breathlessness when lying down that improves when you sit up.It’s often caused by heart problems, such as congestive heart failure, but can also be caused by trauma to the chest, pneumonia, and exposure to toxins or high altitudes. The fluid interferes with your body’s ability to get enough oxygen to your bloodstream. Pulmonary edema, also known as pulmonary congestion or lung congestion, is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. Many people with chronic bronchitis eventually develop emphysema and COPD. The chronic inflammation results in excessive mucus buildup in your airways, which resists airflow in and out of your lungs and continues to worsen. Unlike acute bronchitis that comes on suddenly, chronic bronchitis develops over time and causes recurrent episodes that can last months or even years. The bronchial tubes carry air to and from your lungs. People over the age of 65, those with heart conditions, and people with a compromised immune system have a higher risk for severe pneumonia.īronchitis is the inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. The condition can vary from mild to severe, depending on the cause and factors, such as your age and overall health. It can cause alveoli to fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult for you to breathe. Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungus.

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may include: air pollutants, such as cigarette smoke.Asthma can be triggered by a number of things, including common allergens, such as: It’s a common condition that affects approximately 1 in 13 people in the United States.Įxperts aren’t sure what causes some people to develop asthma, but environmental factors and genetics appear to play a role. Long-term exposure to chemical irritants can also cause COPD.ĬOPD increases your risk for other conditions affecting the lungs and heart, such as lung cancer and heart disease.Īsthma is a condition that causes your airways to swell and narrow. The most common cause of COPD is cigarette smoke. In 2019, it caused 3.23 million deaths worldwide.Įmphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common conditions associated with COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)ĬOPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that obstructs airflow to your lungs. Anything that affects your body’s ability to deliver enough oxygen to your blood can cause a V/Q mismatch.

Shunt vs dead space usmle reddit