Asthma (or bronchial asthma) is a lung disease caused by narrowing of the bronchi, which causes breathing difficulties. It is characterised by the presence of breathlessness, cough, chest tightness, and sometimes excess phlegm. It can be related to allergies, with related rhinitis and sneezing. Asthma can affect all ages, but usually begins in childhood as a reaction to certain stimuli that produce allergy (pollen, dust mites, skin particles of some pets, cold air, some foods or food additives). Other agents can also trigger occupational asthma in some trades or professions (bakers, farmers, millers, manufacturers of detergents, carpenters, plastic manufacturers, laboratory workers, etc.). People with asthma may need further investigations with blood tests, chest X-ray and allergy tests.
Most coughs cause discomfort, but they usually serve a use – when we cough, we expel germs, mucus and foreign material from our lungs. Most only last a short time. However, sometimes they linger for weeks or even months.
A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts for eight weeks or longer in adults or over four weeks in children. They can potentially be very disruptive to the patient’s life, interrupting sleep and leading to fatigue, and in severe cases, they can cause vomiting, light-headedness, and even rib fractures.
The cough itself is a symptom of an underlying condition, but it may be accompanied by other symptoms, some of which may be a result of the coughing.
There are several things that can cause a chronic cough:
In rarer cases the following can also be responsible:
When a cough lasts for more than a few weeks, it is worth having it checked out by a doctor. If you cough up blood, or experience weight loss, fever, or trouble sleeping, you should consult your GP or a specialist.
Treatment for chronic cough depends largely on the cause, as treatment tends to be targeted at the underlying illness, rather than the symptom. For example, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, while asthma could be treated with steroids and/or bronchodilators. If you have a chronic cough, consult a doctor and follow their advice.
Specialists in pulmonary and respiratory medicine and otolaryngologists may both treat chronic cough, and other specialties may be involved, depending on the underlying cause.
Chest infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and more rarely other organisms. They cause fever, breathlessness, fatigue, and occasionally coughing up blood.
Bronchiolitis is a viral disease characterised by swelling of the small airways. Runny nose, cough and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms. It can develop in both children and adults. However, in adult smokers it can cause serious breathing difficulties that must be treated with care.
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs caused by infection. Primarily affecting the alveoli – small air sacs deep in the lungs, where oxygen passes into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide passes out back into the lungs – pneumonia is when these air sacs become inflamed and fill with fluid.
What many people don’t realise is that pneumonia is not a specific type of infection, but rather an effect that can be created by several causes, mainly bacteria or viruses.
The severity can vary, with some patients – particularly babies, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems or other diseases – becoming very ill. Some may need hospital treatment, and for some, it can even prove fatal.
As the alveoli are filled with fluid, pneumonia can cause difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Other common signs of pneumonia include:
Less commonly, patients may experience:
Many types of bacteria, viruses and even some fungi can cause pneumonia. The most common cause is infection by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia. Other culprits include:
Those at a greater risk of catching pneumonia include babies, elderly people, smokers, people with compromised immune systems (such as those with HIV or AIDS, or people who have recently had flu), and people with other chronic health issues, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or heart disease.
While most cases of pneumonia are bacterial in nature and aren’t contagious, you can reduce the risk of it spreading by maintaining good standards of hygiene, for example, by covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, throwing away tissues immediately (germs can survive for hours after leaving your body), and washing your hands regularly.
Avoiding smoking and reducing alcohol intake can help to maintain your lungs and their natural defences, as smoking and drinking can leave them weakened.
People with a higher risk of infection are advised to have the pneumococcal vaccine and flu vaccine.
Milder cases of pneumonia may be treated at home with plenty of rest and fluids, and by taking antibiotics (if appropriate – consult your doctor first!). For serious cases, the patient may need to be hospitalised, and treated by doctors there.
The speed of recovery depends on the individual case. It is not uncommon for recovery to take weeks, and even months for all the symptoms (particularly fatigue) to resolve.
Wheezing is a whistling sound that can occur while breathing. The sound can be heard more often when air is expelled. This can occurs whe the respiratory passages are too narrow.
When wheezing is recurrent, it may indicate respiratory problems, such as:
Wheezing can be treated by treating the cause, i.e the pathology causing the wheezing. In general, bronchodilators, substances that widen the respiratory tract, can alleviate it. Oral corticosteroids can also be given for one or two weeks, which help relieve acute crises if they are due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.
