Pets and Respiratory Health
Allergies, pet exposure and respiratory infections Pets and Respiratory Health: Allergies, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, and Zoonotic Infections Pets can affect your respiatory health in several very different ways. Some people develop allergic rhinitis or asthma, others react to dust and irritants, bird exposure can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and certain animals can occasionally transmit genuine respiratory infections. […]
How Weight Affects Respiratory Infections: Obesity, Underweight, Malnutrition and Pneumonia Risk
Respiratory health guide How Weight Affects Respiratory Infections: Obesity, Underweight, Malnutrition and Pneumonia Risk Body weight can influence immune defence, breathing mechanics, aspiration risk and recovery from respiratory infections. Risk may rise in people living with severe obesity as well as those who are underweight or malnourished. Obesity and immunity Lung reserve Aspiration risk Malnutrition […]
Prednisolone for Lung Disease: Benefits, Side Effects, and Alternatives.
Oral corticosteroids, respiratory inflammation and steroid-sparing care Prednisolone for Lung Disease: Benefits, Side Effects, and Alternatives Prednisolone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine used for acute asthma attacks and selected inflammatory lung diseases. It can be lifesaving, but repeated or prolonged treatment can affect bones, blood sugar, muscles, mood, infection risk and the body’s natural cortisol […]
Hay Fever and Respiratory Health
Allergic rhinitis, pollen exposure, asthma and respiratory health Understanding Hay Fever in Respiratory Health Hay fever is an allergic reaction affecting the nose and often the eyes. For people with asthma or another respiratory condition, pollen exposure may also worsen cough, wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness. Understanding your triggers, using treatment correctly and keeping asthma […]
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO): A Quick Guide
Asthma diagnosis, type 2 airway inflammation and treatment monitoring Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO): A Quick Guide Fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing is a quick, non-invasive breathing test that measures nitric oxide in exhaled air. It helps identify type 2 or eosinophilic airway inflammation, supports the diagnosis of asthma and can provide useful information about […]
Unraveling the Intricacies of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GvHD)
Understanding systemic and pulmonary complications after donor stem-cell transplantation Unraveling the Intricacies of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GvHD) Graft-versus-host disease is a potentially serious complication of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. It develops when donor immune cells recognise the recipient’s tissues as foreign and mount an immune response. GvHD may affect several organs, including the skin, gut, liver, mouth, […]
Asthma with Fungal Sensitisation: Unveiling the Intricacies
Understanding mould allergy, severe asthma and Aspergillus-related disease Asthma with Fungal Sensitisation: Unveiling the Intricacies Some people with asthma develop an allergic immune response to airborne fungal proteins. This sensitisation may act as an asthma trigger and is more common in difficult or severe asthma, but it is not the same as fungal infection or […]
Demystifying Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
Understanding an important Aspergillus-related airway disorder Demystifying Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, usually shortened to ABPA, is an exaggerated immune response to Aspergillus within susceptible airways. It most often affects people with asthma or cystic fibrosis and can cause worsening wheeze, thick mucus, recurrent lung abnormalities and bronchiectasis. Aspergillus allergy Asthma Thick mucus plugs […]
The Impact of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome on Respiratory Symptoms
Understanding mast-cell mediators, breathing symptoms and diagnostic uncertainty The Impact of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome on Respiratory Symptoms Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, usually abbreviated to MCAS, describes recurrent systemic episodes in which mast-cell mediators are released inappropriately. Wheeze, throat tightness, nasal congestion and breathlessness may occur, but these symptoms overlap with asthma, rhinosinusitis, inducible laryngeal […]
Asthma Diagnosis: Understanding the Role of FeNO Testing
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, you may be wondering if you have asthma. One of the key tools in asthma diagnosis is a test known as the Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) test. This test measures the levels of nitric oxide in your breath, which can […]
