Respiratory Diseases

💡TL;DR: Acute bronchitis is usually contagious for about a week after symptoms start, per the Cleveland Clinic. You’re most contagious in the first few days. If a clinician confirms a bacterial cause and you start the right antibiotic, you’re generally low risk about 24 hours after the

💡TL;DR: Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) is a three-step, equipment-free way to clear lung mucus: relaxed breathing, deep chest-expanding breaths, then huff coughing. It’s free to do at home; device-based options (like PEP devices or vests) add cost and maintenance, so ACBT is often a first-line choice

💡TL;DR: At night, lying flat lets mucus pool in your throat so a postnasal drip cough often ramps up. Clear mucus before bed (saline rinse), add moisture (humidifier or saline mist), and sleep with your head raised 6–8 inches to quiet the tickle. Match meds to the cause:

💡TL;DR: Postural drainage uses body positions to let gravity move thick mucus toward your throat so you can cough it out. Hold each position 5–10 minutes with slow breaths, then huff cough to clear what moved. Head-down angles help the lower lobes; use upright or side-lying if you

💡TL;DR: RSV and the common cold start the same, but RSV is more likely to move into the chest and cause wheezing or hard breathing, especially in babies and older adults. A simple cold usually stays milder in the nose and throat and improves in 5–7 days; RSV

💡TL;DR: Bronchitis affects the large airways and is common in older kids and adults, while bronchiolitis swells the tiny airways in babies and can cause hard, fast breathing. Bronchiolitis often peaks around days 3–4; acute bronchitis cough typically lasts about 1–3 weeks. Almost all children are infected

💡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