If the wheezing is due to a severe allergic reaction, it is treated with intravenous antihistamines, corticosteroids, bronchodilators and epinephrine (adrenaline) injected under the skin.
Dr Atul Gupta is an outstanding consultant respiratory paediatrician in London, who specialises in all conditions that affect a child, infant or young adult's breathing, lungs, airways and sleep.
Dr Gupta is one of the very few UK specialists in paediatric respiratory medicine and treats asthma, coughing, noisy and difficulty in breathing, wheezing, recurrent chest infections, snoring, pneumonia and allergies. His goal is to accurately diagnose and effectively manage a child's breathing problems.
Dr Gupta’s research interests at the King's College Hospital, London, centres on asthma and airway disease. He has written widely on a range of respiratory-related conditions and has over 70 peer-reviewed papers and reviews.
He lectures internationally, in Europe, the USA, the UAE and India. Dr Gupta has received awards for his work and contribution to the field of paediatric respiratory medicine.
An acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a disease of the respiratory tract that evolves in a period of fewer than 15 days, often turning into pneumonia. It is usually classified into three types according to the degree of complication:
The symptoms depend on the type of infection:
There are several factors that can cause a respiratory infection:
Some factors may help to avoid respiratory infection in children:
Respiratory infection is often first treated with antibiotics, and if the infection is caused by severe flu, with an antiviral medication. If the situation worsens, oxygen therapy can also be performed and, if there are complications, bronchodilator medication may be needed.
Asthma (or bronchial asthma) is a lung disease caused by narrowing of the bronchi, which causes breathing difficulties. It is characterised by the presence of breathlessness, cough, chest tightness, and sometimes excess phlegm. It can be related to allergies, with related rhinitis and sneezing. Asthma can affect all ages, but usually begins in childhood as a reaction to certain stimuli that produce allergy (pollen, dust mites, skin particles of some pets, cold air, some foods or food additives). Other agents can also trigger occupational asthma in some trades or professions (bakers, farmers, millers, manufacturers of detergents, carpenters, plastic manufacturers, laboratory workers, etc.). People with asthma may need further investigations with blood tests, chest X-ray and allergy tests.
Asthma is a common pulmonary condition, that often begins during childhood. There is no cure, but children often grow out of it, while with others it can be a lifelong condition. The symptoms include occasional occurrences of wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing, while the child may experience a tight chest.
Breathing problems can be caused by a number of conditions such as asthma, allergies, unresolved infections, COPD, and a variety of other conditions which should be checked for.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease that damages the major airways of the lungs, causing them to widen. There can be two types:
Symptoms develop gradually and may appear months or years later. The main ones are:
Early identification is the best way to prevent the condition from worsening. If patients have symptoms suggestive of bronchiectasis, an HRCT, blood test, sputum analysis (analysis of saliva and mucus) and lung function tests can diagnose the condition.
Bronchiectasis can be caused by many different factors. The most common cause of bronchiectasis is recurrent respiratory tract infections. These cause inflammation and damage to the airways.
Genetic causes include cystic fibrosis, which is a condition that affects the cilia, the hair-like structures that sweep mucus out of the lungs.
People with a weakened immune system, asthma and primary ciliary dyskinesia are at a higher risk of developing the condition. Other causes include previous tuberculosis infections, rheumatoid arthritis and inhaling foreign bodies.
If the disease is congenital, it cannot be prevented, although the risk of complications can be reduced by treating lung infections early. On the other hand, if a person avoids smoking and reduces their exposure to pollution, they can reduce their risk of respiratory infections. The annual flu vaccine and childhood vaccines can also help to reduce the chances of some infections.
The main treatment is daily drainage to eliminate sputum, the mucus that gets caught in the airways. Daily postural drainage exercises help with this. Patients are given antibiotics and expectorants to heal any chest infection. Patients who experience frequent chest infections must take prophylactic antibiotics two or three times a week.
Bronchiolitis is a viral disease characterised by swelling of the small airways. Runny nose, cough and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms. It can develop in both children and adults. However, in adult smokers it can cause serious breathing difficulties that must be treated with care.
Chest infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and more rarely other organisms. They cause fever, breathlessness, fatigue, and occasionally coughing up blood.
When the bronchial tubes, the breathing arteries that supply oxygen to the lungs, are inflamed, it causes bronchitis. This disease causes a phlegmy cough as well as making breathing difficult. Other symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, and a slightly raised temperature. There are two types of bronchitis, chronic and acute.
