When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty breathing. Millions of people in the U.S. have lung disease. If all types of lung disease are lumped together, it is the number three killer in the United States.
The term lung disease refers to many disorders affecting the lungs, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infections like influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis, lung cancer, and many other breathing problems.
National Women's Health Information Center
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Lung Disease(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/lung_disease.htm
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/lung_disease.htm
- JAMA Patient Page: Lung Disease(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/283/14/1922.pdf
- Long-Term Exposure to Incense Raises Cancer Risk(08/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68512.html
- Newly Discovered Air Pollutants May Cause Lung Problems(08/18/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68261.html
- Health Hazards in Household Cleaners Exposed(07/25/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67388.html
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Bronchoscopy
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bron/bron_whatis.html
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Bronchoscopy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bronchoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bronchoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm - Chest Pain, Acute(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/523.printerview.html
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Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cxray/cxray_whatis.html
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Chest X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=chestrad&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=chestrad
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Lung Function Tests(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/lft/lft_whatare.html
- Mediastinoscopy(Harvard Medical School) - http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/mediastinoscopy.htm
- Needle Biopsy of Lung (Chest) Nodules(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=nlungbiop
- Spirometry(National Lung Health Education Program) - http://www.nlhep.org/spirom1.html
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Thoracentesis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/thor/thor_whatis.html
- Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)(Harvard Medical School) - http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/video-assisted-thoracic-surgery.htm
- Chest Tube Thoracostomy(American Thoracic Society) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/education/patient-education/patient-education-materials/patient-information-series/chest-tube-thoracostomy.html
- Coping with Indoor Air Pollution(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/pollution/indoor/coping.cfm
- Forest Fires and Respiratory Health(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=36064
- Minimizing the Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/pollution/outdoor/minimizing/
- Particle Pollution and Your Health(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards) - http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=particle.cover
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation(American Thoracic Society) - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/clinical-information/pulmonary-rehabilitation/patient-information/pages/pulmonary-rehabilitation.html
- Rehabilitation for Lung and Airway Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec04/ch040/ch040a.html
- Breathing Techniques(National Jewish Health) - http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/wellness/breathing.aspx
- Home Oxygen Therapy(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/living/home_oxygen_therapy/
- Mechanical Ventilation(American Thoracic Society) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/education/patient-education/patient-education-materials/patient-information-series/resources/mechvent.swf
- Mechanical Ventilation: Beyond the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)(American College of Chest Physicians) - http://www.chestnet.org/patients/guides/mech_vent/
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Metered-Dose Inhaler: How to Use It Correctly(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/asthma/medications/040.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/asthma/medications/040.printerview.html
- Oxygen Therapy(American Thoracic Society) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.thoracic.org/sections/education/patient-education/patient-education-materials/patient-information-series/oxygen-therapy.html
- Respiratory Home Health Care(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/living/resp_home_care/
- About Chronic Beryllium Disease(National Jewish Health) - http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/occ-med/beryllium/about/beryllium/index.aspx
- Adenovirus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/adenovirus.html
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ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Ards/Ards_WhatIs.html
- Atelectasis (Collapsed Lung)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/atelectasis/AN00775/METHOD=print
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Bronchiectasis(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/brn/brn_whatis.html
- Cocci (Coccidioidomycosis)(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058829&content_id={0D3545C0-884A-4BB1-B703-362931E0B07B}¬oc=1
- Community-Acquired Pneumonia(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec04/ch042/ch042b.html
- Coughing up Blood (Hemoptysis): Is this Serious?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hemoptysis/AN00741/METHOD=print
- Flavorings-Related Lung Disease(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flavorings/
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Goodpasture's Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/goodpasture/
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060123&content_id={D69824EA-E8AF-4A88-ABF6-EF8138785B5C}¬oc=1
- Histoplasmosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/histoplasmosis_gi.html
- Hot Tub Lung: Am I at Risk?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hot-tub-lung/AN00660/METHOD=print
- Human Metapnemovirus (HMPV)(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060123&content_id={79BA4F72-3E44-4A58-8825-CEC2AF2A501A}¬oc=1
- Hyperinflated Lungs: What Does It Mean?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hyperinflated-lungs/AN00684/METHOD=print
- Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec04/ch050/ch050b.html
- Interstitial Lung Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/interstitial-lung-disease/DS00592/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Occupational Lung Disease(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060319&content_id={A234CDA5-0941-455E-98DF-A5C2CD9CB950}¬oc=1
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Occupational Respiratory Disease: Your Workplace and Your Lungs(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/safety/work/134.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/safety/work/134.printerview.html
- Pneumonitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pneumonitis/DS00962/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Pulmonary Edema(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pulmonary-edema/DS00412/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Respiratory Failure(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec04/ch055/ch055a.html
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Silicosis: Learn the Facts!(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-108/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/2004-108sp.html
- Cleaning of Portable Humidifiers and Vaporizers at Home(National Jewish Health) - http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/allergy/living/healthy/humidifiers.aspx
- New Department of Transportation Regulations for Passengers Using Oxygen Devices on Airplanes(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=3961901&content_id={B10E31C7-D238-4B04-A482-A6940BC1B376}¬oc=1
- Supplemental Oxygen on Commercial Air Carriers(UpToDate) - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=lung_dis/5339&title=COPD+(Chronic+obstructive+pulmonary+disease)
- Traveling with Oxygen(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.23052/
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Bronchoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bronchoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bronchoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Bubble CPAP Therapy for Newborns with Respiratory Distress Syndrome(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 11/06/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=361
Also available in Spanish http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM-Spanish/nep_1771/rnh_sp.cfm
- Titanium Rib Procedure(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=227
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Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib Procedure(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 11/01/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=368
- Video Assisted Thoracoscopy Lung Resection(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=224
- Atlas of the Body: The Respiratory System -- Structure Detail(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ8PPLCGJC&sub_cat=285
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How the Lungs Work(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hlw/hlw_what.html
- Learn about Your Respiratory System(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=40743
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Lung Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Lung+Diseases%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Respiratory+Distress+Syndrome,+Adult%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=birthoggdubesyndrome
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Air Pollution and Respiratory Disease(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/impacts/respiratory.cfm
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Air pollution threatens the health of children in China. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18762533&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Patients' understanding of the reasons for starting and discontinuing inhaled... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18717916&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Advances in upper airway diseases and allergen immunotherapy in 2007. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18694591&tool=MedlinePlus
- Lung Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(pleural+diseases[majr:noexp]+OR+bronchial+diseases[majr:noexp]+OR+respiratory+tract+diseases[majr:noexp]+OR+respiratory+distress+syndrome,adult[majr]+OR+respiratory+distress+syndrome,newborn[majr]+OR+pneumothorax[majr]+OR+pleurisy[majr]+OR+atelectasis[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary (Lungs)(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=40415
- American College of Chest Physicians - http://www.chestnet.org/
- American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org/
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- African Americans and Lung Disease(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058817&content_id={F40C292C-8434-4A8B-88D7-623D8DADC8D5}¬oc=1
- Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders and Lung Disease(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058817&content_id={67548ED6-C892-4904-A1FD-A0961FF9470D}¬oc=1
- Hispanics and Lung Disease(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=4294229&ct=67264
- Lung Disease Data: 2008(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.4136273/k.16D5/Lung_Disease_Data_2008.htm
- Native Americans/Alaska Natives and Lung Disease(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058817&content_id={2ED27F15-F5A1-40A8-B80E-4FC0E86ABD86}¬oc=1
- State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=308853
- Adenovirus Infections(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site767/mainpageS767P0.html
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Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Bpd/Bpd_WhatIs.html
- Healthy Living: Helping Your Child Breathe Easier(American Association for Respiratory Care) - http://www.yourlunghealth.org/healthy_living/young/breathe/
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Lungs and Respiratory System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/lungs.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/lungs_esp.html
- Meconium Aspiration(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/meconium.html
- Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060321&content_id={480D5BF6-41F2-49C3-ADD4-D42666135FEE}¬oc=1
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Respiratory Distress Syndrome(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/rds/rds_whatis.html
- Respiratory Tract Infections: Viral Infections(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch273/ch273i.html
- Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/ttn.html
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Your Lungs and Respiratory System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/lungs.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/lungs_esp.html
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Lungs and Respiratory System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/lungs.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/lungs_esp.html
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LAM(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/lam/lam_whatis.html
- Breathing Problems - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breathingproblems.html
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copdchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.html
- Pleural Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pleuraldisorders.html
- Pneumonia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pneumonia.html
- Pulmonary Embolism - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pulmonaryembolism.html
- Pulmonary Fibrosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pulmonaryfibrosis.html
- Pulmonary Hypertension - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pulmonaryhypertension.html
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/respiratorysyncytialvirusinfections.html
- Lungs and Breathing - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lungsandbreathing.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Lung Diseases is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Lung Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/lungdiseases.html