When 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 MoreSeptember 2026 is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase awareness about pulmonary fibrosis and help patients and families better understand this group of lung diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring of the lung tissue, making the lungs stiffer and making it more difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. One of the best-known…
Read MoreWhen people have a persistent cough, they often think the problem must be coming from the lungs. But acid reflux can also cause or contribute to chronic cough. Reflux occurs when stomach contents move back up into the esophagus. In some people, reflux can trigger coughing through irritation of the throat and esophagus or through…
Read MoreCompleting treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a major step toward recovery. Most people who receive an appropriate treatment regimen and complete it as prescribed are successfully cured. However, TB can occur again in some people after treatment. If you previously completed TB treatment and later develop symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever, night…
Read MoreWhen you start treatment for tuberculosis (TB), you may be given several medicines that need to be taken for several months. You may start feeling better after a few weeks and wonder: “If I am feeling better, why do I still need blood tests and regular check-ups?” The answer is simple: Because TB treatment needs…
Read MoreWhen a doctor tells someone, “You have COPD,” one of the first questions is often: “But I have never smoked. How can I have COPD?” It is a reasonable question. Smoking is the most important individual risk factor for COPD in many populations, but smoking is not the only way COPD can develop. The 2026…
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