Chronic bronchitis is classed under the umbrella term COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). When the bronchi are inflamed more mucus is produced, this is what leads to breathing difficulties and a cough. Smoking is one of the most common causes, as well as breathing in polluted air, smoke, and dust for a prolonged time.
The main symptom of chronic bronchitis is a cough that lasts a long time and doesn’t go away for several months. The cough is quite often a chesty cough, which is associated with wheezing and trouble breathing.
Cigarette smoke is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. Inhaling smoke irritates the lungs and can cause large amounts of mucus. Chronic bronchitis can also affect people who have been exposed to chemical vapours, dust, and other airborne substances.
The best way to prevent chronic bronchitis is to never smoke or to quit smoking. The more smoke you inhale, the worse it is for your lungs. When you quit smoking, breathing will improve, as well as your cough, your lungs will begin to function better, and the chances of getting lung cancer are reduced.
Another thing that can be done is to avoid other substances that could be harmful to your health such as lacquer aerosols, spray deodorants, or spray paints. It is also advisable to avoid inhaling dust or chemical vapours. Another way to take care of your lungs is to use a mask that covers your mouth and nose when using products such as varnish, paint, or any other chemical substance with strong vapours.
As the name suggests, chronic bronchitis never completely disappears and it often intermittently returns for long periods of time. Treatment for chronic bronchitis can help relieve the symptoms but it does not cure them. The medications can help clear the airways and get rid of mucous. Oxygen therapy is also recommended in some cases, this kind of pulmonary rehabilitation can relieve symptoms and ensure a better quality of life.
Most coughs cause discomfort, but they usually serve a use – when we cough, we expel germs, mucus and foreign material from our lungs. Most only last a short time. However, sometimes they linger for weeks or even months.
A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts for eight weeks or longer in adults or over four weeks in children. They can potentially be very disruptive to the patient’s life, interrupting sleep and leading to fatigue, and in severe cases, they can cause vomiting, light-headedness, and even rib fractures.
The cough itself is a symptom of an underlying condition, but it may be accompanied by other symptoms, some of which may be a result of the coughing.
There are several things that can cause a chronic cough:
In rarer cases the following can also be responsible:
When a cough lasts for more than a few weeks, it is worth having it checked out by a doctor. If you cough up blood, or experience weight loss, fever, or trouble sleeping, you should consult your GP or a specialist.
Treatment for chronic cough depends largely on the cause, as treatment tends to be targeted at the underlying illness, rather than the symptom. For example, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, while asthma could be treated with steroids and/or bronchodilators. If you have a chronic cough, consult a doctor and follow their advice.
Specialists in pulmonary and respiratory medicine and otolaryngologists may both treat chronic cough, and other specialties may be involved, depending on the underlying cause.
Croup is a contagious condition which causes your child’s upper airways to swell. The swelling occurs in the larynx (vocal cords), trachea (windpipe) and (bronchial tubes), bronchi, which is why croup is sometimes referred to as laryngotracheobronchitis.
Croup mainly occurs in children between 6 months and 3 years old. It is slightly more common in boys, and it tends to occur more frequently during late autumn and early winter.
Croup causes the upper airways to swell up, resulting in a hoarse voice, a rasping breathing sound, and a “barking” cough. Sometimes croup can cause a rash, fever, and red eyes.
If croup is the result of a viral infection, these symptoms are usually preceded by cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose. Sometimes, however, croup can come on suddenly in what is known as spasmodic croup. It’s not clear what causes spasmodic croup, but it may be the result of an allergic reaction in the stomach.
Most cases of croup are mild, and the symptoms usually lasts less than a week. Symptoms are generally worse at night and also worse if your child is agitated by the condition, so it’s important to provide them with comfort.
If your child is having difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, or is breathing rapidly, seek immediate medical help.
The most common cause is a viral infection that causes swelling of the larynx and trachea. Initially, the virus affects the nose and throat and then extends to the larynx and trachea. The swelling of the larynx and trachea obstructs the available space through which the air enters the lungs, causing the symptoms described above.
Because croup is usually caused by infection, the best you can do to prevent is to make sure your child is vaccinated against common viruses, and ensure they´re washing their hands regularly.
The main way to treat croup and prevent symptoms getting worse is to comfort your child and keep them as calm as possible. Make sure you sit your child upright and give them plenty of fluids. Cough and cold medicines do not help with the treatment of croup.
