World 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 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 MoreIf you have a lung condition such as COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, or another chronic respiratory disease, you may already be careful about avoiding infections. One infection that deserves particular attention is influenza, commonly called the flu. For someone with healthy lungs, influenza may cause fever, cough, body aches and tiredness. But in a…
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