Respiratory Problems

Coughing and Other Respiratory Symptoms Improve Within Weeks of Smoking Cessation

If the proven long-term benefits of smoking cessation are not enough to motivate young adults to stop smoking, a new study shows that 18-…    

Assessment of COPD exacerbation severity with the COPD Assessment Test

Exacerbation severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be reliably assessed with the COPD Assessment Test™ (CAT), according to a new…    

Surprising results from smoke inhalation study

A Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine study includes some unexpected findings about the immune systems of smoke-inhalation patients.

Contrary to…    

Pot smokers don’t puff away lung health: study

A few hits on the bong now and then don’t seem to have any detrimental effects on lung health, suggests a new study.

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Statins May Increase Risk of Interstitial Lung Abnormalities in Smokers

Use of statins may influence susceptibility to or the progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in smokers, according to a new study.

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Arsenic in water tied to breathing issues

People in Bangladesh exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water were more likely to report shortness of breath in a new study…    

Daily Wheezing Treatment No Different from Intermittent in Toddlers

Pediatricians often treat young children who have frequent bouts of wheezing with a daily dose of an inhaled steroid to keep asthma symptoms at…    

Researchers identify potential risk factors for severe altitude sickness

Measuring specific, exercise-related responses can help physicians determine who may be more at risk for severe high altitude illness (SHAI), according to a study…    

Underweight COPD patients at higher risk of death

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a higher risk of death if they are underweight.

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Heart drug offers possible treatment for patients facing respiratory failure

Treatment with the calcium-sensitizing drug levosimendan may be effective in improving muscle function in patients with respiratory muscle weakness, which often accompanies chronic diseases…    

Experts offer pointers for optimizing radiation dose in chest CT

An article in the September issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology summarizes methods for radiation dose optimization in chest computed…    

Statins reduce deaths from infection and respiratory illness, 8 years on from trial

The death rate among patients prescribed a statin in a major trial that ended in 2003 is still lower than those given a placebo,…    

Study highlights respiratory disorders prevalent in the Middle East

Lung diseases in the Middle East range from the centuries-old pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) to modern manifestations caused by chemical warfare. A new paper now…    

Intranasal corticosteroid treatment appears beneficial for children with obstructive sleep apnea

Using a fluticasone furoate nasal spray for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children appears to reduce production of certain inflammatory cell proteins that…    

Black lung disease seen rising in U.S. miners

Black lung disease, long a killer of coal miners, is on the rise again after retreating in the 30 years since Congress passed tougher…    

Chinese herbal paste may help prevent exacerbations of COPD

A traditional Chinese herbal paste known as Xiao Chuan, or XCP, may help reduce winter exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to…    

Vitamin D improves exercise outcomes in patients with COPD

Vitamin D supplements may help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get more from their pulmonary rehabilitation programs, according to a study conducted…    

Smokers undergo the same changes in gene expression as patients with COPD

’Healthy’ smokers experience changes in the gene expression of their lungs similar to that suffered by smokers who have developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease…    

When the lungs come under pressure

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension struggle with severe symptoms, which include shortness of breath, exhaustion and a lack of vitality. Moreover, the disease, which…    

Simple Exercise Improves Lung Function in Children with CF

A small Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study of children and teens with cystic fibrosis (CF) shows that simple exercise, individually tailored to each patient’s…    

BPA exposure may be associated with wheezing in children

Exposure to the chemical bisphenol A during early pregnancy may be associated with wheezing in children, according to a Penn State College of Medicine…    

Delhi air quality regulations improve respiratory health

Recent radical changes in air quality regulations in Delhi, India, have had a substantial positive effect on the health of city residents, according to…    

Pneumonia death rates lower in statin users

Taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as Pfizer’s Lipitor and AstraZeneca’s Crestor could help prevent people dying from pneumonia, according to a study by British…    

Simple blood test detects early emphysema in smokers before symptoms appear

During a regular annual physical exam, blood is usually drawn to check the health of a person’s heart, kidneys and liver. Now, researchers at…    

Viral infection not responsible for exacerbation of lung disease in most patients

Acute viral infection does not appear to be a primary cause of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive, deadly disease resulting…