Cystic fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs progressively collapse due to a build-up of thick and sticky mucus, it can also affect the digestive tube and other organs. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in adults and children.
This type of disease affects the lungs, the pancreas, liver, intestines, paranasal sinuses, and sexual organs. Cystic fibrosis causes mucus to be thick and sticky. It clogs the lungs, causing repeated lung infections and lung damage.
Cystic fibrosis symptoms may develop slowly over time. Some symptoms may worsen until becoming severe. The symptoms and the seriousness of the disease may vary from person to person.
Cystic fibrosis is caused by a faulty gene that causes the body to produce a thick and sticky substance. This clogs the airways and the pancreas causing infections. It could cause serious lung infections as well as acute digestive disorders. It may affect sweat glands, the male reproductive system, and other areas.
Some people have the gene but never get any symptoms. The reason for this is that a person with cystic fibrosis must inherit two faulty genes to develop it. If they only have one, the disease won’t develop. It is more common in people of central and northern European descent.
As it is an inherited condition, it can’t be prevented. There are however some steps that can be taken to improve quality of life when affected by the condition. There is a test that can be done to check if either parent carries the gene that causes the condition, this is the closest thing to “preventing” the condition that exists. This would only be able to detect the condition, as previously stated, there is no known cure.
The key to being able to treat cystic fibrosis well is to diagnose it as soon as possible. A strong treatment plan is important to strengthen resistance to the disease and improve quality of life. Wherever possible, patients with this condition should be in a clinic specialised in cystic fibrosis. The treatments available include:
Paediatric respiratory medicine is the specialty focusing on treating diseases and problems in the respiratory system of children. A respiratory paediatrician will have expertise in managing and treating acute and chronic respiratory conditions, including the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up support, of babies, infants, children and young people up to the age of 16.
There are many conditions that can affect a child’s breathing or their respiratory system. Here is a summary of some of the more common conditions that would be treated by a paediatric respiratory consultant:
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lungs caused by infection. Primarily affecting the alveoli – small air sacs deep in the lungs, where oxygen passes into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide passes out back into the lungs – pneumonia is when these air sacs become inflamed and fill with fluid.
What many people don’t realise is that pneumonia is not a specific type of infection, but rather an effect that can be created by several causes, mainly bacteria or viruses.
The severity can vary, with some patients – particularly babies, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems or other diseases – becoming very ill. Some may need hospital treatment, and for some, it can even prove fatal.
As the alveoli are filled with fluid, pneumonia can cause difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain. Other common signs of pneumonia include:
Less commonly, patients may experience:
Many types of bacteria, viruses and even some fungi can cause pneumonia. The most common cause is infection by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia. Other culprits include:
Those at a greater risk of catching pneumonia include babies, elderly people, smokers, people with compromised immune systems (such as those with HIV or AIDS, or people who have recently had flu), and people with other chronic health issues, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or heart disease.
While most cases of pneumonia are bacterial in nature and aren’t contagious, you can reduce the risk of it spreading by maintaining good standards of hygiene, for example, by covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, throwing away tissues immediately (germs can survive for hours after leaving your body), and washing your hands regularly.
Avoiding smoking and reducing alcohol intake can help to maintain your lungs and their natural defences, as smoking and drinking can leave them weakened.
People with a higher risk of infection are advised to have the pneumococcal vaccine and flu vaccine.
Milder cases of pneumonia may be treated at home with plenty of rest and fluids, and by taking antibiotics (if appropriate – consult your doctor first!). For serious cases, the patient may need to be hospitalised, and treated by doctors there.
The speed of recovery depends on the individual case. It is not uncommon for recovery to take weeks, and even months for all the symptoms (particularly fatigue) to resolve.
Pneumonia is a serious bacterial lung infection. It often begins in the upper respiratory tract before moving onto the lungs. It causes fever, severe cold symptoms, very fast breathing or working hard to breathe, vomiting and chest pain. In babies, it can be caused by chlamydia or whooping cough, but can also be a sign of an more serious underlying condition such as chronic lung disease of prematurity, congenital lung disease, and immunosuppression.
Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung, this blockage occurs when air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall. This disease affects more men than women, the risk increases if the patient is regular smoker. The origin of pneumothorax can be external by an injury or a fracture in the ribs or internal by disease in the lung itself.
