Respiratory Diseases

💡TL;DR: Croup and whooping cough are different illnesses: croup is a short-lived viral infection of the upper airway that causes a barky, seal-like cough, while whooping cough (pertussis) is a long-lasting bacterial infection that causes violent coughing fits with a gasping "whoop". Croup usually affects children 6

💡TL;DR: Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining around your lungs that causes sharp chest pain that worsens when you breathe in. Most cases improve in about 7–14 days once the cause is treated (for example, antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and NSAIDs for pain). Doctors confirm by exam and

💡TL;DR: **Treat the cause and calm the pain.** Doctors use NSAIDs for pain and inflammation, plus antibiotics for bacterial causes, blood thinners for clots, or steroids for autoimmune disease. At home, rest, careful positioning, deep-breathing, and warm, moist air (steam or a nebulizer with saline) can ease discomfort. **Most

💡TL;DR: Bronchiectasis is managed, not cured: most adults do best with a plan that combines targeted antibiotics for infections, daily airway clearance, and nebulized hypertonic saline (3–7%) to thin mucus. For frequent flare-ups, low-dose macrolides can reduce exacerbations by about 50% in selected patients, while inhaled antibiotics are

💡TL;DR: Bronchitis usually does not turn into pneumonia, but pneumonia can develop during or after bronchitis in some people, especially older adults, infants, smokers, and those with weak immunity. Pneumonia infects the lung air sacs and is generally more serious, with higher fever, faster breathing, and chest pain. Watch

💡TL;DR: A mucus plug is a thick mucus blockage that can obstruct an airway and cause part of the lung to collapse. Most plugs clear with a layered approach: hydration, bronchodilator if prescribed, postural drainage, and controlled or huff coughing; severe or stuck plugs may require bronchoscopy. In COPD,

💡TL;DR: Orange or rust-colored phlegm usually means a small amount of dried blood in your mucus, most often from infection or irritation (for example, sinusitis, bronchitis, or a minor nosebleed). Color alone doesn’t diagnose the cause—track other symptoms and how you feel over 3–5 days. Rusty

💡TL;DR: Medications do not cure BPD; they help babies breathe and grow while the lungs heal. Care often combines oxygen/respiratory support with diuretics, bronchodilators, cautious short courses of corticosteroids in select severe cases, and caffeine citrate to reduce apnea. Diuretics and bronchodilators can improve short‑term breathing but

💡TL;DR: Obstructive sleep apnea can run in families: having a first-degree relative with OSA is linked to about a 50% higher risk. Central sleep apnea is usually not inherited. Genetics explain roughly 40% of apnea severity, while weight, airway anatomy, alcohol, age, and other factors explain the rest. Practical