Respiratory health conditions you need to be aware of

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Cough and colds are so common, we hardly seek medical attention for them and rely on over the counter medication if they bog us down. Unfortunately, there will come a point that these conditions extend to weeks and without your awareness, you've developed an advanced condition that will degrade your overall health. According to Dr. Mark Hochberg MD, you'll need to halt the progression of your condition in order to avoid making it degrade your health any further. It's why you need to be aware of these common conditions so you can seek help fast.

The first condition you need to be aware of is asthma. Asthma springs from the inflammation of the airways caused by allergens in the environment. You'll know you're encountering asthma because it is accompanied by difficulty in breathing and wheezing as well as chest tightness, adds Dr. Mark Hochberg MD.

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Another condition you need to be aware of is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. People with COPD encounter difficulties in exhaling and may feel shortness of breath. It's a blanket term for the condition that causes these symptoms. People might think it's aging-related, but COPD may stem from smoking, so doctors always prescribe stopping the habit to treat the condition. Based on inputs from Dr. Mark Hochberg MD, both chronic bronchitis and emphysema fall under the category of COPD.

Pneumonia is another common and serious lung disease. Doctors detect pneumonia as an infection of the air sacs in the lungs and may be triggered by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. You can tell if it's pneumonia if the cough is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath, and chills. These symptoms can be very mild (in which case, patients often heal after 3 weeks) to very severe that sufferers require hospitalization.