Symptoms of pneumothorax
Pulmonary fibrosis occurs when scar tissue builds up in your lungs, causing the lung tissue to thicken and harden. This makes it difficult to get oxygen into the blood, and so you find yourself short of breath.
Pulmonary fibrosis manifests itself in the following ways:
However, the symptoms of fibrosis may be different in each individual, depending on the course of the disease. The progress of the disease may accelerate and worsen, but can develop more slowly in some people, taking months or years.
There are several causes of pulmonary fibrosis. These can be classified into three main groups: Occupational and environmental factors, radiation treatments, and medication.
However, in most cases, a cause of the disease cannot be found. This is known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The best way to prevent pulmonary fibrosis is to avoid its possible sources of infection. Avoid contact with chemicals and understand the risks and benefits of the medication you are taking. Workplaces in which employees are in contact with chemical or hazardous substances must provide protection against inhalation.
Treatment for pulmonary fibrosis can include medications, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and lung transplantation. Scarring of the lung tissue is not reversible, nor can the disease be stopped; it will continue to progress but at a slower rate. Some of the treatments mentioned may provide temporary improvement or slow the rate of the disease’s progression. To find out the most appropriate treatment, you need to consult a specialist in pulmonology.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs and can spread to other organs. The bacteria can be spread from an affected individual to another person. The infection can be transmitted by inhaling water droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Pulmonary tuberculosis can cause a wide variety of symptoms:
The main cause of pulmonary tuberculosis is through inhaling tiny droplets of saliva from an infected person. These particles reach the deepest parts of a healthy person's lungs and cause infection.
Cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are higher in poorer areas of the world, particularly where there is overcrowding, as the bacteria can easily spread in a closed and poorly ventilated space.
The skin test is the most common way to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis. This involves injecting a very small amount of tuberculin just beneath your skin and waiting to see if there is a reaction.
A positive test result (swelling or a hard bump) is evidence that you have the TB bacteria in your body. However, this is not conclusive proof that you have tuberculosis. You are likely to have a follow-up X-ray to see if there is an infection in your lungs.
The ultimate goal of the treatment is to cure the disease, and different medicines are used over a long period of time. The medical tests performed when the disease was first detected will determine what type of medication should be taken.
Time limits and tablet dosage must be strictly adhered to, as failure to do so can lead to drug resistance and can make it more difficult to eliminate the infection from the body. In any case, the specialist will recommend when it is safe to end treatment.
Respiratory failure is a condition that affects the respiratory system when it doesn’t provide enough oxygen to the blood or when the lungs can’t properly eliminate carbon dioxide. It can be acute or chronic. When it appears for a limited period of time (maximum one hour), it is an acute condition; if it develops over a few days, it is considered chronic. The most common type is hypoxemic respiratory failure, and it affects the lungs (lung oedema, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary fibrosis).
The main symptoms are:
Various tests are needed to identify the underlying cause of the condition. These tests include:
The causes can vary depending on the severity of the illness. The main reasons are:
The treatment used for respiratory insufficiency aims to improve the hypoxemia, correct the acidosis and improve the cardiac activity. The use of a particular treatment will depend on the type of respiratory insufficiency (acute or chronic). The most frequent treatment used to supply oxygen is the nasal cannula or the face mask, and in some instances, mechanical ventilation, which is used to improve oxygen levels and to reduce the need of oxygen in the respiratory muscles.
Respiratory medicine specialists diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the respiratory system.
Rhinitis is a condition where the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed. The nasal mucosa is the lining of the inside of the nose. This is a common condition and is thought to affect one in every five people in the UK. Rhinitis can be triggered by allergies, which is called allergic rhinitis (e.g. hay fever). Rhinitis can be acute or it can be chronic (long-lasting).
The main symptoms are sneezing, an itchy nose, itchy eyes, an itchy throat, a lack of smell and a blocked nose with nasal discharge. Due to nasal congestion, the patient cannot breathe freely or easily.
The symptoms occur mostly in the morning. This can be confused with a simple cold, but a cold will resolve in around two weeks, whereas rhinitis persists.
There are several causes of rhinitis. Rhinitis can be classified into three main groups:
For allergic rhinitis, it is difficult to completely avoid the triggering allergens, however, attempts can be made to reduce exposure, such as avoiding leaving the house early in the morning when pollen is at its worst and keeping the windows closed.
