Respiratory Diseases

💡TL;DR: COPD has 4 stages based on how much air you blow out in 1 second (FEV1) after a bronchodilator: ≥80% (mild), 50–79% (moderate), 30–49% (severe), and <30% (very severe). GOLD 2024 also groups people by symptoms and flare-up risk (A, B, E) to fine-tune treatment.

💡TL;DR: Most healthy adults keep oxygen saturation around 95–100% during sleep, with only small dips. Brief drops into 90–94% can be normal, but levels that stay below 90% suggest a breathing problem and need a doctor's review. ≤88% for several minutes is dangerous and warrants

💡TL;DR: RSV symptoms usually start 4–6 days after exposure (range 2–8 days). You’re contagious for about 3–8 days and can spread it 1–2 days before symptoms; infants and people with weak immune systems may shed up to 3–4 weeks (CDC). Most illnesses last

💡 TL;DR: Yes, you can have RSV and pneumonia at the same time. RSV can cause viral pneumonia within a few days (often around days 3 to 5), or set up a secondary bacterial pneumonia. Highest risk: infants, adults 65+, and people with lung or immune problems. Expect supportive care

💡TL;DR: Green phlegm usually means your immune system is actively fighting an infection; the color alone does not prove it’s bacterial or that you need antibiotics. Most cases improve with home care in 1–3 weeks; watch the timeline and how you feel. Seek care sooner if you

💡TL;DR: Most people with stable asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease can travel safely with a simple plan. Airplane cabins are pressurized to about 6,000–8,000 feet, so bring rescue meds, hydrate, and ask your clinician about a fit‑to‑fly test or in‑

💡TL;DR: There is no asthma cure diet, but a plant-forward, Mediterranean-style pattern can help calm airway inflammation and support better control. Build meals around fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fish, and aim for 5 servings of vegetables and 2 of fruit most days,

💡TL;DR: Restrictive lung disease means your lungs cannot fully expand, so total lung capacity is reduced and each breath is smaller. Causes fall into two broad groups: intrinsic scarring (for example, pulmonary fibrosis) and extrinsic limits outside the lungs (severe obesity, spine deformity, or weak breathing muscles). On testing,

💡TL;DR: Asthma is a chronic condition you manage every day; an acute asthma attack is a sudden flare that needs quick relief. Daily controller medicines and trigger avoidance keep inflammation low, while attacks require rapid bronchodilators and sometimes emergency care. Know your numbers: Green > 80% of personal-best peak