Respiratory illness
Respiratory illness
Respiratory illness (pronunciation: /rɪˈspɪrətɔːri ˈɪlnɪs/) refers to diseases that affect the lungs and other parts of the body's respiratory system.
Etymology
The term "respiratory" comes from the Latin respirare which means "to breathe". "Illness" is derived from the Old English ill meaning "not well" and ness meaning "state of".
Types of Respiratory Illness
There are several types of respiratory illnesses, including:
- Asthma: A chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs, causing them to inflame and narrow.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe.
- Pneumonia: An infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.
- Tuberculosis: A serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs.
- Lung cancer: A type of cancer that begins in the lungs.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of respiratory illnesses include:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
Treatment
Treatment for respiratory illnesses depends on the specific disease and its severity. It may include medication, physiotherapy, oxygen therapy, or in severe cases, surgery.
Prevention
Prevention strategies for respiratory illnesses include:
- Avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke
- Regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Regular hand washing to prevent infection
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Respiratory illness
- Wikipedia's article - Respiratory illness
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