Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and animals. A newly identified type called COVID-19 has caused a recent and widespread outbreak of respiratory illness.
Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild to severe, including illness resulting in death. Call your doctor or healthcare provider if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.
Influenza, commonly called “the flu”, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can infect the nose, throat, and lungs and cause mild to severe illness. Some people are more likely to get serious flu complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections. The flu can also make symptoms from asthma and chronic lung disease, such as COPD, worse. Complications from the flu can cause life threatening illness and at times can lead to death.
Lung cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs, forming tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. While cigarette smoking is the leading cause, it can also affect non-smokers due to factors like radon gas, secondhand smoke, and environmental pollutants. Lung cancer is generally divided into two main categories: non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common, and small cell lung cancer, which is less common but spreads more aggressively. Symptoms like a persistent cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain often do not appear until the disease has progressed. Early detection through routine screenings significantly improves survival rates for high-risk individuals.
Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a disease in which tissue deep in your lungs becomes thick and stiff, or scarred, over time. As the lung tissue thickens, your lungs can't properly move oxygen into your bloodstream and organs don't get the oxygen they need. There is currently no cure for Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs. The blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your lungs become hard and narrow. Your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through. Over time, your heart weakens and cannot do its job and you can develop heart failure. PH can have multiple causes, but is commonly associated with lung conditions such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Pulmonary Fibrosis. There is currently no cure for PH, but treatments are available to decrease symptoms and improve quality of life.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but can attack any part of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be deadly.