Other treatment measures include:
Shortness of breath (also known as breathlessness or dyspnoea) is a very noticeable symptom where the patient finds it difficult to breathe properly, tiring out quickly, and not taking in enough oxygen with each breath. The patient’s breaths usually become quick and shallow, perhaps even hyperventilating, and may be accompanied by wheezing, coughing, or chest pain.
Shortness of breath is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and can be symptomatic of many underlying problems. As such, breathlessness may be accompanied by a number of symptoms, including:
By analysing when the shortness of breath occurs (for example at rest or when doing exercise), and the other symptoms that accompany it, doctors can diagnose the root cause.
There are many things that can cause dyspnoea, many of which can be serious, and some of which are even life-threatening, such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
If you have sudden shortness of breath and are struggling to breathe, your chest feels tight or heavy, and you are experiencing pain which spreads to your neck, back, arms, and/or jaw, these are signs that you are having a heart attack or have a serious problem with your airways, and you should immediately call 999, as you will need hospital treatment.
Breathlessness can be symptomatic of:
Lung problems
Heart problems
Other problems
You should never feel you cannot consult a doctor – even if the problem does not seem serious, you are not wasting anyone’s time getting it checked out. You should definitely see a doctor for shortness of breath in the following circumstances:
The treatment for breathlessness depends entirely on the cause. The possible causes of dyspnoea are numerous and diverse, and therefore, so are the possible treatments. General advice, especially for chronic shortness of breath, would be to stop smoking, lose weight, and avoid exposure to allergens and pollutants that could make it worse.
Sleep disorders are problems related to sleep. They are a set of alterations that occur in the different phases of sleep, preventing you from enjoying a proper, continuous and restful sleep. There are many different types of sleep disorders and these can be grouped into four main categories:
Some of the general symptoms of sleep disorders are:
On the other hand, there are specific symptoms that can occur, depending on the type of sleep disorder. Some are:
Common sleep disorders include:
The causes of sleep disorders vary and can be due to several causes, such as:
The treatment for sleep disorders depends on the type of disorder the patient has. In general, specialists recommend avoiding taking medications that may cause insomnia or avoid consuming caffeine, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco. Also, it is advisable to shorten the time you are in bed to only when you go to sleep. That is, it is important not to watch television, read, or eat whilst in bed.
Depending on your sleep disorder, a specialist may require you to enter a sleep lab to analyse your patterns of sleep. In a sleep lab, you are connected to monitors that track the heart, brain and breathing whilst you sleep.
Here are some specific treatments for common sleep disorders:
Spirometry is a test that measures the amount of air you exhale and the speed you exhale it at. It can help to diagnose lung diseases that might otherwise go undetected by other tests. During a spirometry you breathe through a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer, a device that measures the amount and frequency of air inhaled and exhaled during a specific time. The test may be done sitting or standing, but the results of a spirometry may vary.
A spirometry is performed by breathing into a mouthpiece attached to a device called a spirometer. You need to breathe normally and relaxed. However, other medical tests may require you to inhale or exhale strongly after breathing deeply.
This type of medical test can diagnose lung diseases that the specialist is unable to detect in an initial examination. A spirometry is performed:
There are a number of medical recommendations to follow prior to having this medical test. It is advisable not to eat heavy meals before the test and not to smoke for 4 to 6 hours before the test. You will be advised if you need to use a bronchodilator or inhaled medicines before or during the test.
During the test you may feel a shortness of breath or feel dizzy. When breathing through the plastic mouthpiece, a nasal clamp is applied to prevent air from escaping through your nose. You must follow the instructions of the specialist and close your lips firmly on the mouthpiece when blowing through it.
Wheezing is a whistling sound that can occur while breathing. The sound can be heard more often when air is expelled. This can occurs whe the respiratory passages are too narrow.
When wheezing is recurrent, it may indicate respiratory problems, such as:
Wheezing can be treated by treating the cause, i.e the pathology causing the wheezing. In general, bronchodilators, substances that widen the respiratory tract, can alleviate it. Oral corticosteroids can also be given for one or two weeks, which help relieve acute crises if they are due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.
If the wheezing is due to a severe allergic reaction, it is treated with intravenous antihistamines, corticosteroids, bronchodilators and epinephrine (adrenaline) injected under the skin.
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Chronic cough is very common in children and can affect their sleep, school attendance and play. Parents must be left somewhat concerned with repeat trips to their GP. Leading respiratory paediatrician Dr Atul Gupta gives his advice on managing the condition by looking at the possible causes.
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