Lung conditions are those that affect the lungs and airways. They include asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer and pneumonia. 


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Coughing is something you do to help clear your airways when they feel blocked or irritated. Most coughs only last a short time, such as when you have a cold, but others may continue for a long time. You should see a doctor if you have an ongoing cough.


conditions

Woman coughing into elbow

A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants such as dust or smoke. Coughs may be dry or chesty and are classified as acute or chronic.

Cough

coughing

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/art-photography-of-human-organs-gm1219148514-356506610
Credit: Aleksandra Abramova

Art photography of human organs. stock photo

lung-conditions

A chest infection is an infection that affects your airways or lungs. You may develop a chest infection after having flu or a cold. Symptoms include muscle aches, a chesty cough and pain in the chest. 


chest-infection

Asthma is a condition that causes the pathways to the lungs to become inflamed, making it harder to breathe. It’s a lifelong condition, but it can be controlled by effective treatment. 

asthma

Coughing is something you do to help clear your airways when they feel blocked or irritated. Most coughs only last a short time, such as when you have a cold, but others may continue for a long time. 

You should see a doctor if you have an ongoing cough.


Woman coughing

Chest infection in adults usually takes the form of bronchitis or, less, commonly, pneumonia. Find out more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, with links to other useful resources.

Doctor putting stethoscope to chest of patient diagnosing chest infection

Chest infection

Senior man about to use asthma inhaler stock photo

Asthma is a long-term lung condition which currently has no cure however treatments are available to control symptoms

Asthmatic woman uses inhaler while meeting with her doctor

Asthma

Bronchitis means inflammation of the lungs' airways. Common symptoms include a sore throat and coughing up mucus. 

When should you worry about a cough?

Find everything you need to know about bronchitis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, with links to other useful resources.

Back of person being examined by stethoscope

Bronchitis

bronchitis

Chest pain is any pain you feel in the chest. It has many causes, ranging from less serious conditions like indigestion to more serious conditions, like a collapsed lung or a heart attack.


Chest Pain

Man exercising Yoga outdoors at sunset hands on chest close-up 

Chest pain is any sort of pain felt in your upper body, from your shoulders down to your ribs.

Person holding hand to chest with chest pain

Chest pain

chest-pain

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to lung conditions that cause breathing problems, such as emphysema. It tends to affect older people who smoke.  


Man using an asthma inhaler 

An exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is when someone with COPD has a sudden worsening of their symptoms, such as breathlessness, coughing and coughing up phlegm (sputum).

Paper cut out of lungs with a stick inside them representing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

copd

Coughing up blood (haemoptysis) may not be anything to worry about if you’re generally healthy, but it can be a sign of something more serious, especially in older people or those who smoke. If you cough up blood, you should see a doctor. 


Photo of hands holding a paper napkin with blood 

NHS Choices information on coughing up blood, including causes such as chest infection, bronchitis, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer and tuberculosis (TB), with links to other useful resources.

Blood in phlegm

coughing-up-blood

Coughing up blood (haemoptysis) may not be anything to worry about if you’re generally healthy, but it can be a sign of something more serious, especially in older people or those who smoke. 

If you cough up blood, you should see a doctor. 


Lung disease are conditions that affect the lungs and airways. They include asthma, lung cancer, pneumonia and tuberculosis. 


Medical Illustration of lung disease

lung-disease

Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs, typically caused by an infection. Symptoms include chest pain, fever and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can affect anyone, but it's more common and serious among young children, older people and those with certain health conditions

Woman with flu in bed (credit - svetikd)

Pneumonia is a chest infection which can become severe if left untreated

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