What are respiratory conditions?             

Respiratory conditions are types of disorders that affect the respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity, throat, trachea, larynx, bronchi, and lungs.

Types of respiratory conditions include the following:

• Asthma is a long-term respiratory disease that affects anyone regardless of age. Asthma arises when the airways become inflamed and begin to constrict, making it challenging to breathe. Typical signs of asthma include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a collection of respiratory disorders that disrupt airflow, making breathing challenging. COPD encompasses respiratory disorders such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Common signs of COPD include coughing with traces of phlegm, lethargy and difficulty breathing.
• Pulmonary fibrosis is a respiratory disease that impacts the tissue surrounding the air sacs of the lungs, also known as the alveoli. As a result, the alveoli can thicken and become scarred and damaged. A genetic predisposition to pulmonary fibrosis and smoking increases the likelihood of the condition.
• Pneumonia occurs due to inflammation and fluid build-up in the lungs. Pneumonia may arise due to the presence of a viral, fungal or bacterial infection. Common signs of pneumonia include lethargy, fast-paced breathing, racing heart rate, pain in the chest, poor appetite, blue nails, lips and skin, fever and chills.
• Lung cancer develops when cells within the lungs mutate, multiplying at an abnormal rate. Signs of lung cancer include a worsening cough that doesn’t seem to improve, poor appetite, sudden weight loss, lethargy and coughing up blood-red sputum.

What are the signs of respiratory conditions?

• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing and spitting out phlegm
• Fever
• Crackling noises emanating from the lungs