Author Archive
What is Hemoptysis? This is the medical term for coughing up blood from the lungs. This is a serious symptom and may reflect a serious underlying condition. This is different than the blood from the nose, mouth, or gastrointestinal tract. Blood from the lungs is usually bright red, but sometimes can be rust-colored. It can [...]
What is wheezing? Wheezing is a high-pitched, musical noise that occurs during breathing, when air flows through bronchial (breathing) tubes that are narrowed or partially obstructed. Wheezing is a continuous (defined as longer than 250 msec), coarse, whistling or “accordion-like” sound.
What causes wheezing? The potential causes for wheezing are many. The most common cause is [...]
What is TB blood testing? Recently, scientists have examined measuring Interferon Gamma in the blood as an alternative to (TST). These tests measure Interferon Gamma that is released from sensitized lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) from whole blood that was incubated overnight with certain antigens that are specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the [...]
New Research- A study was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research-International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (AACR-IASLC) joint conference in January 2010 regarding the use of a blood test to diagnose .
Dr. Steven Dubinett, Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Director of the Lung Cancer Research Program at the David Geffen [...]
What is pneumonia? An inflammatory condition of the lungs, most often caused by infectious organisms, such as bacteria or viruses. In the US, there are an estimated 5-10 million cases of pneumonia each year and pneumonia is the 4th leading cause of hospitalization.
What are the types of pneumonia? Doctors classify pneumonia by the (1) cause, [...]
What are inhalers? Inhalers are small, hand-held devices that are used to deliver medication(s) directly to your lungs. Inhalers are used for a number of lung conditions, including (most commonly) and .
What are the different ways inhalers deliver medicine? The two main systems are Metered-Dose inhaler (MDI) and Dry Powder inhaler (DPI). The MDI [...]
What is Strep throat and what causes it? Strep throat (also called “acute pharyngitis” or “Streptococcal pharyngitis”) is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils. It is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes (“Pie-AW-Jen-Eez”), belonging to Group A Streptococci (GAS). There are many different strains of Group A Streptococci, each capable of producing [...]
Malignant Mesothelioma (“MEEZ-O-thee-lee-O-ma”) is a rare cancer that originates in the cells lining certain parts of the body, particularly the chest (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). These cells, mesothelial cells, form a lining called the mesothelium, which helps protect your organs by making a lubricating fluid, allowing ease of movement, such as the lungs during breathing.
About [...]