Lungs and Airways
Learn about your lungs and airways
Healthy lungs allow you to breathe easily, without discomfort or pain. They supply oxygen to your bloodstream to keep the rest of your body healthy. When your lungs are healthy, you're more likely to be able to do the activities you love and have a good quality of life.
But some people have problems with their lungs from smoking, disease, or infection. When your lungs are unhealthy, your entire body and activity level can suffer. It's important to know how to deal with certain lung conditions so you can stay active and do the things you enjoy.
Our topics can help you learn more about lung and airway conditions and treatments. To start, explore these lung and airway topics:
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Chest X-Ray -
Coughs, Age 12 and Older -
Pneumonia -
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) -
Tuberculosis
7 Reasons You May Need a COVID-19 Viral Test Acute Bronchitis Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Allergies: Controlling Cockroaches Allergy Shots for Asthma Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Genetic Testing Altitude Sickness Anthrax Asbestos and Lung Cancer Assessing Your Asthma Knowledge Asthma Action Plan Asthma Action Plan: Red Zone Asthma and GERD Asthma and Vocal Cord Problems Asthma and Wheezing Asthma Attack Asthma Diary Asthma During Pregnancy Asthma in Children Asthma in Children: Knowing How Bad an Attack Is Asthma in Teens and Adults Asthma Treatment Goals Asthma Zones Asthma: Educating Yourself and Your Child Asthma: How to Overcome Treatment Obstacles Asthma: Overcoming Obstacles to Taking Medicines Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines Asthma: Peak Expiratory Flow and Personal Best Asthma: Symptoms of Difficulty Breathing Asthma: Ways to Take Inhaled Medicines Asthma's Impact on Your Child's Life Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Avoiding Smoking Triggers Belly-Breathing (Diaphragmatic Breathing) Black Lung Disease Breathing Smoke or Fumes Broken Rib Bronchiectasis Bronchiolitis Bullectomy for COPD Cal's Story: Learning to Exercise When You Have COPD Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Causes of Hyperventilation Chest Problems Child Safety: Air Pollution Choking Rescue for Babies Choking Rescue Procedure: Heimlich Maneuver Chronic Illness: Help for Caregivers Chronic Lung Disease in Infants Colds Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) Committing to Quitting: Your Quit-Tobacco Plan Common Questions About the Flu Vaccine Comparing Stop-Smoking Medicines Conserving Your Energy Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) COPD Action Plan COPD and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Deficiency COPD and Sex COPD Flare-Ups COPD: Handling a Flare-Up COPD: Lung Volume Reduction COPD's Effect on the Lungs Coronavirus (COVID-19) Coughs, Age 11 and Younger Coughs, Age 12 and Older COVID-19 or Flu? How to Tell COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know COVID-19: Advice if You're Planning a Pregnancy, Pregnant, Recently Pregnant, or Breastfeeding COVID-19: Caring for Someone Who Is Sick COVID-19: People Who Are at High Risk for Serious Illness Croup Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Screening Deciding to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Difference Between the Flu and a Cold Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) Environmental Illness Exercise-Induced Asthma Flu Complications Forced Expiratory Volume and Forced Vital Capacity Fran's Story: Finding Support When You Have COPD Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing Heimlich Maneuver for Adults and Children Older Than 1 Year Hiccups Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (Nosocomial Pneumonia) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hyperventilation Influenza (Seasonal Flu) Inhaled Corticosteroids for Asthma Inhaled Quick-Relief Medicines for Asthma Interactive Tool: How Does Smoking Affect Your Lifespan? Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever Linda's Story: Quitting Smoking Lowers My Risk Living With More Than One Health Problem Long COVID Lung Cancer Lung Cancer and Other Lung Problems From Smoking Lung Function in COPD Lung Surgery for Lung Cancer Lung Transplant Lung Transplant for Cystic Fibrosis Making It Easier to Wear a Mask to Help Prevent Infections Managing Cravings When You're Quitting Tobacco Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Mpox Multi-Organ Transplants Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) My Asthma Action Plan My Reasons to Quit Smoking Nancy's Story: Quitting Smoking Takes More Than Willpower Nate's Story: Sick of Smoking Ned's Story: Quitting Smoking Nonfatal Drowning Normal Vital Signs for Adults Occupational Asthma Omalizumab for Asthma Oral Breathing Devices for Sleep Apnea and Snoring Organ Transplant Oxygen Therapy Oxygen Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Physical Therapy Pleural Effusion Pleurisy Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What You Need to Know Pneumocystis Pneumonia and AIDS Pneumonia Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving Pulmonary (Lung) Nodules Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary Fibrosis Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary Rehabilitation Quick Tips: 10 Things to Do if You Have COVID-19 Quick Tips: 9 Things to Do if You've Been Exposed to COVID-19 Quit-Smoking Programs Quitting Smoking Quitting Smoking or Vaping During Pregnancy Quitting Smoking: How Family and Friends Can Help Radon Recommitting to Staying Tobacco-Free Relieving a Cough Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection Risks of Smoking Cigars and Pipes RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine: What You Need to Know Sarah's Story: Dealing With the Emotions From COPD Sarcoidosis Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Sleep Apnea Smallpox Smoking and Coronary Artery Disease Smoking Fewer Cigarettes Smoking: Choosing a Good Time to Quit Smoking: Health Risk for Family Members Smoking: Problems With Pregnancy Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Spinal Cord Injury: Abdominal Thrust Assist (Assisted Cough) Spinal Cord Injury: Costophrenic Assist (Assisted Cough) Spinal Cord Injury: Self-Assisted Cough Steroid Medicine for Asthma: Myths and Facts Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Swallowed or Inhaled Objects Tests for Lung Infections Tips for Reducing Indoor Pollutants in Your Home Tobacco Use Disorder Tobacco Use in Teens Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring Tracheostomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Track Your Tobacco Use Traveling With Oxygen Tuberculosis (TB) Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Understanding Virtual Care (Telemedicine) Using a Pulse Oximeter Using Vaporizers and Humidifiers Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Vaccine to Prevent COVID-19 Vaccines to Prevent the Flu Valley Fever Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Younger-Looking and Healthier Body After Quitting Smoking
Angiogram Angiogram of the Lung Arterial Blood Gases (ABG) Test Bronchoscopy Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Test Carbon Monoxide (CO) Test Challenge Tests for Asthma Chest X-Ray Cold Agglutinins Test Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body Home Lung Function Test Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test Lung Biopsy Lung Cancer Screening: Low-Dose Spiral CT Scan Lung Function Tests Lung Scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Mediastinoscopy Nicotine Tests Rapid Sputum Tests for Tuberculosis (TB) Sleep Studies Sputum Culture Sputum Cytology Thoracentesis Tuberculin Skin Test Viral Test for COVID-19
Advance Care Planning: Should I Receive CPR and Life Support? Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots? Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies? Flu Vaccines: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine? Lung Cancer: Should I Have Screening? Quitting Smoking: Should I Use Medicine? Sleep Apnea: Should I Have a Sleep Study? Sleep Apnea: Should I Have Surgery?
Allergies: Avoiding Indoor Triggers Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers Asthma: Finding Your Triggers Asthma: Identifying Your Triggers Asthma: Measuring Peak Flow Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma Asthma: Using an Asthma Action Plan Breathing Exercises: Using a Manual Incentive Spirometer Breathing Problems: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer Breathing Problems: Using a Dry Powder Inhaler Breathing Problems: Using a Metered-Dose Inhaler COPD: Avoiding Weight Loss COPD: Avoiding Your Triggers COPD: Clearing Your Lungs COPD: Keeping Your Diet Healthy COPD: Using Exercise to Feel Better Cystic Fibrosis: Helping Your Child Cough Up Mucus Lung Problems: Learning to Breathe Easier Oxygen Therapy: Using Oxygen at Home Preventing Choking in Small Children Quitting Smoking: Coping With Cravings and Withdrawal Quitting Smoking: Dealing With Weight Gain Quitting Smoking: Getting Support Quitting Smoking: Helping Someone Quit Quitting Smoking: Preventing Slips or Relapses
Current as of: August 6, 2023
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