diagnosed with pneumonia but do not have a fever,…
Read MoreIf you have a lung condition such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, or another chronic respiratory disease, influenza can be more than just a few days of fever and body aches. Flu can affect the lungs and may trigger worsening of an existing lung condition. For people with asthma and chronic lung disease, influenza…
Read MoreIf you have a lung condition, you may have seen or been advised to use a small device called an incentive spirometer. It is commonly used in hospitals and during recovery from illness or surgery. But what exactly does it do? Can it improve your breathing? And does everyone with a lung disease need to…
Read MoreIf you have asthma and have been prescribed a beta blocker, you may wonder whether you should stop it because of your asthma medicines. Beta blockers are used for several different conditions. They may be prescribed for heart problems or high blood pressure, but they can also be used for irregular heart rhythms, migraine prevention,…
Read MoreIf you have asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, or another lung condition and are preparing for surgery, your doctor may recommend pulmonary function testing (PFT) or spirometry before the operation. Many patients wonder why a breathing test is necessary when the surgery may have nothing to do with the lungs. The reason is simple:…
Read More