Read our factsheets about a variety of lung conditions and topics linked to lung health such as quitting smoking, exercise, and vaccination.
Having a lung condition should not stop you from travelling by air. Whether you are going on holiday, a business trip or a visit to family and friends, it should…
Allergic rhinitis is a disease in which the mucous membranes of the nose are swollen and irritated. This is caused by an allergy to grass or tree pollen, house dust…
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic condition which increases the risk of lung and/or liver diseases. People with AAT deficiency have low levels of AAT protein in their blood…
Asthma is one of the most common conditions that co-exists with pregnancy. As well as asthma affecting your pregnancy, your pregnancy can also have an impact on your asthma symptoms.…
This factsheet attempts to explain the increased occurrence of asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness among elite athletes, and give information about recommended treatment and testing regulations
Bird flu (avian influenza) has been an important topic in the news since it was first seen in humans. Although there have been lots of reports about the illness, do…
This factsheet explains what bronchiectasis is, what causes it, and how it is diagnosed and managed. More detailed information is available on the Bronchiectasis Patient Priorities website: www.europeanlunginfo.org/bronchiectasis
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to examine your windpipe, airways and lungs. This factsheet explains what the procedure involves, why it is used and two case studies…
ChILD stands for children’s interstitial lung disease. It is used to describe over 200 rare lung conditions that affect children.
Everyone experiences cough at some point in their lives. Healthy people will cough for protection, in order to clear the airways of substances that irritate the lungs such as smoke…
Climate change is the long-term change to global temperature and weather systems. It has been sped up by human behaviour. We burn fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil,…
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard treatment for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea. This factsheet demonstrates how to safely use CPAP at home and get the most out…
COVID-19 can cause minor to serious illness. Your family member/friend has been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 so that we can monitor their breathing. Their breathing may need to be…
COVID-19 can cause minor to serious illness. You have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 so that we can monitor your breathing. Your breathing may need to be supported with…
Many conditions, such as heart or lung diseases, cause breathlessness. Breathlessness can be very frightening and distressing, even in milder cases. Breathlessness may be made worse by fears about the…
This is a general factsheet about COVID-19. It has some specific information for people with lung conditions, but most of the information will apply to everybody.
When you visit a healthcare professional, information about your personal health is collected and recorded. This is known as your medical history or record. It is useful for healthcare professionals…
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This document explains the recommendations in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of asthma in children between the ages of 5 and 16 years. It is…
The goal of asthma treatment is to keep symptoms, such as breathlessness and wheeze, under control so that they do not stop you continuing your usual day to day activities.…
Organ donation is a sensitive issue for many people to think about and discuss but it is the difference between life and death for a person waiting for a transplant.…
Nicotine-containing products, such as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products, are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to cigarettes. This factsheet looks at the different products available and considers whether using these…
“Health-related quality of life” is a concept used to measure how your health affects how you are feeling physically, mentally and emotionally. This factsheet explains why these measurements are important…
Most people think of pollution as the smog they see outside when pollution levels are high. Almost everyone knows that outdoor pollution can damage health. But not many people realise…
This factsheet explains what IPF is, and how it can be diagnosed, treated and managed.
This factsheet aims to show people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), their friends and family how they can still live a full life with this condition.
Lung cancer is a cancer of the trachea (windpipe), bronchi (airways) or lung air sacs (alveoli). This factsheet will look specifically at the two main types of lung cancer that…
Lung cancer screening is the process of using tests to find the disease at an early stage, before symptoms are present. Unlike other cancers, routine screening for lung cancer is…
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung condition that mainly affects women of childbearing age. Although it has been reported in men, it is extremely rare. It is estimated that three…
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If you live with a lung condition, you might be more likely to experience problems with your mental health in addition to your physical symptoms. This factsheet explains how to…
This factsheet will talk about the impact of mould and damp on lung health – and what can be done to protect your lungs.
This factsheet is intended as the second part to a previous factsheet on tuberculosis (TB). It contains more details on the complication known as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Both factsheets have…
The average adult breathes over 15 cubic metres of air every day. Although pollutants in the air are often invisible, they can have serious effects on our health, including the…
As a patient or relative or carer, you have a unique perspective on the impact of a medical condition on life, work and family. This experience is invaluable to healthcare…
Pneumonia is caused by an infection in the lungs. The infection affects the air sacs in the lungs rather than the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs.…
In recent years, the number of children surviving premature birth has grown. This means that there is potential to be an increase in the number of children and adults in…
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) refers to a pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, in someone without a known lung condition. This factsheet will provide more information on PSP, its symptoms and the…
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition affecting about 15 to 50 people out of every million. It is caused by very high blood pressure in the arteries that…
A pulmonary embolism is a clot in the blood vessels in the lungs and is a medical emergency. If you think you might have a pulmonary embolism, it is important…
Diagnosing and treating pulmonary hypertension - understanding the professional guidelines. An easy to understand summary of the pulmonary hypertension guidelines. This document explains the recommendations in the joint European Society…
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a programme that aims to reduce the physical and emotional impacts a long-term lung condition can have on a person’s life. It combines exercise training with education…
This page explains the recommendations in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) clinical guidelines for the quality of care for lung cancer. It is for people with lung cancer, or their…
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A rare disease is one that affects less than one person in every 2,000. This may sound like a very small number, but as there are 700 million people in…
There are several different kinds of lung cancer, often referred to as lung cancer subtypes. Some of these occur more often than others. In this factsheet we will specifically look…
This factsheet looks at how digital technology is changing healthcare and what this means for you.
This factsheet is about sarcoidosis symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. It also explains how sarcoidosis affects people. It is for anyone affected by the condition whether you are newly diagnosed or…
This factsheet has been written to help you understand more about sleep apnoea, what it is, what causes it, what the signs and symptoms are, how it can be diagnosed…
If you are living with a lung condition but continue to smoke, you are not alone. A large number of people living with a lung condition continue to smoke because…
Lung volume tests measure how big your lungs are and can help your healthcare professional to understand how well your lungs are working. To do the test, you will need…
A spirometry test measures how healthy your lungs are and can be used to help diagnose and monitor lung conditions. During the test, you will breathe out as much air…
The main job of the lungs is to bring oxygen into your bloodstream and to remove carbon dioxide. This is called gas transfer. Certain conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary…
To help understand different lung conditions and to maintain healthy lungs, we should be familiar with how the lungs look and work.
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Tuberculosis (sometimes called TB) is a disease caused by an infection commonly in the lungs, although it can occur in other parts of the body. The infection causes lots of…
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The term, ‘work-related lung conditions’ refers to conditions that have been caused or made worse by the materials you come into contact with at work. This factsheet will look at…
Regular physical activity and exercise improves quality of life, whether you are healthy or you have a lung condition. Many people associate keeping fit with maintaining a healthy heart, losing…
