Cough types explained and how to know when yours is serious
Most coughs fall into one of two categories based on how long they last. An acute cough comes on suddenly, usually tied to a cold, flu, or respiratory infection, and resolves within three weeks. A chronic one is one that sticks around for more than eight weeks and often points to an underlying condition that […]
Why COPD and pneumonia are hitting Black Americans harder
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, and pneumonia frequently occur together, and when they do, the combination is dangerous. For Black Americans, systemic barriers to care make that danger significantly harder to navigate. The numbers that exist tell part of the story, but experts say the more serious problem is the patients those […]
Smoking is slowly stealing the lungs you still have
The damage builds quietly, but so does the power to stop it — here is what every smoker needs to know before the next cigarette He looks composed — suit on, phone in hand, cigarette between his fingers. From the outside, everything seems fine. But inside, with every inhale, a slow and silent war is […]
Asthma triggers are hiding in 4 places inside your home that most people never think to check
Asthma triggers are the conversation that happens at the doctor’s office and then gets largely forgotten the moment the prescription is filled. Most people managing asthma focus on their medication, which is appropriate, without giving equal attention to the environments they occupy for the majority of their waking and sleeping hours. New research is making […]
Nasal irrigation works on the common cold and the proof is piling up
It begins with a faint scratchiness at the back of the throat. Then a sneeze, some sniffling and before long, full-blown congestion that makes the next several days feel like a slow-motion slog. The common cold strikes most adults roughly three times a year and tends to linger for about nine days on average. Antibiotics […]
Thunderstorm asthma turns a summer storm into a serious health threat for millions
Most people assume rain is good news for allergy sufferers. And in many cases, that assumption holds. On calm, rainy days, precipitation has a rinsing effect, washing pollen from the air and lowering overall counts. Warmer, windier days tend to push pollen higher, while a gentle rain brings it down. Thunderstorms, however, operate by an […]
Dry cough keeping you up at night? Here’s why it happens
A dry cough that worsens at night is one of those symptoms that feels minor until it isn’t. It interrupts sleep, strains the throat, and can persist for weeks without an obvious explanation. The frustrating part is that several different conditions can produce the same symptom, which means guessing at a remedy without identifying the […]
Why Obesity makes it harder to breathe
When people with excess body weight find themselves short of breath during ordinary activity or even at rest, the tendency is to attribute it to poor cardiovascular fitness. The reality is more complex. Obesity can physically alter how the lungs function, restrict their ability to expand and trigger systemic inflammation that compounds breathing difficulties over […]